“Did any of you pack a long-sleeved shirt?” I ask as I walk out of the bathroom behind them.
“I did,” Riven grunts and I nod.
“Fetch that and some sleep pants for Thayla. I know for a fact she didn’t pack any pants to sleep in.”
“We’re allpainfullyaware of that.” I shake my head at him as he skips over to his bag, but when I turn back to face Thayla, I find her frozen in Creed’s arms, glaring at Riven’s back.
I didn’t realize this is the first time she’s seen his scars, or maybe she has and they still shock her. I observe the familiarity—or better yet—understanding mixed in with the fury and sadness racing across her face. I desperately wish she didn’t know that feeling.
He hides them when he thinks about them, but sometimes, I believe, he forgets they’re there. At least he tries to.
Creed leans down, whispering in her ear and grabbing her attention before Riven turns back around and sees her staring.
Kyzen and I share a glance, pretend we didn’t witness anything, then quickly get dressed.
We take over helping her as Creed goes to his bag and pulls out his own clothes. She argues the entire time we pull the shirt over her head and slip her legs in her pants, yet she never stops us or takes over for herself.
She even yawns a sweet thank you as she crawls her way into the middle of the bed.
Riven bellyflops beside her, wraps his arm around her stomach, tugs her until his chest is firmly pressed into her back, then slings his leg and the covers over her.
“Gods, afternoon naps are my favorites. You three wake us when dinner is ready.”
Both Kyzen and Creed go to say something but stop short. A breathtaking smile spreads across Thayla’s face as she tangles her arms with his. She’s the picture of peace against his chaos, with her eyes closed softly and covers tucked under her chin.
She truly matches all of us. Head-on.
Kyzen and Creed settle around them silently as their breathing becomes heavier, but I make my way back to the bathroom.
My heart instantly starts thudding in my chest as my fingers grab the illusion cube and I seal it back. The Binding’s power isn’t nearly as noticeable once it’s locked up, but when it’s not, it’s almost impossible to ignore.
I knew somehow, someway, we’d find it. I was determined not to give up until we did, even though my doubt was growing something fierce.
Now the even harder part starts.
In the closet, I replace the Book of the Gods Binding in my suitcase with the cube, then walk back out to get some space from it. I’ll observe it again later when everyone is back awake, but for now, I’m going to give it one last effort to find answers to the ones I already have but don’t like.
I sit on the edge of the bed and flip the book open right to the pages that give me the most information on how the Beginning Gods release power from the Binding.
Repeatedly, I read the text, finding nothing but what I already know.
“You’re more worked up than excited. I thought you’d be over the stars about having the Binding, but you seem…disappointed.”
I sigh as Kyzen climbs to the end of the bed and sits beside me.
“I thought you were sleeping with the others.”
“I was waiting for them to fall asleep. Do I ever nap?”
“No, but I figured today was an exception.”
“Nothing about today would make my body, mind, or power want a nap.”
“Nothing about what happened is your fault. There was nothing you could’ve done differently.”
He snorts, but it isn’t humorous. “Yeah, okay. My time most certainly should’ve slowed down enough that I reached her.”
“You can’t think like that or do that to yourself, Kyzen. I know you know that because if you didn’t, you would’ve said something to her. You would’ve apologized, but you didn’t because you know she’d tell you the same thing or possibly cuss you out.”
