He may not be able to help it. After so many years of being away from society, he could just be desperate to carry on and relate to people once again.
Regardless, I honestly like the guy. He doesn’t give me any bad feelings, and everything that comes out of his mouth seems genuine. He doesn’t even know his entire Valtrue yet, but he’s already painted them out to be the greatest people in his life.
I honestly hope for his sake that he isn’t about to be crushed.
Nero claps Doren on the shoulder. “Everything’s going to be as it should.”
I’m still not sure what to make of him. It’s not that I get any bad vibes from him, but it isn’t comforting that he works and lives incredibly close to the gods we all dislike.
“Right. So right you are. Sevryn?” Doren asks with an encouraging smile.
Our poor old friend. I’m not sure how he’s going to do with the constant positivity and openness.
He looks both disgusted with Doren’s sincere concern and guilty because he doesn’t have a good enough reason to continue being an asshole toward him.
“Let’s get this over with. I’m ready to get the fuck home.”
“Yes, I am as well. I can’t wait to meet Yemi.”
Sevryn balls his fists at his sides.
“Come on, lover boy. Let’s find your last Valtrue member’s soul.” Riven giggles as he skips ahead to catch up with Thayla and I sigh as I grip Sevryn on the shoulder.
I allow Doren and Nero to follow along before I speak.
“Don’t feed into him. You know he’s doing it on purpose.”
“Yeah, well, this isn’t something to fucking tease about.”
“This is the perfect thing for Riven to pick about. Despite the God of Discovery’s spunk in regard to this predicament, I believe he, and possibly Nero, are reasonable men. Perhaps you should express your feelings and concerns prior to returning to Yemi,” Amick adds.
“Oh yeah? And what would you advise I say?”
“The truth. Or at the very least, ask them what their intentions are. I get this sense that you look at our Valtrue and assume yours is going to follow the same mold. You may be getting bothered by nothing. What’s the point of that?”
“To prepare myself. What if we get back home and they declare they expect a relationship?”
“Then you simply tell them they get to expect nothing. Just as you shouldn’t. It isn’t any of your decisions, but Yemi’s. She is your Binder, your center, the one who makes you whole.”
Sevryn’s face clouds with something other than the anger he’s shown so far in this little adventure for his Valtrue.
“Has she said something to you already?” I ask.
“Not explicitly. She just jumps down my throat anytime I’ve talked shit about the men we don’t even know, but are going to spend our damn lives with.”
“Aww, well, come on, man. You can’t be doing that shit. Like Amick just said, she’s your Binder. You’re going to keep talking trash and she’s going to wonder what she did to be paired witha bunch of worthless men. You’re going to give her a complex about herself when really, it’s your insecurity.”
“That’s very wise, Kyzen.”
“Thank you.” I smile at Amick, but the gesture fades when I turn back to Sevryn.
“Fuck…you think I’ve already done that, and that’s why she’s been getting so defensive over everything I say?”
“Possibly. Has anything else happened?”
He grunts but doesn’t have time to respond when Thayla yells at us to come on. I didn’t realize they were all gathered together at the stone wall, waiting for us.
By the time we reach them, it becomes clear this isn’t just a wall at all.
