Oh, I was about to be screaming…
“Your power won’t hurt her, Creed.”
I whiparound, smiling in awe and excitement as Verlet trots toward us. Seismet lets out his own elated neigh from where he’s made himself comfortable in the grass with V.
“Hello, Thayla. Giving Creed a hard time today, I see.”
“Hey, Verlet. It’s quite the opposite, actually. I’ve had a very long day, and he dragged me out here for tiresome training.”
“That was rude of him. I was referring to confusing him completely. He doesn’t know what to do with you claiming his power didn’t cause you pain.”
I peer over my shoulder, and Creed does, in fact, look like his mind is spinning.“Why would he think that?”
“Oh, that will be a question he has to answer for himself.”
“Ugh, you revered creatures and your secrets.”
I swear to the Valories, all three of them laugh at me.
It’s not funny.
My eyes stay trained on Creed as Verlet makes his way to him and lays his forehead against his. They stay in that position long enough I know they’re having their own conversation.
I also know it’s about me when I catch Creed peeking at me.
“Come on, Seismet. Tell me all the secrets.”
“Do you really want me to?”
“Seismet,”V warns.
I smile mischievously at the two of them, but it softens when the stress in Creed’s shoulders slackens as he pulls away from his companion. Yes, I desperately want to know the secrets that still surround him, but I want him to be comfortable enough to tell me.
“Uh, no, I don’t. I want him to hurry up and tell me. I have a sneaky suspicion he tends to beat himself up more than he deserves. If I knew that for sure, I could call him out and correct him about it.”
“You hate it when we or anyone else does that to you,”V scoffs.
“What can I say, I’m a hypocrite.”
“That’s enough for today.”
Creed picks up my discarded sword and expertly sheaths it with his that he’s already put over his shoulder. I tilt my head at the shift in his mood, trying to figure out why what I said bothered him so much.
I’m tempted to tell him no, let’s keep training so he’ll get out of this funk he just got in.
My exhausted arms, mind, and sore ass convince me to call it a day.
“We’re going to stay here with Verlet,”Seismet says as he and V make their way over to where I’m standing staring at Creed. While he looks everywhere but at me.
“Okay. Thank you for your lesson earlier, V. Do either of you have any advice on how to handle this?”I nod over at Mr. Grumpy.
“Just be yourself. Show him you aren’t afraid of him or his power.”
“Which is what exactly?”
“Didn’t you just say you didn’t want us to say anything?”Seismet groans.
“I did. I can’t help myself.”
