I don’t take a step before Thayla’s smiling eyes trap me.
Ever since Kyzen fucked her, probably magnificently, she’s been happier. Her sass has been funnier, and her chaos has been less chaotic.
No one else probably senses the shifts since they’re small and we’ve got a lot going on, but I do. Why? Because my fucking power reaches out to her like an animal begging for food.
I notice every single move the tether sucking the life out of me makes.
Anytime it twitches, I wrestle with making Creed rip it out of me and caressing it so sweetly it burrows itself down deeper.
I’d never really pull it on my own unless I was ready for an all-out war with my brothers.
Well, and I don’t want to hurt her, but that’s beside the point.
“You okay?”
My eyes trace down her face as she asks me so genuinely, then bites that bottom lip I have no doubt Kyzen caused to swell.
“Splendid, my little burden.”
I smirk at the annoyed noise that comes out of her but otherwise ignore her. “Why is all of our company required to go to the meadows?”
“You took the question right out of my mouth.”
“Have no fear, I have something you can put in your mouth.” I jump out of the way as she tries to shove me, only to come face-to-face with three matching glares. “What? I was talking about the muffins Annalise sent.”
No, I wasn’t.
The evil mixed with aroused look Thayla is giving me morphs into a big-ass smile. “Aww, that was sweet of her, but what muffins?”
My head snaps to Creed, who I’ve just noticed is, in fact, standing there empty-handed. “What the hell did you do with my food?”
“Starshot it to the house for later.”
Before I can cuss him out, Amick cuts in. “The High Chancellor is being even more of a nuisance than I thought he’d be. He sent another communication to me last night, informing me he set up a meeting for us at the meadows so we could formally express to the Lead Meadow Hand who we’ve selected to come with us. He expected our entire team to be present and for us to take our decisions seriously. Our decisions are already made, and this is a waste of time, but it’s not worth another argument.”
“He’s so sensitive. You’d think for a god as old as him, plus his responsibility to the Godsdawn, he’d get over his spoiled, righteous attitude and do what’s best for everyone without all this let me swing my small dick around taurnshit.”
I snort at all the foul slurs falling from Thayla’s mouth while the new extras of our weird little group gasp and look around.
“For the Valories, Thay, shout out how you feel, why don’t you?” Lambrit, the funny genius, whom I thoroughly like, asks with a hint of sarcasm that I appreciate.
I’ve enjoyed the conversations I’ve had with him behind Thayla’s back.
“Well, we know I’m good at that.”
He and our entire Valtrue stare at her, unamused.
“His actions regarding this quest of ours have heightened my suspicions of him more than usual.”
That just-been-fucked smile Kyzen’s had on his face this morning slips as he glances at Amick.
“I thought the same thing yesterday after he pulled that shit.”
“I’ve been quite concerned about his formal request, if I’m being honest. What’s the likelihood the Gods review and approve that request?”
I look at Lambrit like he’s all of a sudden an idiot, then remember we excluded him from our conversation.
“None, Lam-man, it’s all good.”
