“What was your original plan, Riven?” I ask, gaining his attention once again.
“To go laze around the hot spring and see Verlet. Seismet’s sassy ass too, I suppose.”
I give him a teasing, firm stare. His Veilatara is just as sassy as mine.
Well…maybe not.
“You’re in luck. I already had that planned.”
Sort of.
“Did you really?” he asks.
“Yeah. So all of you go get changed, then meet me in my room. I already told them we’d be on our way after lunch.”
Riven sprints to his room without having to be told anything else.
“No tight-ass swim shorts.”
He giggles as he passes through his door and I roll my eyes. The other three rise with smirks and they clear our plates before heading to change. Well, Kyzen and Creed go to their rooms.
I lift my chin and study Amick’s stare as he stands over me.
“What’s wrong, Candyman?”
“I don’t know how I feel about all this planning you’ve been doing.”
That serious scowl of his softens when I bring his knuckles to my lips. The worry in his soul can’t fool me.
“I wouldn’t have been able to form my plans if it weren’t for you, Amick. You had so much figured out. I just had to put the pieces together. I—we—will forever need you to guide us.”
His shoulders slump, and he graces me with a tender smile. It’s incredibly flattering that he thought I was capable enough to take the role he carries in our Valtrue. That sure as shit isn’t happening.
I’ve done enough planning in my lifetime over the last few days, thank you very much.
“This is my last plan. Really, it’s a surprise. I just didn’t want to call it that because you and Creed don’t like surprises.”
“We like your surprises.”
“Usually, yes,” I say, ducking my head to hide my grin.
His fingers glide down the side of my face and he tilts my chin up, holding my gaze long enough that my breath shudders.
“I’ll meet you in your room in a minute.”
He lays his lips to mine, soft at first, then he deepens the kiss. If I didn’t have this plan already prepared, I’d pull him even closer. Possibly drag him off to my room. As if he senses that, he smiles against my lips and gives me one more peck.
Gods, that…well, god, is something special.
I give myself a moment to catch my breath, and once he passes through his door, I get up and head to my room.
“V, is everyone ready?”
“Yes. We’re all waiting on you five. Yemi has a million questions, but I’m positive she and Lambrit have already figured out what’s going on.”
I chuckle.“I’m sure they have. Can’t get much past them. It won’t take my men long to figure it out as well.”
A huff flows out of me when the shorts and shirt I planned on slipping back over my swimsuit disappear from the closet. For a blip of a second, my mood sours as my thoughts move to the Goddess of Illusion. I brush it away just as fast and get dressed.
