Who’s rubbing the back of his neck.
“I was planning ahead. If you wanted to starshoot, I would’ve come and told them the change of plans.”
“So you assumed since last night when I told you I wanted to go to the Athenaeum today, that I’d want to walk, and you sent them letters?”
He shrugs. “I pride myself on knowing you so well, little goddess.”
I grumble at the smug wink he gives me, although it’s flattering that he predicted how I’d react and prepared accordingly.
Amick pulls me along once again, and his minuscule sigh slips free when Lambrit stops us and tugs me in for a hug.
“I’m happy you’re coming back. It’s been too quiet.”
“We both know you like the quietness, Lambrit.” I chuckle.
“If he had to choose between the quiet and your noise, Thayla, he’d choose the noise,” Rose says as she comes in for a hug next. “Matter of fact, I’m pretty sure he’s been struggling to focus without the background sounds.”
“There’s no way.” I snicker.
“Way. He’s been—”
“Okay, enough picking on me. Why don’t you tell her about your huffing and saying I wish the girls were here every hour?”
She grins, rolling her eyes as she pulls away from me and goes into his arms. My heart hums in happiness when he bends down and kisses her like it’s the most natural thing for him to do.
Gods. They’re so cute.
I hope they get married one day.
“I may have done that. A girl can only hear so much about the divisions of the regions before she goes a little crazy.”
“Lambrit, I know you haven’t been putting her through that,” I tease.
“May we walk and talk?” Amick asks.
Why he even asks? I don’t know because he pulls me along before anyone answers.
My smile lingers on my lips as I peer over my shoulder and watch Riven wrap Lambrit up in a hug of his own. My best friend grins and goes with the flow.
It’s hilarious and endearing to me that out of everyone, Riven’s the one he’s become the closest with. I would’ve bet my life on it being Amick or even Kyzen that he tried to build a relationship with first.
Everyone falls into casual conversations, and I try to pay attention to each one being had. It’s a little difficult to follow it all, though.
My gaze travels over the random gods also taking the path toward the Assembly. Some disappear through starshoots oncetheir conversations end. Some keep heading in the direction we are.
I compare those groups to ours.
They’re a handful of gods, living under the same rules, the same skewed history, expectations, limitations, and responsibilities.
Yet, they’re so vastly different.
They speak freely and loudly without a care in the realm that we can hear the things they’re saying. Not once do they peer over their shoulders. Their lack of concern for who could hear anything they say is concerning.
One of them just told his buddy that this morning at the temple, he prayed to the God of Pride and asked him to show him what more he can do before next year’s Veiling Day.
Fucking pointless.
I want to scream at him not to waste his breath anymore.
