“My turn.” That’s the only warning Riven gives me. He grumbles at me as I laugh through his kiss. “Don’t kill anyone today without me.”
I snort. “Don’t kill anyone today, period.”
“Fun sucker.”
He boops me on my nose, then starshoots away before I can say anything back. His sudden disappearance leaves me staring at Yemi.
The concern and guilt on her face have my stomach hollowing out.
“Ready to go?” I ask after clearing my voice.
“Yeah.”
“Starshoot to the entrance at the Court,” Creed commands, and I call my power forward.
A breath later, instead of staring at Yemi, I’m gawking at the large group of Attendants piling through the entrance hall of the Court.
“Shit, that’s a lot of people.”
Kyzen gives my hand a squeeze. “It won’t seem so overwhelming once we separate them out.”
I suppose that’s true.
“Sevryn and I are going to talk to Gladian and make sure he takes his ass to the barrier like he’s supposed to. I’ll come tell you bye when we’re done.”
“You really aren’t staying?” I ask, arching my brow at Creed.
He told Kyzen and me he wasn’t going to encroach on our trainings, but I honestly didn’t believe him. It’s not that I think he doubts our ability to do this, but more so isn’t going to know what to do with himself until this afternoon.
“I’m not. Not at least the whole time. I’ll be back way before my rotation, though.”
He pulls me to him by the collar of my armor, and I bite his bottom lip the second he lays it against my mouth. He grunts, and I smirk.
Serves him right for his manhandling.
“Be good,” he orders before nodding for Sevryn to follow.
“Let’s—”
“Thayla, can we talk before going in? Please.”
My gaze moves to Yemi, and guilt forms a knot in my throat.
“Come on, Rose. I’ll show you around while we wait on them,” Kyzen offers, giving me an encouraging smile.
The two of us stand here silently as we watch them walk away.
“Thayla, I’m so sorry. Iric—”
“You don’t have to apologize for him, Yemi. I get it. He’s had to bottle up his power the last few days thanks to Sevryn, and I guess being confined in a space so close to me sent him over the edge.”
Her shoulders and jaw drop.
“That’s exactly what he said happened.”
“Yeah, his bright-ass eyes kind of gave that away.”
“He feels awful. I feel awful. I didn’t expect that to happen or I would’ve told him to stay in the hall. He’d like to apologize to you and explain things himself.”
