“Granted, he hasn’t admitted that, but Doren told me that Nero’s father holds him to an incredibly high standard. He was the Lead Mediator in Valveilious for years. He still gets called in to help during very intense situations. They’ve always carried themselves as unbiased. A family that will never choose a side because they’re needed in the middle. Doren doesn’t believe that’s true, though.”
“So is that your reservation with him?” I ask carefully, but yeah, nosily.
“Yeah, most definitely. If he can’t be himself and stop worrying so much about what his family thinks, we can’t have a relationship. Not a romantic one anyway.”
“I’ve got to admit, Yemi, I’m really shocked you’re taking this whole dynamic so well. I didn’t really see you on board with having four boyfriends. I mean, you kinda freaked out when you met them.”
“I don’t know how either of you does it.” Rose sighs hard as if the thought alone overwhelms her.
“Well, yeah, that freaked me out, but like I told you, I was fascinated with your situation. I didn’t fully understand it and never would’ve tried to find four random gods to date, but there’s a lot of sense in having a relationship with your Valtrue.
“Strangely, it feels very natural. Despite what I just said about not knowing how to juggle their emotions and reactions, there’s plenty about each of them that I’m attracted to. They each fit a different side of me so well.
“As scared as I was about them wanting a relationship at first, I’m glad Doren came into this with that attitude. He took the pressure off me and pretty much promised he’d wait forever for not only me, but Sevryn, Iric, and Nero to come around to the idea. He swore it was meant to be.
“I don’t really know how to explain it. The permission I didn’t need but appreciated, was there, and so all it really took was getting to know them and getting to the point where I knew for sure I wasn’t crushing or betraying Sevryn, if that makes sense, before I fully gave in to the idea. I guess I was looking for his permission in a way as well.”
“Awww,” she sneers and scoffs at my fluttering lashes. “And to think we sat on that ship in the Lost Sea, and you flipped your shit because you were afraid of having an older god in your Valtrue. He ended up being the sweetest.”
“Shut up.” She laughs and bumps me with her shoulder.
“I’m sort of pissy we didn’t get to do the whole, hey, how do you all feel about Yemi dating thing on your men like mine. Fuck, could you imagine?”
My snorts roll right on into a cackle as I think about how Sevryn would’ve reacted. She and Rose glare at me like I’ve lost my mind.
“Absolutely not. I still can’t believe how long you got away with not telling them who asked you out. If you hadn’t gotten taken overboard, I’m one hundred percent convinced Collum would’ve died that day.”
“Uh. Glad me nearly freezing to death saved him.” They both smirk and roll their eyes at me. “Gods, I forgot about him. Is he still giving Havar shit?”
“What? No. I didn’t tell you what happened?”
“Um, no, ma’am, you didn’t.”
“Damn. Well, he’s irrelevant, so I guess it slipped my mind. Gladian told the Lead Meadow hand that he created unnecessary drama and was disappointed in his performance. He got demoted and put on a different rotation than Havar.”
My eyes widen. That’s shocking as shit.
“That’s not at all what I thought you were going to say.”
“I know, crazy.”
“In the grand scheme of things, he’s welcome for the distraction. My men wouldn’t have let it go. They can be a tad bit crazy over me.”
“A tad bit?” she and Rose ask.
“Maybe a touch more than a tad, but I’m not complaining.” That makes us all laugh. “And what about you, Rose? Lambrit is treating you amazing, right?”
She smirks at my raised brow. I have no doubt he is, but obviously, a best friend acts differently than a boyfriend, so I need to be sure he doesn’t need any moretalks.
“Better than amazing. He’s…everything I ever dreamed of.” She sighs lovingly as her eyes grow misty. I could be sick, it’s so stinking sweet. “We don’t really have much going on. Yet. Isuppose some things are about to change, but for the most part, we’re perfect.”
“What do you mean for the most part?” I ask.
“Well, this really wasn’t a concern I had until we talked to Annalise yesterday. It doesn’t have anything to do with our relationship. It’s honestly probably nothing, and I could be worrying prematurely, but I don’t think Lambrit hasjusta domain under the God of Scripture.”
“Wait, you think he has more than one domain?”
My voice shrills as my heartbeat spikes.
