Thayla
I bite my bottom lip to hide my smirking as the guys tease one another around the table.
Creed and Amick can look as uninterested as they want, but the way their mouths continue to twitch tells a different story. Riven and Kyzen are feeding off one another, tossing food back and forth and cracking inappropriate, sexual jokes.
I won’t lie, I got a little nervous when they all went to their rooms this morning before breakfast. To my absolute relief, they were behind those doors maybe two minutes, just long enough to change. Since then, we’ve bounced from the couch to the dining room table, enjoying one another’s company.
I’m so happy they’re home.
After our bath time conversation, Amick lasted about ten minutes of lying in the bed in silence before he asked if I felt up to telling him every single thing that happened while they were gone.
We all laughed, but I did tell them. They stayed quiet and steady as I replayed every moment since they left. I even repeated the few things I had already told them so they—okay, Amick—got the full picture.
Their pride in me was potent, but so was their worry and confusion over Derivius’s story. They claim they’ve always known it took power to create them, but they’ve never wanted the intimate details.
Until now.
Amick’s frothing at the mouth to hear what happened.
They haven’t decided if they want to kill Gladian or not.
Their entrapment was way less eventful than my two days, aside from their fight, but Riven said it was pure torture. I believe that.
Between the crazy shit that came out of the Goddess of Creation’s mouth, simply being stuck, not knowing what was happening with me, unable to access their powers and break free, I would’ve gone crazy.
It’s easier to understand now how their tension led to an actual fight.
“What do you say, little burden?”
I blink out of my staring and focus on Riven’s mischievous grin.
“What do I say to what?”
He tosses his head back, groaning. “Did you not hear the plans I just made?”
My quiet laugh is muffled by my coffee mug before I take a sip. The other three smirk at me.
“Sorry, my little psycho. I got distracted admiring the view. What plans did you just make?”
“First, you’re going to come sit on my face like you did Creed’s last night, then—”
The sip of coffee Creed just took goes flying across the table, right at Riven. He shrieks, jerking back in his seat.
My hand slaps against my mouth as Kyzen’s power shoots out of him.
In the funniest fucking slow motion, Riven’s arms flail around as his chair tips back. The longer it takes him to actually hit the ground, the harder it is for me to hold my laughter in.
Once he’s a few inches from the ground, Kyzen speeds time back up, and Riven hits the ground with an umph.
I damn near choke on air from the restraint it’s taking not to let my laugh slip.
One glance at the smirk on Amick’s face and I lose that battle.
Kyzen and Creed join in on my symphony while Riven scampers to his feet and slams his chair back in place.
“That is so fucking disgusting. What is wrong with you?”
Creed glares at him. “Me? Who says shit like that over lunch?”
“Um, someone who wants to eat Thayla rather than the food. Duh.”
For the Valories.
My face flames from my chuckles and that comment. Goodness knows I’d be down to walk right back into my room for round number four.
Twice last night.
Once this morning.
We had to make up for each day missed, plus today.
“That wasn’t even in the original plan of what you said you wanted to do,” Amick says as he pinches a napkin and cleans up the mess in front of him.
I can’t help but chuckle at the disgust on his face too.
“What was your original plan, Riven?” I ask, gaining his attention once again.
“To go laze around the hot spring and see Verlet. Seismet’s sassy ass too, I suppose.”
I give him a teasing, firm stare. His Veilatara is just as sassy as mine.
Well…maybe not.
“You’re in luck. I already had that planned.”
Sort of.
“Did you really?” he asks.
“Yeah. So all of you go get changed, then meet me in my room. I already told them we’d be on our way after lunch.”
Riven sprints to his room without having to be told anything else.
“No tight-ass swim shorts.”
He giggles as he passes through his door and I roll my eyes. The other three rise with smirks and they clear our plates before heading to change. Well, Kyzen and Creed go to their rooms.
I lift my chin and study Amick’s stare as he stands over me.
“What’s wrong, Candyman?”
“I don’t know how I feel about all this planning you’ve been doing.”
That serious scowl of his softens when I bring his knuckles to my lips. The worry in his soul can’t fool me.
“I wouldn’t have been able to form my plans if it weren’t for you, Amick. You had so much figured out. I just had to put the pieces together. I—we—will forever need you to guide us.”
His shoulders slump, and he graces me with a tender smile. It’s incredibly flattering that he thought I was capable enough to take the role he carries in our Valtrue. That sure as shit isn’t happening.
I’ve done enough planning in my lifetime over the last few days, thank you very much.
“This is my last plan. Really, it’s a surprise. I just didn’t want to call it that because you and Creed don’t like surprises.”
“We like your surprises.”
“Usually, yes,” I say, ducking my head to hide my grin.
His fingers glide down the side of my face and he tilts my chin up, holding my gaze long enough that my breath shudders.
“I’ll meet you in your room in a minute.”
He lays his lips to mine, soft at first, then he deepens the kiss. If I didn’t have this plan already prepared, I’d pull him even closer. Possibly drag him off to my room. As if he senses that, he smiles against my lips and gives me one more peck.
Gods, that…well, god, is something special.
I give myself a moment to catch my breath, and once he passes through his door, I get up and head to my room.
“V, is everyone ready?”
“Yes. We’re all waiting on you five. Yemi has a million questions, but I’m positive she and Lambrit have already figured out what’s going on.”
I chuckle. “I’m sure they have. Can’t get much past them. It won’t take my men long to figure it out as well.”
A huff flows out of me when the shorts and shirt I planned on slipping back over my swimsuit disappear from the closet. For a blip of a second, my mood sours as my thoughts move to the Goddess of Illusion. I brush it away just as fast and get dressed.
“Come on, Thayla. It doesn’t take an eon for you to get naked. We all know that.”
My shirt gets stuck going over my head as a surprised laugh bursts out of me at Riven’s holler. I swear he better not be naked out there.
An appreciative smirk splits across my lips as my eyes devour the four of them standing in front of my windows, shirtless. My smile widens as I take in their stances.
Kyzen’s relaxed, ready for whatever I have planned.
Creed’s obviously been informed this is a surprise. He’s pissy as shit.
Amick has his fingers laced behind him, waiting impatiently patient.
Riven has his arms crossed and is scowling at Kyzen.
“What’s wrong? You don’t want to go?” I ask him.
“Of course I do. I’m annoyed Kyzen made me change.”
“I told you not to wear those tight-ass shorts,” I argue.
“I didn’t put the shorts on.”
“Worse. He had on what looked like a pair of your underwear,” Kyzen says, scoffing and shaking his head.
My eyes narrow at the mischievous smile on Riven’s face.
“I know you didn’t steal my damn underwear.”
He huffs at me. “We’re a couple. We can’t steal from one another. What’s yours is mine and what’s mine is yours.”
“I agree to an extent,” Amick says. “Thayla’s undergarments are her own, though. We have no business borrowing those.”
Creed grunts his agreement, staring at Riven in utter disgust. I smirk as I make my way toward them.
“Let’s go enjoy my surprise.”
“I hate surprises,” Creed says, glaring at me as he laces his fingers through mine and heads out my backdoor.
“I know, my sweetling, but this is a good one.”
Hopefully.
Yemi, with V on her shoulder, Lambrit, Rose, Sevryn, Doren, Nero, Iric, and Havar whirl around at the sound of us approaching closer to her house. They’re each wearing smiles, and it takes Doren about a second to split from them with his arms outstretched toward us.
“Oh, we’re so glad you all are home safe.”
Riven doesn’t miss a beat, shoving through us and wrapping Doren in a hug. He also ruffles his hair before racing to Lambrit and Havar.
“Aww, Lam-the-man. Hay-Hay. I missed you two.”
“Missed you too, Riv,” Lambrit says, while Havar chuckles.
I smirk at them and release Creed’s hand. Yemi and Rose tug me into a hug, while the other men greet mine.
“So this is a group surprise, little goddess?” Kyzen asks with an arched brow.
“It is, but we’re missing one. V, did you—”
“I’m here.”
We twirl around, and I scoff, tossing my hands up at Mara.
“V told you to wear a swimsuit,” I say.
“Yeah, because I own one of those. Plus, did you really expect me to say, ‘Hey, Gladian. Thayla wants me to go for a swim with her. I’ll be back later.’”
True.
“What did you tell him you were doing?” I ask.
“I told him to mind his business. Needless to say, that was a fucking fight. So thanks for that. What are we doing anyway?”
“We’re going for a swim. Everyone ready?”
“You’re serious?” she asks, and I roll my eyes.
They lock onto my men and their questioning gazes.
“I’ve already asked for permission.”
They each nod, catching on fully to what’s happening.
“Okay, V, we’re ready.”
He soars over to my shoulder, rubbing his feathers against my cheek as everyone crowds closer to us. I figured it’d be better for us to just starshoot rather than everyone stomp through the forest, asking me a million questions.
Gasps ring around me as V’s power releases us, and we come face to face with not only Verlet and Seismet, but their entire herd.
“Angel…” Riven mumbles, stepping up beside me.