His Harmony sinks into my blood, and I settle into him. Basking in his—their—support. It’s silent in this moment, but so loud in my soul.
“The next time you don’t invite me to something like this, I’m going to chain you to me and swallow the key. Matter of fact, I’ll chain all five of us. Imagine how pissed that’ll make Amick.”
A watery snort escapes me.
“Okay, my little psycho. Next time I’ll invite you.”
He can chain me to him anytime he wants, but fuck.
Let there not be a next time like this.
Creed
35
“Creed.”
“What?” I grunt, and the feisty little nine-year-old puts a damn death grip on my fingers.
Her scowl is just as vicious.
On the other side of me, Thayla hides her small chuckle. She knows good and well that this surfacing attitude in who was the sweetest child I ever met, is all her fault.
Whatever Thayla does, Laney does.
“Saying what like that is rude,” she says, arching her little brow at me. I arch mine in return. “Do you really think these kids are going to be okay with me living in their house?”
Her question has the smile melting right off Thayla’s face, and my soul strokes hers to ease her displeasure.
“Has one of them said something to make you ask that?” I ask.
“No, but just because they like when I come play doesn’t mean they’ll like me living with them.”
I give her hand a squeeze.
“They’re excited. You’ll see.”
She gives me a smirk, then squeals when Riven tickles her as he runs by.
“Race you to the fence. Loser has to give up their cookie.”
She shrieks and takes off running down the path. Riven throws his head back, yelling when Kyzen hits him with his power and forces his sprint into an extremely slow stroll.
We all laugh as she tickles him back as she passes him.
“Are we sure a few play dates were enough to get her comfortable?” Thayla asks. “I mean, it’s only been a week.”
“It’s going to be fine, Thay. We discussed this,” Lambrit says from behind us and she grits her teeth. “She needs to sleep in a bed. No more couch hopping and living out of boxes.”
“She didn’t sleep on a couch at my house,” she snaps back.
That’s true.
We got kicked out of the bed while the two of them had agirls’ night. I had to bake three trays of cookies and make hot cocoa.
It was worth it.
Thayla had a permanent smile on her face. It’s dimmed since then.
