Sevryn appears disgusted with me even though I’m not the one who said the shit.
“Thanks, Doren, but again, I have no plans of doing that. Can’t a man just talk shit without everyone thinking he’s gone crazy? Damn.”
His shout sends us into an awkward silence. Obviously, we pushed his buttons a little too far.
“None of us think you’re crazy,” Creed says. “You have every right to be angry. You just can’t let that anger push you to the point of doing something stupid. That’s all we’re saying.”
“Well, I fucking hear you. Now drop it.”
Pissy, pissy.
I swallow my laugh. I’m well aware this isn’t a good time to let that slip out.
“Is anyone going to explain to me how exactly an Attendant and a being born in the Abandon are in a completed Valtrue together?”
Our footsteps fall still and the four of us pin Gladian in his place with deadly glares. I don’t know how we forgot his stupid ass knows so little of what’s truly going on.
Must be nice to be so ignorant.
“That’s none of your business,” Sevryn growls with a narrowed, threatening scowl.
Gladian’s gaze roams over each of us. “Fine.”
“What was the point of you stalking us again?” I ask.
“I’m not stalking. I wanted to discuss the rotations with Creed and see for myself that the High—Harriseen truly killed two Attendants.”
“Why do you care? You’ve done fuck all nothing to protect them. You let your little Defender bitches toy and torture them for funsies.”
He cuts his eyes at me, and I raise my brows. I’d like an answer to my question. He’s apparently not in the mood to give me one. Those serious orbs of his face back forward and he picks up his march through the forest foliage again.
Sucks we’re so close to Hellveilious. This woodland is boring as shit with no creatures roaming about. They’re smart, though, and know not to hang around a place so vile.
“Things are changing,” Gladian says low, breaking the silence. We each glance at him like he’s stupid. “That means I am as well. I’m trying to, at least.”
I chuff.
That’s hard to believe.
You know the saying, old creatures, new tricks, blah, blah, blah.
“Sevryn and I aren’t the only ones who have rotations in the Court now. Kyzen and Thayla do as well.”
Gladian’s neck snaps toward Creed. “Why do they have rotations?”
“They’re training the Attendants.”
“That’s why High Chancellor Ellian wanted you to coordinate the rotations.”
“Aww, you sound relieved, Gladdy. Were you worried he demoted you from your pedestal? He did, by the way. We’ll always be Ellian’s favorites,” I taunt, smirking and shrugging when he stares at me.
“I don’t give a fuck about standings or pedestals, Gladian, so don’t get your ego in a twist. Ellian left me in charge of planning our rotation so I could keep your fucking worthless Valtrue members away from my Binder and the Defenders away from the Attendants. There won’t be overlap, and there won’t be strife. The first Defender to try some shit will regret it. Immediately.
“Starting tomorrow, Thayla and Kyzen will be in the Court every other morning for those rotations. Sevryn and I will be there after lunch on those same days. You’ll have every other day to yourself. What you do about the Defenders at the barrier on the days you’re in Court is up to you. You can also decide which Defenders will be with us in the afternoons.”
They hold each other’s gazes long enough that I have to choke back my laugh.
Talk about an awkward stand-off.
