She paces back and forth repeatedly. I just…stare.
He literally said, “I know this house like the back of my hand.”
He meant that.
Fuck. This is great and horrible all at the same time.
“On a positive note, hopefully, he did say that she rarely ever uses it, so we may have some time until she notices.”
“I don’t even know what to think right now,” I say, glancing between her and the Binding. “I mean, this most certainly helps in the collecting Bindings department, but the last thing we need after their hearing is for the Beginning Gods to come storming our house.”
“Oh my gods, the hearing. How did it go? Obviously great if you’re all here.”
I rub my temples as Riven goes on telling her what happened with details that definitely didn’t happen. I didn’t punch his mother.
Wanted to? Yes.
“V, will you please take the Binding and hide it with the others?”
“Of course. Are you going to take care of what you need to take care of?”
“Getting there.”
“What do you need to take care of?” Creed asks and I snarl at V.
He hoots and flies to the table, clutches the Binding in his claws and disappears without a glance my way.
“Yemi, let me walk you out,” I say, cutting off whatever Riven is still rambling about.
She doesn’t argue with me as I link our arms together and drag her through my room, then out my back door. My head falls against it and I slouch.
“What’s wrong?” she asks.
“I got an issue.”
“Uh-oh. What?”
“So I attempted to bring down that pesky emotional barrier you warned me about and yeah, it didn’t go as planned.”
Her mouth gapes open.
“What do you mean didn’t go as planned? Like it wouldn’t come down or?”
“Oh no, it’ll come down. It’s about to bring down a whole realm of shit along with it, though. I damn near crumbled into a heap, then slammed it back in place once I was assaulted with my emotions.”
She crosses her arms and her glare turns furious as she hits me with her undivided attention.
“What did I literally tell you, Thayla? I warned you this would happen.”
“Yes, I know that. Now I need you to tell me how to minimize the emotions so I don’t break apart like a fragile little fucking vase.”
My teeth grind together as she shakes her head.
“That’s not how it works. It’s going to come down, and everything you were blocking is going to come forward. There’s no softening the blow. That’s the cost of wielding that power that way, Thayla. You just have to…get knocked down, then get back up. I got a feeling in your case, you’ll be getting picked back up.”
My lids fall shut and I shift my head back and forth.
“I can’t fall apart, Yemi. This moment can’t be about me. I wanted a joyous, over-the-top, lovey-dovey reunion. I wanted to come home and celebrate their victory. Not have them…hold me together while I finally break. That’s so selfish.”
