“No, I’m sorry, Thayla. He’s still out of our range.”
Despite him delivering that unchanged news in a soft tone, I grit my teeth so hard my jaw cramps.
My stomach swirls, and I release a long exhale to calm my Chaos down. Every time I let a little more leak out, Havar and Lambrit shift uncomfortably, while Rose and Yemi attempt to touch me again, or they sniffle.
All of which I can’t take.
“V…anything?”
He sighs, and my fists clench at my sides.“He’s not responding.”
“So he spoke to you that one time, and then what? He stopped? Why would he do that? Why wouldn’t he keep communicating with us? Why wouldn’t he tell us where he is? Did you tell him we’re coming like I asked you to?”
“Yes, I did. He’s concentrating right now, Thayla. Just as you should. He’ll be okay until you all get to him.”
“Concentrating on what?”
He doesn’t respond, and the groan that leaves my lips is thunderous. The noise continues to echo into everyone else’s silence, and they turn their attention to me. I want to run out of the living room.
“Thay.”
“No, don’t Thay me, Lambrit, please. I know my attitude is shitty right now, and I’m sorry that everyone is facing the wrath of it. I’m trying my damnedest to settle it down.”
“I know that. I was going to suggest a walk to clear your head. That used to always help,” he mumbles.
I huff and nod at him. Yemi and Rose give me tight smiles as though they’re offering to come along. Granted, that’s endearing but also an awful idea.
Their tagging along and crying the whole time will make me lose the small thread of rational thinking I’m clinging to.
“That’s not a good idea. With her power reacting the way it is, she could accidentally stir up issues in the Godsdawn.”
As always, Amick’s words are straight to the point. With the turmoil, confusion, and overwhelming anger ripping through him, I—logically—know he doesn’t realize how brutal that sounded.
Illogically, I ball my fists and get ready to cuss him out.
“Everyone’s going to take a break. All of you go to Yemi’s or wherever. The three of us are going to the Court to getCreed’s updated maps of the Abandon. Thayla, stay here with V. Everyone meet back in thirty minutes.”
Kyzen doesn’t give anyone an opportunity to argue or agree. With nothing more than a quick kiss to my forehead, he stomps toward the front door.
Havar, Sevryn, and Lambrit follow right behind. As Yemi and Rose pass me, they give my forearm soft grips, and I hold my breath until the desire to peel my skin off goes away.
“We’ll be back,” Amick whispers as he grips my fingers when he walks by.
Creed says nothing as he cups my cheek and strokes my soul.
The silence that greets me after the door shuts makes my body heat.
My eyes close and my head twitches with the worries that rush through my mind. This isn’t at all what I wanted either.
“Would you like some company?”
“Shit,” I shriek, whirling around with my hand to my chest. “Damn it, Derivius. When did you come back?”
He leans against the counter, examining me from head to toe. There’s no teasing to be found in his blue eye and that makes my throat clog.
If the God of Chaos is fearful, my reaction is completely okay.
“Before you asked how much longer this was going to take. You’ve been a little distracted.”
