“What?”
“I don’t even know how I got that sword. I gave Creed all my weapons the morning after we got back.”
I slowly exhale through the worry that’s trying to rip my throat to shreds.
“When’s the last time you actually slept, Kyzen?”
“I fell asleep like three hours ago.”
“When is the last time you slept all night?”
He gulps and tears his eyes from mine, but I pull him right back.
“The night before we met my father with the Binding.”
My jaw locks. That was a week ago.
It’s shocking he can even speak right now.
“We’re going to get you cleaned up and Creed is going to bandage you. Then we’re going to eat, talk if you think you can process a conversation, then you’re going to sleep.”
“I don’t—”
“That’s what we’re doing. You can sleep on the couch with all of us there with you or my bed. Wherever you please, but that is what’s about to happen. Do you understand me?”
His lips twitch for a fleeting second before he pushes his tongue into his cheek.
“I’m supposed to be the Ruler and Mediator here, gorgeous.”
“Cute. I’ve got a little touch of it too, so suck it up.”
“So you think I’m cute?”
A surprised laugh tumbles out of me, and his gaze lightens in a way that I haven’t seen in honestly far, far too long. My soul hums as he finally strokes it back and I shiver against him.
“I’ve missed that sound more than I realized.”
His soft omission has my stomach doing somersaults and my smile lingers on my lips. The only reason it fades away is because he pulls my face back to his.
The slide down his body is torturous, but as much as I’d love to stay in his arms, pinned against this wall, I’ve got two other brothers to fuss at this morning.
He hisses as I run cold water over his hand to wash away the drying blood and clean the gash but otherwise doesn’t complain. I, on the other hand, sulk when he pulls a shirt over his head.
I wish they’d walk around shirtless all the time.
If I asked them to, they’d ask the same of me in return, then we’d never do anything…but each other.
We share a confused glance with one another when we walk out of his room and hear the raised voices coming from the kitchen.
Amick’s standing straight, tilting his head in confusion as Riven yells at an annoyed-looking Creed, who has his arms crossed.
“What is—”
“Ah. And there’s the biggest traitor of them all.”
Riven’s outburst cuts me off as he points his finger at Kyzen.
“Me? What did I do?”
