It takes him a moment to pull his hands free from his pockets, but once he does, they’re on her.
A moan slipping from her throat has me shaking my head, and Kyzen separates himself from her with a dangerous chuckle falling from his.
“I needed that more than you know, little goddess.”
“So did I. I’m sorry for earlier. I was freaking out—still am—but I got it under control now. I’m ready to go.”
Our small bubble of peace pops, and the fear, panic, and indescribable anger boil right back to the surface. Seriousness washes back over the three of us.
“We have five minutes until the others are supposed to be back. Let’s discuss some things before they arrive,” Amick says as he scoops the maps off the ground.
Before he can roll them out across the table, Thayla clears her throat.
“I don’t want Lambrit, Yemi, Rose, or Havar joining us. V, as much as I want you and Seismet there with me, I also don’t. It’s best you two stay as well.”
V hoots softly.“I’ll stay behind, but if you need me, you call.”
“Thank you,” she breathes. “Hopefully, the others are that agreeing.”
My brothers and I exchange looks.
Kyzen takes the lead.
“Lambrit, Rose, and Havar will stay behind. We talked to them as soon as we left.”
Her exhale is cut short the second she notices what he left out.
“And what did Yemi say? There’s no damn way she’s going to talk Havar, Sevryn, and me into agreeing she goes.”
Kyzen rubs the back of his neck, and she grips the back of the chair as she stares him down.
“Havar put up a small fight.”
She slams the chair into the dining room table and immediately starts pacing as she runs her fingers through the loose strands of hair around her face.
“Gods damn it!”
“Thayla.”
“No, Amick. I don’t want reason or advice right now. She isn’t freaking going. End of discussion.”
“Listen to me,Mysenta, and listen well. I’m going to say what I want to say right now while the others aren’t here.”
“What would it matter if the others were here or not? I’m not changing my mind.”
“It matters because I’ll never, ever, call you out in front of mixed company. In the eyes of them—your friends—other gods, whoever it may be, I’ll always, undeniably, have your back. In the comfort and privacy of our home, I’ll tell you when you’re in the wrong. You’re wrong to stop Yemi from coming.”
“How? How am I wrong? This is so dangerous on so many levels. She could get hurt.”
“She could. Any of us could.” His eyes soften when her body flinches. “Accept not only that, but the fact of the matter is, Yemi was chosen and paired to you as your Attendant. That in its core, original sense means there’s a strength in Yemi that can match your own. That doesn’t necessarily mean power, but we don’t know that because one, she doesn’t have all her power and two, she’s been too fearful to let out what she has.
“Have more faith in her than what you’ll show her you have by denying her this. She stated she wants and is okay to go. Don’t undermine her decision and make her feel weak because you’re fearful she may get hurt. You’d never allow one of us to get away with making you feel that way. I can’t let you get away with doing that to your best friend.”
Her shoulders slump and her hands fall from her hips. A denial rages in her eyes, but eventually, she gives up her fight.
“Damn it, Amick. I hate that you’re right.”
“You should be used to that by now. I’m right far more often than I am wrong.”
