You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.
Collum smiles brightly at me the second he sees me peer over my shoulder. I give him a pinched, awkward one in return, then face forward.
The Valories hate my ass.
The silence that surrounds us as we move through the trees is both comforting and awkward. It’s so fucking weird knowing everything we do and say is being watched, but at the same time, if I can put it out of my head, the beautiful, flourishing woodland and soothing sound of nature is calming.
It doesn’t take long for a quiet hum to start up behind me.
The beat draws a frown to my face and my chest pinches as the melancholy of it sinks into my skin.
I’m really not sure what Riven saw on my face in the hot spring that made him freak out and beg me not to give up on him, but it’s gutting me.
Yes, he has been more wishy-washy than any of them, but I see through it very clearly. Just as clear as I see the feelings he’s trying to hide from me. He lets them show more than he realizes.
When those words came out of his mouth and slammed into my soul, I realized, it isn’t just his fear of rejection and simultaneously, commitment, he has a fear of not being chosen.
Why, I don’t know. I’ll have to wait to hear his story before I can put that together.
What I do know is, I have every intention of choosing him.
Matter-of-fucking-fact, I’m not giving him a choice to reject me.
He’s mine and he’s going to be happy about it.
I mean, realistically, if he does reject me, I’ll accept it because I’d never force anyone to be with me, but…if I need to be a little crazy to get his undivided attention, I will.
My throat vibrates as I start humming along with him, just like I did in the cave.
My tempo is the same as his but livelier, happier—a sweet war beat if you will.
Kyzen bumps me with his elbow, smiling from ear to ear as he too joins in. His fingers lace with mine, and small chuckles cut through his tone that he can’t hold in to save his life.
My head whips to the right when a soft, very feminine hum joins us as well. Sweet Rose’s eyes are lit up like the stars as she gazes up at Lambrit’s red face. He shakes his head repeatedly, but she pulls his arm over and over until he gives in.
My laugh breaks up my song, but I clear my throat and jump right back to it.
Soon enough, everyone is humming except for Amick, who doesn’t look mad but actually seems pretty relaxed. Creed also isn’t joining in, but at least his head is bobbing to the melody. I don’t think Sevryn is either, but I can’t really tell. His lips are tilted in a small smirk, though.
I peer over my shoulder, catching Riven’s eyes scanning all of us in awe. A snort escapes me when he playfully lifts an eyebrow at me. I nod my head for him to come beside me, and he does.
I don’t say anything. I just link my arm through his and enjoy the way his body vibrates with his laughing, then his upbeat hum that brings everyone’s together.
Creed clenches his fist in the air, halting all our feet and our song. He holds his hands out for us to stay, and he eases a few feet forward.
I most certainly don’t stay put.
Neither does Kyzen, Riven, or Amick.
He huffs but just shakes his head at us and continues staring forward.
Unlike the stern scowl on his face, mine lights up with a smile as we creep up on and watch a little girl running around a yard. From here, I spot two adults sitting on the stairs of the quaint little house, watching her, and their laughs faintly drift back here to us.
The man, I assume her father, jogs down the stairs and chases after her playfully. Her squeals travel through the trees, and I become overwhelmed with the cuteness as well as the deep longing that rushes through me.
“What’s—”
My gasp clips my question.
