Chapter 11 Riven
Riven
“Aren’t you a cutie patootie?”
I boop the newest addition to the Akova household on his nose as his little hand reaches up toward my swirling eyes.
Poor thing has had a very rough go in life these first few days.
Godly children grow differently than mortal ones and the ungodly beings that are born in this realm. Although their powers have been taken from them, Godsden itself has a higher concentration of power that aids them.
It helps them adjust faster, sleep better, grow quicker, but little Ezra has barely stopped screaming since he was born, according to Annalise.
I’m gonna get him fixed up in no time.
“Ellian has had him checked a couple of times. Health-wise, he’s fine, but this is the calmest he’s been. Oh, Riven, maybe I’ve lost my touch. We haven’t had a child this rough since Rowden.”
“Ezra, say ‘Nonsense, Momma Akova. I’m the youngest of twelve and it’s taking some getting used to.’ Isn’t that right?”
He’s living in a loud house full of rambunctious children who scream all day. He’s just matching energy, but this is all he needed.
Some peace and quiet. Well, and a little extra…
I continue to coo as my power wraps the bundle of innocence up in a cocoon of harmony.
“Do you think Creed is okay watching the others? Maybe I should go—”
“What you should do is shower, rest, do whatever it is you need to for the next hour. That’s how long we have left before we have to go meet the others, then go to the meadows. Go on now, scram. We’ve got this.”
Her tired eyes wrinkle on the side with her motherly smile and I roll mine at the tender look.
“You should’ve brought Thayla so she could see you holding a baby. That would have her in love at first sight.”
I sneer over at the meddling old lady. Well, she’s not really that old. Just a millennium, I think.
“I don’t want her to fall in love. Besides, she has two boyfriends. She doesn’t need another.”
She sighs and shakes her head at me like I’m being ridiculous. I offered to help with the children with the intention of being fed, not lectured.
Well…also, Ellian said Ezra was struggling, and I couldn’t have that.
“I’m not sure if she’s lucky or crazy. You four are a handful.”
“Don’t let the Binder fool you. She’s the handful.”
“Riven, when will you—”
“Aren’t you supposed to be washing your ass or something?”
She tsks and wiggles her finger at me. “Attitude, mister, but fine, if you don’t want to fully talk about it yet, I won’t push. I’ll have a talk with Thayla myself.”
She laughs and hauls ass out of the kitchen, completely ignoring the vicious glare on my face. I relax the look when Ezra sighs the smallest sigh, and his eyes flutter shut.
I hum a quiet melody as I bounce him in my arms and pace in front of the window. A snicker escapes me as I watch two children cling to Creed’s legs while four others run around him in a circle.
He’s just standing there with a wicked scowl and his arms crossed. It doesn’t faze the children one bit.
On a soul level, those kiddos know he’s the one who saved them all and he’s no threat to them, no matter how vicious he looks.
I’m still not talking to him unless I have to. Until he apologizes to me for lying about my sweet, sacred soul, I’m not being playful with him anymore either.
I didn’t invite him to come with me this morning. He overheard Ellian’s and my conversation shift from the construction of the carriage to the baby in my arms. He invited himself.
He’s so sweet, even though he’s a liar.
Ugh, this hour better fly by.
The grasp my harmony has on me right now is suffocating. I’m really going to have to start some shit to get my chaos to come out and play when we leave.
Everything’s all sugary and sentimental right now. My thoughts are pleasant but pressuring.
It’s driving me fucking crazy.
I hate this side.
My head and my heart wage war on one another every time this half of my power is in control. The two major organs—okay, three including my dick—can’t come to a compromise whatsoever about the biggest conundrum in my life.
Her.
I made the grave mistake of talking to Annalise about this when I first got here. She asked how Thayla was doing and that translated to me as ‘Spill your guts and tell her how those delicious creamy things she made last night made me fall in love.’
After that, I said I was disgusted with myself.
She smiled all weirdly at me and proved she’s a traitor. She’s firmly team ‘Make Thayla fall in love with me,’ and that shit irks my nerves.
Why can’t the little burden be like all the other goddesses here? Why does she have to fit into our fucked-up Valtrue so perfectly?
The chaotic push and pull of my emotions are growing tiresome and the embarrassment I experience every time I think about that stupid-ass question I asked her is pissing me off to new heights.
Embarrassment…never in my fucking life have I felt that. A small sense of guilt crawls through me every time I call the others out about anything now. This is what they feel and I’m livid that she’s made me feel it.
“I never said that.” Her sweet little seductive voice rings in my mind and I shake my head to clear it.
She was supposed to shut the question down. Not make my heart flutter.
Ugh, I’m so mortified at myself. I can’t even think about what I asked her without my body growing hot.
What if she tells one of the others what I asked?
I swear to the Valories, I’ll run away.
Matter of fact…
A slow smile creeps across my face as I start mapping my escape in my mind. We’ll be free of the Godsdawn in a matter of a few days, and I’ll have multiple opportunities to just…slip away. Become lost to the Valorian Veil and away from the temptation of my Binder.
The ding of the cooker going off pulls me from my brilliant plan and I peer down at Ezra as he flinches at the noise. My power pushes more without my command and I huff out an annoyed breath.
“When my chaos is in control, little one, that’s going to be a magnificent plan. I’d offer to bring you with me, but babies are as much responsibility as Binders. I don’t have it in me. I’ll come visit, though, maybe.”
A small snore leaves his lips, and I take that as acceptance. Just as I slide on the cooking mitt, a shriek echoes behind me.
“You can’t open the cooker with a baby in your hands, Riven.”
“Why not? He’s nestled in the crook of my arm nicely.”
Annalise shakes her wet head and marches across the kitchen. Her hand shoos me away as she grabs her handy-dandy, well-used mittens and pulls out a few trays of her famous jumbo mixed berry muffins. The fragrance immediately engulfs me, and I inhale as hard as I can.
“Are all of those for me?”
“I’m sending a whole tray with you, but you’re to share with your brothers and Thayla.”
Ugh…her again.
My groan earns me a stern look that melts away just as quickly when I give her an innocent grin. “Fine. I’m not selfish enough to withhold this deliciousness.”
“You’re not selfish at all.” I ignore that comment completely. “Are you all excited to be leaving Godsden for the first time? I’m quite jealous you get to explore.”
“I’m excited. I don’t plan on coming back.”
She snorts as though I’m teasing. “If you don’t come back, who will be my taste tester for all my new recipes?”
Damn…that’s a very good point.
“Creed can, but really, the children eat far more than either of us does.”
“Gods know that’s the truth.”
A soft, loving smile lingers on her lips as she starts spreading the thick sweet cream over the top of the muffins. It’ll melt into perfect sugary delectableness. I’ll be licking my fingers for hours after I eat that whole tray.
“Muffins!”
The echoing shriek comes from at least five different voices and Creed winces from the sound as they all run into the kitchen. His gaze immediately drops to my arms when Ezra lets out a whine.
“Damn, my bad. I didn’t know he was sleeping. These ones need to use the bathroom.”
“Momma, Seed said damn!”
I throw my head back and laugh at Samarie. The snaggle-toothed six-year-old girl has no fear whatsoever as she matches Creed’s glare with one of her own. He drops his look first, though, with a groan as all the other kids come rushing in.
“I told all of you to wait outside and we’d be right back out.”
They completely ignore him and move in on Annalise. Latching onto her feet, asking for drinks, muffins, and tattling on each other.
I chuckle at the madness unfolding in the kitchen and let it happen long enough that Creed looks like he’s going to faint.
I let out a whistle that’s laced with my power. “Little troublemakers, go get in your seats at the table. Rowden, go wash your hands. I don’t know what that is on your fingers, but it looks disgusting.”
“I think it’s poop,” he says as he brings his fingers to his nose, then grimaces.
Gag.
“Oh, for the Valories.” Annalise gasps, wipes her hands on a rag, and rushes over to him.
I chuckle as Creed jumps out of the way when they walk by him and that earns me a malicious look.
My melody hums through my smirking lips as I herd the mess-makers to the table.
Wordlessly, Creed and I grab cups and plates. When the kids start chirping along with my silent song, my brother snorts and pours their drinks.
By the time Annalise comes back with a now not-shit-stained Rowden, the others are peacefully stuffing their faces and humming with full mouths.
Her shoulders slump and she gives us an affectionate look as she holds her hands out for Ezra. “You boys are incredible. They’re never this calm for me.”
I get a good little baby whiff before passing him off to her. “You’re their safe space. They’re never going to be this calm for you.”
“Not to mention, he’s got so much power pumping through here I’m about ready to take a nap,” Creed says as he cracks his neck.
“Oh, a nap sounds divine,” I agree, then scowl so he knows I’m still mad at him.
“You know we don’t have time for that. We’ve got to get going.”