Page 122 of The Gods Order

“I’ll be back,” Kyzen whispers in my ear, then lays a kiss on my cheek.

Riven bounds over to Vullie and wraps him in a hug that has me laughing to myself. With a few murmured goodbyes, the two of them and Rose follow Kyzen out the door, and I flop back on the couch.

“Well, it seems you all had a very productive day,” I say.

“Can’t believe while we were scouring Godsden, the four of you were getting drunk, having the time of your lives,” Sevryn grunts, adjusting Yemi on his lap.

She scoffs playfully.

“We are far from drunk. Thayla maybe had four glasses. Rose and I had five. Plus, that was hours ago.”

“I quit drinking and switched to just juice so I could keep an eye on Mara,” I say as Riven scoops me up and sets me in his lap.

“Keep an eye on her or drug her, little burden?” he asks, giggling into my neck.

“I did no such thing,” I argue. “If anyone drugged anyone, it was Yemi. She fixed the drinks.”

“I don’t drug my friends, thank you very much,” she says.

“Oh my gods. I thought we all were over that, but clearly not,” Riven sasses and I smile to myself.

“I assume the two of you won’t be attending your training this afternoon?” Amick asks as he brings me a glass of water.

How did he know I wanted that but had no intention of getting off Riven’s lap? No idea.

“I’d love to skip it. I’m comfy right where I am,” I say, hiding my smirk behind my glass as I wiggle in Riven’s lap.

He groans and squeezes my hips.

“Yeah, I’d love to take a nap and enjoy an afternoon of nothing,” Yemi adds.

A nap is on my list of things to do as well.

“V, would you please tell my—Val that we’re going to cancel today? Give him my sincerest apologies.”

“You sound truly apologetic.”

I snort, then send my thanks as he says he’ll let him know.

“Well, come on, you two. I need to get dinner done before the rest of our Valtrue get home,” Doren says, squeezing Sevryn’s shoulder.

Rather than putting Yemi down so she can walk on her own, he adjusts her in his grip until she’s tangled around him. I can’t help but laugh at the wink and wave she shoots me as they make their way out our front door.

“Dinner sounds divine. Why did my sweetling have to walk Gladian home? He’s a big boy and could’ve taken care of himself and Mara.”

“Because Gladdy thinks that Barir is his fourth Valtrue member and refused to walk into Hell to find out. So now Creed’s walking them home so they can nail down when the ol’ God of Strength has to face his fear.”

Riven’s silent laughter jolts me around, but my wide gaze seeks the truth from Amick. Apparently, given the stoic look on his face, that is the truth. Riven, of course, just has to make a joke about it.

“Shit,” I mutter. “That’s going to be something.”

“Something of a headache.” Amick sighs as he sits down on the other couch. “The last thing Creed needs to worry about right now is arranging Hell.”

True, but he’ll figure it out.

The house settles into a silence I’d almost forgotten existed. The day has been a whirlwind of seriousness, followed by laughter, excitement, multiple freak-outs from Mara, and just moments of enjoyment.

Now with it being just Riven, Amick, and me, I find myself enjoying this even more.