Unlike in my past, where I could find a justifiable reason to push someone away, the madness running through my mind isn’t going to work here. I could sit here and rage that they withheld this important information from me, but that’d make me a hypocrite.
Part of me wants to say Seismet was right from the start. We should’ve opened up to one another. The other part disagrees with that because I know myself. Even at times when I want to dismiss or ignore my flaws.
If they’d dropped this on me within my first month here, you can bet your ass I would’ve stayed as far away from them as possible.
I would’ve run straight to Mellcom…just as I always have.
I would’ve forgiven him instantly because this would’ve frightened me more.
Instead, the silent agreement we all made to keep our secrets close, open up at our own pace, gave me an opportunity to get to know them.
There are too many things, situations that have already shown me who they are. My fears, when I push them to the far stretches of my mind, can’t argue with the fact they’re good men.
Good gods, who spent their childhoods being used and groomed to become monsters. They defied those odds.
Kyzen and Amick may not want to explore a relationship with me anymore after this, but regardless of that, I’m not going anywhere.
I’m not going to run away from them or allow myself to push them away.
“I…” My voice croaks. “I’m not going to abandon you. This situation petrifies me, but…the four of you don’t.”
We all startle as a heavy fist lands on the door. A collective release of breath falls from our chests when no one barges in and the knocking stops.
Silence once again fills the space.
Creed clears his throat, and I turn my attention straight to him. He stares at me, breathing hard as though his trance was broken, but I can’t pull any air into my lungs.
He finally nods, but I don’t know if that means he found what he was looking for or not.
“We can talk about this more later. We’re running out of time. Has Derivius responded to you?”
Riven shakes his head. “No. The fucker is picking a piss-poor time to ignore me.”
Kyzen exhales, shaking his body out as he walks to the back of the couch, grabs my shoes, andhands them to me.
“They’re going to come banging on our door again.”
“Who are they?”
“Kira.” He swallows roughly like the name is made of glass. “He’s brought his guards with him. They’re swarming the house, making sure we come out.”
There’s no escape from this.
“Derivius…”
With unsteady hands, I put my shoes on as I wait for a response and simultaneously listen to the guys work out a plan. It isn’t much of one, seeing as we don’t really have a choice or we prepare for a fight, according to them.
Basically, they declared they’d put me in the middle of them, out of sight, and get ready to face him.
“Listen here, asshole, this isn’t the time to ignore us.”
“My, two of my favorite gods calling me vulgar slurs in the span of a few moments. What could I have done to piss you all off today, little troublling? I’m a little busy.”
I huff and ball my fists.
“Well, get un-freaking busy. Do you seriously think Riven and I would call on you for nothing? The God of Obliteration is here, demanding a meeting with us, so some help would be appreciated.”
The silence that greets me again after waiting for a response has me stomping my foot the rest of the way into my shoe, and every colorful curse I can think of falls from my lips.
