“Yes, a good one that I think everyone will both be excited about and benefit greatly from.”
He takes a moment to consider that before nodding, stepping out of his room, and shutting his door. I hold in my laugh at how different the two interactions were, yet how both give me butterflies.
Those same little flutters try to choke me as I raise my fist to Creed’s door. His footsteps stomp closer, and I take a step back so he doesn’t feel like I’m attempting to invade his space.
A small look of surprise crosses his face when he sees it’s me standing here. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine. I’m rounding everyone up. I have what I’m calling a surprise.”
“I don’t do surprises.”
“I was warned, but this isn’t anything bad.”
“Is the surprise an orgy or another family meeting?”
I scream and jump forward hard enough I crash right into Creed’s chest. With two hands to my hips, he steadies me but doesn’t release me as I whip back around.
“What the fuck, Riven? Where did you come from?”
“My room.”
“Obviously, but I didn’t even hear you.”
“You can’t have the element of surprise and be loud. By the way, I love surprises, especially if they result in blowing something up. Which I just remembered, I forgot to tell you. I have a surprise for you.”
Valories help me.
“What is it?”
“I burned down Daddy Gladdy’s Valtrue’s house. You should’ve seen it. It was ama—”
“You did what?” Creed shouts as his arm snakes around my waist. I don’t believe he knows he’s done it and I’m too shocked to move.
“Oh yeah. Sent that bad boy up in a blaze of colors. It was stunning, really. I wish you all had been there to see it.”
I cock my head to the side once the initial shock of Creed holding me close wears off. Although the rise and fall of his chest against my back are incredibly distracting.
“You burned his house down, for me? Because of what he did?”
“Well, of course. He’ll think twice before touching what’s mine again if he ever wants to lay his head down on a pillow, or if he wants to keep his head at all, now, won’t he?”
He boops my nose, causing my head to flinch and brows to scrunch as he saunters on to the living room, where the other two are staring daggers at him. My mind malfunctions more as Creed slides his hand across my stomach, then lets it fall away.
“I can’t take any more surprises today.”
I turn back to face him. “Same. I don’t think I’m even thinking straight because what he said isn’t surprising me at all. I find it kind of sweet, actually. But I swear this is worth it. No big talks and hopefully no truth bombs of any sort.”
He grumbles as he pinches his nose and steps toward me, closing the space between us.
Well, that’s what I thought he was doing until I realize he was shutting his door. “Don’t let him hear that you thought his stunt was sweet. Let’s get this over with.”
I should’ve let the grumpy asshole stay in his room.
My nostrils curl at his back as he joins the others and plops down on the couch.
V’s laugh filters through my mind, and I drop the death glare. With each step I take into the living room, I let his eagerness for this fuel my own. It’s cute to me that he’s excited to meet them.
“Although you’re technically my only Vedae, I do get the opportunity to guide them as well. I haven’t had a Calling in many, many years. For me, it’s like getting five for one and making up for all that time.”
