With the smallest glance spared to Thayla, he turns on his heels and starts walking back toward the Athenaeum.
My head hangs as both understanding and annoyance lace through me. All previous thoughts about how I couldn’t wait for the realm to see us together, shrivel and die right here at my feet.
“I’m trying not to feel bad for catching an attitude with him just now, but damn. He could’ve just flat out said that’s why he was warning us, rather than being an ass about it.”
“Yes, he could have, but then that would’ve been too obvious, less chaotic, and showed that he cares. That’s not something he’s going to do.”
“I don’t understand why not.”
“Because he—”
“Amick.” I meet his eyes for a moment before settling them on Thayla’s. “Despite the shitty way he just went about it, that’s something Amick and I should’ve thought about on our own. Especially with everything going on. I don’t like it, nor do I want you to think I’m ashamed of our relationship, but it is for the best that we don’t show the truth of it right now.”
There’s still a tinge of annoyance and probably a little anger at the way Riven went about that in her body language, but she eventually nods.
“I understand why we’d want to keep this a secret and honestly, I’m fine with it. The fewer people who know my personal life, the better. Fuck, especiallyhim. If we fail thisquesthe’s sending us on, I can only imagine how he’d hold this over our heads.” She pauses, running her hands down her face as a rush of air blows from her nostrils.
Before I can tell her that’s not going to happen, she carries on.
“Do you all seriously think someone in the Godsdawn would run to him about this?”
“Who are you all referring to so cryptically?”
Fuck, I forgot they were behind us.
Amick stops walking and we all follow suit. “Yes. We’ll finish this conversation later and fill the rest of you in to an extent. My brothers and I will need to discuss with Thayla what she is and isn’t allowed to tell you.”
Confusion contorts the three of their faces and they each look at Thayla. She gives them a tight smile that they easily interpret as not right now.
“I thought just the High Chancellor was meeting us?” I ask.
“That was the plan,” Amick says as we start walking.
Tension grows in Thayla’s shoulders with each step closer to the Athenaeum doors we get. Gulliver and Ellian are standing behind the High Chancellor, who appears annoyed as fuck already.
“Lambrit, you and your Attendant report to where you are supposed to be.” Harriseen’s face fills with instant fury when Lambrit’s body locks up as his gaze moves to Thayla. “Are you looking at her for permission to obey my order?”
“He doesn’t need my permission to do anything. We asked him to join us here.”
His glare snaps to Thayla, and I shove my hands in my pockets to hide their immediate twitch.
“He has a role to fulfill. You do not have the authority to ask anything of him without my direct say-so,” Amick says.
Ah, fuck. Here we go.
“I directly invited Lambrit and Rose to join us on the quest we’ve been tasked with. Therefore, they’re to report to me. Shall we take thiscordialconversation inside?”
My lips curl at the subtle bristle that passes through the High Chancellor at Amick’s stern words. It eats the old man alive inside to know my brother, if he had all his power, would be numerous times stronger than he is.
Amick isn’t one to flaunt. That’s never been important to him. It’s moments like this, though, when he knows he needs to take control of the situation before Harriseen can.
This isn’t an argument that needs to be mediated. It needs to be made clear, here and now, with other Chancellors as our witnesses, that Amick’s in charge of planning every step of whatwe’vebeen tasked with by the Beginning Gods.
I love this shit.
As much ass-kissing as I begrudgingly have to do, it gives me great pleasure when Amick, any of my brothers, get an opportunity to throw commands around.
“Very well.”
