He may be too nice for his own good.
Riven’s liable to corrupt him.
Amick leads Thayla to the table with his hand against her lower back and I keep our fingers laced. With him on one side of her, me on the other, Creed grunts, obviously annoyed. He plops down in the chair beside me, and Sevryn, just as ungraceful, sits beside him.
“About fucking time you all showed up.”
“Starving for our company or food?” Creed asks.
“Both. I’m losing my mind in this house.”
Thayla leans forward, smirking at the attitude in Sevryn’s tone. Her small smile shifts up to Doren as he sets a drink in front of her.
I hold my laugh in as I watch Riven cuss and fumble the few cups in his hands.
“For fuck’s sake, I’m not waiting any longer. I don’t know why you’re all looking around, confused. Fix a plate.”
Havar sits up from his seat, completely ignoring the glare Yemi’s giving him as he grabs the biggest slice of the roast. He follows up with commands across the table to pass whatever other dish he wants. Somehow, unintentionally or intentionally, he starts a seamless line of dishes being passed around and plated.
“I’d like to make a toast,” Nero says as he stands from his chair and holds his glass up.
How formal.
Thayla cuts her eyes at me as if she heard that and I wink at her.
“I want to thank you, Yemi and Doren, for all the work you put into making this a wonderful night among friends. Here’s to many more to come.”
“Here, here!” Riven cheers and tosses his drink back.
Everyone else, like normal people, takes a sip and sets—not slams—their cups back down. There’s a single beat of silence and first bite groans before the moment is broken.
“So—”
“Amick,” Thayla whispers and I watch her hand slide to his leg under the table.
“Yes?”
“Maybe let everyone take a couple bites first.”
“It’s quite all right, Thayla. There are some things I wanted to discuss with you all tonight. That was among one of the reasons we invited you all over,” Doren says, giving her a smile and a nod as her lips tighten.
“What are the other reasons?”
“Reason, really. Yemi simply missed you and your company.” His gaze moves over to Yemi, where she’s sitting right across from Thayla.
“Gods, don’t make me sound so desperate.”
That pulls a frown to his face and a chuckle from Thayla. “Not desperate. I’ve missed your company too.”
The two of them smirk at one another, and my hand finds its way between Thayla’s thighs when she lets my hand go to pick up her fork.
My smug ass sticks my tongue in my cheek as her leg twitches.
“Please, Doren, continue your discussion,” Amick encourages.
“Right, of course. I wanted to clear a few things up. I’ve spent this time with my Valtrue being open and honest with them about many things, and I’d like you all to know those truths as well. I’d also like to be honest and admit to you all, I have told my Valtrue about Thayla’s tie and what that means.”
“No one gave you permission to do that,” Creed growls, and Thayla purses her lips at him.
