“Don’t call him out right now. He was very respectful. He needs some time.”
“Why are you so willing to give him time but not me?”
“Because he’s fearful and carrying blame that doesn’t belong to him. He needs to realize that on his own.”
My eyes meet Creed’s once again, but there’s nothing there for me to interpret. He definitely seems shocked and interested, but I can’t read anything else on his face other than that.
“Well, I’m glad everyone enjoyed this surprise. Told you all it was nothing bad.”
Kyzen chuckles and throws his arm over my shoulders. I contemplate pulling away for a split moment, then stop myself. My body relaxes slowly as I let the comforting weight of his arm that I’ve felt countless times before today ground me.
He goes to say something, but before he can, Amick cuts in. “We need to make some accommodations for V. Do you have a preference for where you’d like your space to be?”
“Oh, he’s—”
“I wouldn’t mind sleeping above the fireplace. I like the warmth and being close to the text. I’ll spend my time between here with you all, the sacred hot spring, and with Seismet.”
“Very well. I’ll get that arranged immediately.”
My eyes subtly roll at V’s appreciative sound.
They’re going to spoil him silly.
“You could’ve made space in my room.”
“I’d prefer not. The five of you will want privacy.”
No one makes a retort to V, so thankfully, he only said that to me. Kyzen doesn’t miss my blushing, though. His fingers trail down my cheek and his eyebrows arch with curiosity.
I don’t get the opportunity to say anything when Amick’s power flares to life once again. Only this time, it’s being put to use.
My jaw drops as above the fireplace, a square nook carves out right before my eyes. The depth goes far enough into the wall I don’t see where it ends, but a ledge forms that stretches out over the fire.
Blankets fill the hole at the opening in the shape of a nest and V hoots as he soars from my hands to inspect his space.
“Perfect, Amick. Thank you very much.”
“How in the realm did you do that?” I ask.
“We have control to change anything about our house as it was made with our essences. Just like the lights and doors. It requires a greater level of power and concentration. I’ll teach you how once you get more control and an understanding of your power.”
“So, the day I arrived, and this area changed, you could’ve changed it back?”
“I could have, yes.”
“Whydidn’t you?”
“It was changed with your desires and comfort mingled in with ours. I never would’ve changed it because it altered my design and comfort. That day, this space became just as much yours as any of ours.”
My heart flutters.
Amick gets such a bad rap for not having feelings, being too orderly, too obsessed with things being a certain way. From more people than just Riven. I’ve seen the way the others and those in the Athenaeum look and approach him like he’s an emotionless contraption from the nonmagical realm.
The fact that he had the power to change everything back to fit his comfort but didn’t speaks volumes to me.
He’s far from emotionless, selfish, or whatever word anyone wants to use to describe him. He shows it in the smallest of acts that no one gives him credit for.
Like my chair that only I can sit in.
