“I don’t care for your teasing tone. You know what I mean. Why are you holding both their hands? Are you injured? Dizzy? Can’t walk for yourself?”
I peer over my shoulder as Yemi snorts and shakes her head at Lambrit. When she catches me staring, she purses her lips, but I shoot her a wink, letting her know I know she isn’t all that scared of me.
“She’s physically fine. We are her boyfriends and we’re showing her affection.” I smile proudly over at Amick as Thayla slowly shuts her eyes and sighs.
“Both of you?” Lambrit asks, a little bewildered.
“Yes, although I don’t really like the title boyfriends. Do we need to talk about this? The two of us?” Thayla asks sincerely, and Lambrit studies her for a long moment.
“Are you happy?”
“Yes, I am.”
He nods, then faces back forward. “Then I am happy and approve of this arrangement.”
She snorts and a smirk lingers on her lips. “Thanks, Lambrit.”
“You’re welcome. This is surely about to make a statement to everyone.”
I couldn’t be happier about that. The quicker the Godsdawn sees that we’re more than a Valtrue, the less I’ll have to worry about reckless gods—aside from my asshole brothers—attempting to ask her out.
I still don’t know who had the balls to do it the first time.
I’m going to find out, though.
A small shriek falls from Thayla’s throat when Riven appears in front of her.
“As disgustingly adorable as this is, you might want to save it for later. Unless you’re ready to explain to Harriseen, Gulliver, and Ellian you’re having a threesome.”
“A threesomeis sex—”
“I don’t think we need that clarified right now.” I release Thayla’s hand and place it on Amick’s shoulder, then focus on Riven. “What are you talking about?”
“They’re standing at the Athenaeum doors, awaiting our arrival. Figured I’d be kind enough to tell you to put this gross display of affection up.”
Thayla places her hand on her hip as she stares him down. “Why are you acting like this? I don’t give a single fuck what they think, and you should know this by now.”
“Oh, I do know, little burden. You don’t care much about what anyone thinks.” His sarcastic tone has a glare crossing her face and my eyebrows drawing down in warning.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you care so little about what crosses the minds of these gods, you do as you please despite how stupid it is.”
“And you don’t? Are you kidding me right now? EverythingstupidI’ve done, as you call it, has been out of my control.”
“Can’t blame this stupidity”—he waves his fingers between the three of us—“on your power. This is just reckless disregard. My recklessness is by design and planning.”
Gods, he’s got a shit attitude this morning.
I attempt to keep my huff quiet. It’s easier for me to deal with his many moods, but this isn’t his chaos testing the situation. This is just him being an asshole.
Plain and simple.
“Enough, Riven. It’s clear why you’re acting like this and if you really weren’t okay with this relationship, you should’ve spoken up yesterday. You gave your blessing, which means you don’t get to be a colossal dick to Thayla today and attempt to make her feel bad about holding our hands.”
He presses his lips together, staring at me for an intense moment, then nods. His entire demeanor shifts. Not to calculating, teasing, or chaotic. I’m not sure exactly what it is that comes over him.
“Noted. Next time, I won’t stop you all from announcing your relationship to all of the Godsdawn soyou know whowill hear sooner rather than later how two of hisfavoritesare now fucking their Binder.”
