“Are you okay?”
I nod as I search for my voice.
That wasn’t bad. Wasn’t bad at all.
Opposite actually.
“Yeah. I’m okay.”
He doesn’t push. He doesn’t dive deeper or search for a more detailed answer. He accepts my response and heads to the cabinet to get his own mug.
My cheeks blaze as the other three stare at me. I reach for my drink so I don’t have to look at any of them.
Creed clears his voice as soon as Amick joins us once again and I peek over my rim to watch them.
“How did it go?”
“Painstakingly pointless. I stood at the door and stewed in my annoyance quietly like an obedient Rising Chancellor.”
Riven snickers, and my mouth twitches.
“Nothing was addressed or discussed?” Kyzen asks cryptically.
My mug clinks against the table, louder than normal since they all went quiet after that question. They each turn to me and I exhale.
“I don’t want all of you to dance around the subject because you’re worried about me. I’m fine.”
“Fine?”
They all repeat it like they heard me wrong. I grit my teeth and trace the rim of my cup with my finger.
“Maybe that’s a poor word choice, but I don’t know how you all want me to describe it. It happened. It’s done. Time to move on.”
I swear to the Valories, the temperature drops like twenty degrees. The glares on their faces are just as cold. If it weren’t for the fact their souls are saying something different than those looks, I’d be worried they were directing them at me.
“No one’s moving on from shit,” Riven snarks.
“You can’t just shove this—”
“Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do, Creed.” I slam my coffee down, hissing and cussing as the hot liquid spills across my hand.
I hold it up and shake my head at them as they jump up from their chairs.
“Don’t. I got it.”
My fingers flex as I grab the rag off the counter and stomp back to the table. No one says anything. They don’t even twitch as I wipe my mess up like a mad woman.
A heavy breath falls from me as I tilt the kettle and pour myself some more coffee.
Calm yourself down and stop acting like a crazy bitch.
I lower myself back in my seat and lace my fingers together under the table as my gaze roams over each of them. My eyes stop on Creed.
“I’m sorry for snapping.”
His jaw muscles clench.
“It’s fine.”
