“I also…” I trail off, closing my eyes as I center myself and my thoughts. “I’m so sorry, you guys.”
“For wanting to cut your hair?” Riven asks.
“No,” I snort and give him a grateful smile. “For taking so long to do this. To let go of the things that’ve been holding me back. You all have been so patient and understanding. Each moment that I’ve reacted or said something or did something out of habit from my past, you’ve all just ridden the storm. You all have put your all into softening a heart that you didn’t harden. I…it literally means the realm to me. You all mean the realm to me.”
They stare at me so intensely, my breathing labors.
“Thayla,” Kyzen says, taking my hands in his. “You have stuck beside us through everything. Every secret, every revelation, every battle. You have had our backs fiercer than any other being to ever walk this realm. We love you for you. Every stage of you, we’ve loved and accepted. This isn’t the first or last time we all change. We have an eternity to go together, and we’re going to support each other through every second of it.”
I give him a small smile as my bottom lip trembles. My head tilts to the side as Creed runs his thumb across it.
“You’ve done more than soften our hearts,” he says as he caresses my face so softly. “You’re literally saving our souls.”
They make mine whole.
I kiss his fingers before he pulls them away, then my gaze falls on Amick’s as he tucks my hair behind my ear and rubs my earlobe.
“You never have to apologize to us for taking your time becoming who you are and learning as you go. We’ve been doing that as well. I hope we all spend the rest of our lives growing and becoming better for each other.”
“I do too,” I murmur.
I mean that wholeheartedly.
“I’ve already told you you’re an angel among us gods,” Riven says, and I cast my eyes to his. “You have more love to give than you know what to do with. I’m going to spend my life feasting on it and giving you back everything I got in me.”
My lids drift shut, and I don’t bother wiping away the slow, happy tear that slides down my cheek.
I sit in it.
In their comfort. Their love.
Their lips lay against my skin, and I release a shaky breath as I squeeze each of them and stroke their souls.
“So, who’s ready to cut some hair?” I ask.
They move behind me as one, with small chuckles leaving their lips, and they run their fingers through my hair.
“Any idea how long or short you want it, gorgeous?” Kyzen asks.
“Whatever you all think will look best. I’ve never had it anything but on the longer side.”
“Not trying to make this about me or anything, but if I have a say-so, I’d like it long enough to still wrap around my fist.”
“Riven.” The other three bark, and I slap my hand over my mouth to hide my laugh.
“He’s got a point, though. I do like it when one of you pulls my hair,” I mumble and the air around us shifts.
“Fuck, don’t say stuff like that right now,” Creed grunts. “We’re trying to be serious.”
“I’m seriously fucking har—”
“Don’t finish that crude comment,” Amick snaps, cutting Riven off.
I just smile toward the trees.
“Amick, you should be the one to cut,” Kyzen says.
“What? Why me?”
