As soon as that power releases them, Gladian’s eyes narrow dangerously. He scans them across us slowly, searching for something.
“I don’t know what Harriseen told you about this quest, but you stay the fuck out of our way.”
I bite my tongue to stop from chuckling at Creed’s dark and delicious words. His threat is clear. It lingers in the air, waiting for a stupid-ass response so we can react.
“As you said, you read the decree. We won’t interfere, but you’re not to evade or avoid us. I’ll keep my Valtrue in check. You do the same for your own. Where are you going from here?”
We’re all silent as we stare them down.
“The barrier.”
Amick turns from them, stomping toward the carriage with a neck redder than roses.
Lambrit, Havar, Sevryn, and Kyzen follow right behind him.
Creed turns, gripping me by my damn shoulder and forcing me to go along with him.
I sigh as we pass through the threshold that’s a mix of the Goddess of Illusion’s power and my own. The grin on my face, though, flips upside down as we enter the living room and find only Yemi and Rose sitting on the couch.
“Where’s Thayla?” Creed asks before I can.
Yemi cuts her eyes over at us. No longer seeming all that playful. “In your room. She wants a minute alone.”
Well, that’s too bad.
I don’t make it three steps into the kitchen before Kyzen’s hand is pressed to my chest. I’m expecting some sort of calming speech, telling me to give her a minute.
What I wasn’t expecting was the anger in his eyes.
“What the fuck did I tell you, Riven?”
My forehead wrinkles. “What did I do?”
He stares at me. Long and way too hard.
Finally, he shakes his head in—what is that? Disappointment?
He drops his hand, turns from me, and mumbles to both Amick and Creed to give him a minute with her.
I place my hands on my hips and stare at my other brothers as they shuffle around the kitchen all antsy and pissy. I’m pretty sure with me.
“Either of you cares to spell out what I did? Is everyone mad I punched Melvin?”
“Mellcom,” Amick says.
“What?”
“His name is Mellcom, and no one is mad you punched him, Riven. He deserved it. It’s what you did after that in the heat of your chaos. You have to…” Amick stops and sighs.
He fucking sighs out loud.
When he lifts his gaze to lock onto mine, I’m not going to lie, the pleading behind them is a little shocking to me. My harmony slithers forward and I lock it down.
He steps closer to me, lowering his voice only for Creed and me to hear.
“Stop doing that to her, Riven. It’s confusing. If it isn’t obvious enough for you to see, then I’ll just spell it out. She’s struggling with being back here. This is her Abandon. Don’t make this any harder.”
Her Abandon.
