48. Thayla #2
The men eventually migrate downstairs to the backyard, claiming they need “one more game” of Landing Stones that none of us believe will only be one.
After all these years, I still don’t know why they enjoy tossing flat, polished stones into a raised wooden platform with a circular depression carved into the center.
But whatever.
It keeps them entertained and arguing for hours at a time.
Just like dinner, time simply passes us by. Sometimes we walk down and check on the guys, steal some kisses, but we always find our way back up here.
The creak of the swing swaying is merely background noise behind all the laughter ringing out across the mountains.
I sit smushed comfortably between my mom and Yemi, a single blanket covering the three of us. In a circle at our feet, Mara’s perched criss-cross in front of Rose and Seraphine sits beside them.
The way Mara uses her whole body to tell a story has multiple sighs and smiles falling from Rose’s lips. She’s had to restart the braid she’s been working on at least five times.
“You’re making this impossible,” Rose finally says, laughing as Mara moves again.
“I’m trying to paint the picture for all of you.”
“You’re flailing.”
“I am not flailing.”
“You just knocked the hair tie out of my hand,” Rose huffs.
Yemi and I share a grin as Mara looks down at the floor.
“Oh, whoops.”
The laughter that follows is effortless. It’s the kind that comes from people who have spent nearly a century together learning each other’s rhythms.
My mother smiles between the two of them bickering and Laney and Annalise as they fuss as well.
I blink as I watch Laney groan and throw her hands up.
It’s still hard for me to see her as anything other than the little girl I carried around on my hip. Now, she’s sitting here arguing with the woman who raised her about whether the changes she made to one of her recipes made it better than the original.
Annalise simply won’t accept that.
Kind of like how I wouldn’t accept when she moved out of the Akovas, or when she found the freaking four members of her Starwoven Valtrue, or when we planned her wedding.
I, of course, did accept all of that. To her face.
Internally, I was weeping.
My newest thing that I refuse to accept is that she’s turning one hundred next year.
How is that possible?
The thought makes me smile. I remember my hundredth birthday like it was yesterday, although it was twenty years ago. On that day, though, it seemed like an ancient age.
My men didn’t let me feel like that for long.
Now I sit here knowing exactly how quickly those years disappear.
All the Akova children are grown. Almost all of them have found their Starwoven and are married.
They have lives of their own now. Partners who love them.
Homes they built.
My mom, dad, Annalise, and Ellian have been living as empty nesters for years and they’ve enjoyed every moment of it.
They travel, try new things, and meet new people.
Derivius and Meridamus tag along with them from time to time, but the two of them like to tease and say they do too many ‘old people’ things for them.
They’re full of shit.
Regardless, the six of them always come back home and find this.
My house and back porch packed with their “kids.”
They’ve all, together, claimed all of us as theirs.
Sometimes I can’t help but think how wild and different our lives would’ve been had the six of them raised all of us.
Then I take a look around. I wouldn’t have anything any other way.
I wouldn’t change a single thing that led us to this point.
Speaking of parents…
It didn’t take much time for Iric and Prath to come to the conclusion that Calista and Rellannaver were never going to change.
They simply didn’t want to.
So, when the portal to the nonmagical realm opened for us a few years back, we sent their asses right on through. My power can’t fuck with the portals, but I did place a barrier right in front of that one, so if either of them ever decides to come back, I’ll know.
Not all the portals are open yet, and I don’t know when they’ll be. It really isn’t something I worry over too much, though. My responsibility is to the Valorian Veil. Poor Willow’s the one who has to worry about the rest.
Before she reopened that first portal, the two of us went to the Unclaimed region together and spoke with every being who’d been stranded here for generations.
We gave them the same choice we’d all fought so hard to protect.
If they wished to return home, Willow would take them.
If they’d built a life here and wanted to stay, they were welcome to remain.
Some left. Many didn’t.
Once everyone had made their decision, I finally lowered the barrier surrounding the region. It hasn’t been the Unclaimed for years now.
It’s the Sanctuary region. Exactly what it had always been.
She explained to me very honestly that the nonmagical realm wasn’t doing well and, to sustain its life, it needed more power flowing through its soil.
I wouldn’t say she was giving us the option to agree to the portal being open or not. More so, it was a conversation of courtesy. It didn’t bother me one bit, and my power, along with the Gods Binding, agreed.
Not going to lie, though, I was very disappointed when we went to visit the nonmagical realm. All those years of building it up in my mind just for much of their land to resemble what the Abandon did all those years ago.
I was really hoping for more.
Anywhos, if there comes a time for the others to open, she’ll let me know.
We see each other plenty.
“You’re doing it again,” Yemi whispers and I lean into her.
“Doing what?”
“Staring at everyone all lovingly. It’s creepy if you ask me.”
I snort and elbow her ass.
“It’s not creepy that I love all of you and just want to enjoy looking at you.”
“You hear how that sounds out loud, right?” she asks, arching her brow.
I roll my eyes.
She loves my affection. No matter how ‘weird’ it may be.
I’m happy to admit I healed so hard I got comfortable enough to show everyone my weirder sides.
“Mara!”
Gladian’s bellow shakes the damn porch, and I sneer past Yemi over the railing at him and all the other men standing in the backyard. Barir, Prath, and Vullie give me fake apologetic smiles on behalf of his gigantic ass.
“Was that necessary?” I yell right back.
“Yes,” Gladian hollers. “She said she was coming up there to tell all of you bye. That was a damn hour ago. We’re standing here twiddling our thumbs, waiting on her ass.”
“Ah, shit. I did say that,” Mara says, hopping up.
Rose huffs lightly, letting her hands and the hair tie fall to her thighs. All of us shake our heads at her, laughing, as she blows us kisses and runs through my house.
“Yemi!”
“Oh, don’t you pull that shit with me, Sevryn.”
I let out a loud, condescending laugh as his ass rubs the back of his neck. Doren, Iric, Nero, Lambrit, Havar, my dad, Meridamus, Derivius, Ellian, plus all my men tease him.
“I guess that means he’s ready to call it a night. Goodness knows he gets grouchy when he’s tired,” she says.
I cover my mouth to hide my snickering. She reaches over me and wraps my mom in a hug, telling her she’ll see her tomorrow.
She never did make up with her mom…neither did Havar. Not for lack of trying. The Andino moms just didn’t care to have an active role in their kids’ lives. My mom’s claimed them as her own, though.
They love her fiercely for it.
“Everyone getting ready to go?” I ask as Laney, Annalise, and Seraphine get to their feet as well.
“Yeah, it’s getting late and I want my feet rubbed,” Laney says.
“Spoiled.” I smile.
“Someone taught me if my men didn’t worship me, then they don’t deserve me.” She winks, blowing me a kiss.
You’re damn right I taught her that.
Her men are great, though, honestly. I approve of all four.
My men do as well.
Mom and I wave, murmuring bye until they all disappear. A long breath pours from my lips as I lean back against the swing and cuddle into her side.
“I love these get-togethers. The girls are always full of so much gossip.”
“It is very nice to have some time not surrounded by godly men,” I say.
The two of us smirk at one another.
“What’s wrong with godly men?” my dad asks as he, Meridamus, Derivius, and my men walk out onto the porch.
Mom snorts.
“Would you like the list alphabetically or by severity, sweetheart?”
Dad presses a hand to his chest.
“I have been nothing short of delightful.”
“You’ve also been nothing short of dramatic,” Meridamus says dryly.
My dad’s gaze widens as it bounces between him and Derivius.
“I’m the dramatic one?”
Derivius coughs to cover his laugh, not the least bit offended at the teasing aimed at him.
“You did act quite ridiculous about fifteen minutes ago,” he says.
“Gods,” my dad throws his hands up. “Because the two of you cheat.”
“Here we go,” Creed groans.
A laugh escapes me.
Gods. I love them. All of them.
Dad huffs under his breath, though the grin tugging at his mouth ruins any attempt at looking offended. For a quiet moment, no one says anything else. We simply enjoy being together.
After all this time, we’ve all settled into an easy rhythm. Meetings, Deliverances, Coming-Of-Age Days, celebrations…they all come and go.
This…
This is what matters. The moments in between.
Mom finally pats my knee before pushing herself to her feet.
“We’re going to head home too. I’ll see you tomorrow, my girl.”
“Okay. Love you. Be careful.”
She grins at me.
I’ve said it every time they leave me.
Despite there not being much left in the realm to worry about, I’ll always say it.
Dad leans down to me, wrapping his arm around me as he gives my forehead a kiss.
“I love you, my shooting star.”
My eyes close.
“I love you, Dad.”
“Be nice to my sons, little troublling.”
I scoff.
“Your sons are in great hands, thank you very much.”
He shoots me a wink, shoving Meridamus out of the doorway so he can walk through. The two of them start fighting like children, so all Meridamus offers me is a bellow of goodbye as he chases Derivius down.