“Where’s Thayla?”
“The bathroom.”
He doesn’t even bother looking up from his parchment.
“You let her go alone? Are you serious?”
“Don’t, Creed.”
His voice halts me at his threshold.
“What do you mean don’t? Do you not recall a brief time ago her being kidnapped from this very fucking place?”
“Of course I recall. I told her she had to take Yemi and Rose with her, then when they walked out, I asked Lambrit to go stand by the door.”
“No offence to Lambrit or anything, but what’s he going to do if something happens?”
“Don’t doubt his willingness to defend any of them if need be. You’re also forgetting Thayla is much more comfortable with her powers now than when she was taken. We can’t start watching her every move because we’re afraid someone is going to jump out at us from every corner. She’ll grow tired of that.”
I cross my arms and stare daggers at him. He doesn’t realize that or care to acknowledge it because he’s yet to even glance at me.
“Are you afraid there’s someone waiting around the corner for us?”
“Not in the literal sense, but yes, I’m concerned about whoever or whatever is coming. It’s only a matter of time before they respond in some way.”
The way he admits that like it’s fact not just fear infuriates me. How can he be so calm about that?
“You upset Thayla again this morning, by the way.”
My head jolts at the abrupt change of subject.
“What? How? I didn’t do anything.”
“You were in her bed when she went to sleep but gone by the time she woke up. You snuck out on her like a thief in the night. As Riven called it.”
“Could you put down the fucking pen and look at me?”
He sighs at my ass as he quits writing, laces his hands together, then stares at me.
“My role wasn’t covered in the week we were relieved of our duties. If anything, Harriseen purposely left more tasks for me to complete. Why can’t I continue my work and converse with you simultaneously?”
“Because it makes me feel like you don’t give a shit about conversing.”
“Are we discussing our feelings together now? Very well.”
He gestures toward the chair that no one’s allowed to sit in but Thayla. My gaze bounces from it back to him. I shift my feet apart a little more and continue to glare at him and his shitty attitude.
“I’ll start. I feel like you, out of everyone, still have reservations about our relationship dynamic. Since you won’t say anything to anyone, eventually, Thayla is going to catch on. That will lead to her being upset and feeling awkward. I don’t like that. What are your reservations so we can get them out of the way?”
I grit my teeth at the patience on his face. Each feature is smooth as though he’s perfectly fine staring at me all day until I answer him.
“You came to that conclusion from me leaving her bed last night?”
“If my assumption is wrong, please correct me.”
Fucking smart-ass.
“Perhaps when I sleep in her bed, I want to be sleeping next to her. Not cuddling one of you or damn near falling off the bed.”
