Chapter 11 Riven #3
“Verlet, what the hell is going on?”
“Harriseen has decided you all will be presented with decisions for the upcoming journey. When he arrived, he made it seem like you all decided this is how you wanted to handle it. I should have reached out to you all sooner.”
“That’s fucking taurnshit. We’ve already told him Havar was going to be our Escort, and we didn’t tell him you and Seismet would be joining us, but we were going to make it clear in a few minutes.”
“Well, he plans on making a show of it. Go warn the others before they arrive. Seismet and I have already prepared the herd for our departure. We will stand with you on your decisions.”
I sneer at the High Chancellor’s back as he walks into the Lead Meadow Hands dwelling, then picture Thayla’s ass as I starshoot back to them.
I appear right behind her and lean close to her. “It’s a trap.”
The air rushes from my lungs as my balls ascend into my stomach. My gasp is as loud as Thayla’s shriek and everyone else’s laughing. I bend over, holding myself as I breathe through the pain.
It all ceases to exist when her panicked eyes collide with mine and her soft hands cup my cheeks.
“Holy shit, Riven, I didn’t mean to. I just reacted. You scared the fuck out of me.”
“Marry me?” I croak.
She drops her hands as one goes to her heart and the other to her hip.
Kyzen comes up beside me, slaps his hand down on my shoulder with a big-ass smile on his face, and I groan even louder. “You okay there?”
“Never been better, but you should probably have a conversation with your girlfriend about touching other men’s testicles.”
“She can touch your testicles if she pleases. She’s your Binder. More importantly, what’s a trap?” Amick asks and my jaw drops.
My flabber is gasted.
I don’t think he knows what it means to have a girlfriend since he’s so okay with her being other people’s girlfriend as well.
“We’re going to circle back to the testicle touching conversation,” Kyzen says, giving Amick a fierce scowl. “What are you talking about, Riven?”
I finally draw enough air into my lungs to stand and everyone starts moving toward the meadows again. “The High Chancellor is at the meadows. He’s basically putting together some weird-ass choosing for us with Veilatara and Meadow Hands. He’s rallied up some more other than Hay-Hay.”
“His name is Havar. Please don’t call him Hay-Hay.”
Yemi snorts. “Please only call him Hay-Hay from here on out.”
“Knew you secretly liked me.”
She tries to hide her smirk by pursing her lips and looking away from me, but I caught it. So did Thayla, who shoots me a sly smile that makes my heart and dick twitch.
Deliciously annoying.
Everyone stays quiet as we make our way across the meadow to the Meadorium. This is where any Meadow Hands or the Plentifuls that are assigned a role here spend their time learning, caring for the Veilatara, other creatures, and the land.
The elaborate building is so out of place in the middle of gorgeous green meadows.
It may be smaller, but its design belongs in the heart of the Godsdawn.
The Lead Meadow Hands, like that fucker I tied up, are required to live here.
The very first one declared he was going to live luxuriously like the rest of the gods and he had this place built despite the peaceful, natural environment he was ruining.
Yemi’s and Thayla’s heads swivel as they spot Havar. He waves at them from where he’s standing in the group the High Chancellor gathered for us.
They both raise their hands to wave back, but Thayla’s shoulders tense when the god that’s standing in front of him turns around.
That god’s eyes immediately find her, and a fucking smirk stretches across his face. She gives him a pinched smile, then scans everyone else.
I caught that.
I don’t like it.
My scowl deepens as he never takes his attention off her and the swirling in my belly begins.
“Who is that?” My voice is a tad manic.
Yemi chokes on a laugh and covers it with a cough, earning herself a stern glare from Thayla that doesn’t faze her one bit.
“He’s one of Havar’s friends. Well, he was his mentor.”
Her answer is bland and disinterested. She didn’t even look back at him or me to know who I was talking about, and her feet shift from side to side. I’m not the only one who sees that as well.
“Do we have an issue with him?” Creed asks low, pivoting his body toward her. That single movement spurs Amick to step closer to her side, and Kyzen presses in against her back.
“Do we, little goddess?”
“No. Can we talk about this after we leave? There are people watching us and this isn’t the time or place for this conversation.”
“Oh, but I disagree wholeheartedly.”
“Too bad, my little psycho. End of discussion.”
“Now I know he’s a person of interest if you’re whipping out my cute nickname to distract me. Who is he?”
Our gazes stay locked in a battle of wills that grows tenser by the second. She’s refusing to give in and I damn sure won’t be backing down without an answer.
“Has he threatened you or treated you poorly?”
I win the stare off as she turns to Kyzen.
“No, it’s nothing like that. I would’ve kicked his ass had that been the case.”
“Okay then. If he isn’t a threat, then we’ll talk about it later. End of discussion, Riven.”
End of discussion, my ass.
I’m gonna hop on Verlet’s back and we’re gonna stomp that big, beautiful, blond fucker to a pulp.
A loud, single clap rings out around us and everyone, including the ten Meadow Hands standing here looking lost, turns toward the noise.
The High Chancellor slowly makes his way out of the Meadorium, dressed to excellence in his fancy robes, with his head held high. You’d think this is a second Veiling or some shit with the way he’s grandly making his entrance.
The Lead Meadow Hand follows behind him, staring at those right below him on the totem pole with pride.
They’re making this a much bigger deal than it is.
“Gods of the meadows, you have been selected by your Lead as the strongest amongst your Designation and roles. As you may have noticed, ten of you and ten Veilatara have been brought forth for judgment. Why, was not explained to you. I will grant you that explanation now.”
His eyes whip right to Thayla’s loud sigh, then to my laugh. I wiggle my fingers at him.
I bet it’s taking a fuck ton of strength to stop his nose from twitching.
“I was contacted by the Beginning Gods, who have an important quest they need completed. They themselves chose the Valtrue behind you to embark on this journey. A team is required to ensure the Beginning Gods’ request is met and one role that needs to be filled is the Escort who will accompany and take care of the two Veilatara that will also be going.
To be selected for this will be the utmost honor and your role in ensuring the success of the Beginning Gods’ will, will be remembered. ”
All heads turn toward us. Some eyes fall to Yemi then Havar. They’re smart enough to already see the truth. Some, on the other hand, straighten themselves out like we may consider them.
“Your Lead Meadow Hand will introduce and explain your domain, power level currently released, strengths, and weaknesses.”
Thayla cuts her eyes to Kyzen. “This is ridiculous.”
“Yeah, I know. It’ll be over soon.”
“Meadow Hands, line up,” the Lead Meadow Hand orders.
They all do so without any comment, and I can’t help but wish this were over now. This charade isn’t going to change our minds.
What it is going to do is put poor Hay-Hay in a negative spotlight.
Favoritism is a thing to be bragged about amongst gods. So weird, I know, but in a situation such as this, some will idolize him for being chosen, while those who we didn’t pick will hold ill will toward him from now on.
None of us say anything as the Lead Meadow Hand begins his verbal assessment of the gods before us. We give no indication as to whether we’re interested or not.
I chuckle every now and then to make it seem like I’m listening. I’m sure Amick and probably Lambrit are paying close attention.
“Havar Andino. He has a domain under the God of Creatures and his abilities include intense creature awareness. He rose through the ranks of the Plentifuls and Meadow Hands quickly. Within his second year here, he was made an Escort and has been doing so for the last five years. He doesn’t have all his power, but a couple more Veilings, and I have no doubt the gods will see fit to release the rest. His greatest strength is his ability to adapt not only to creatures but his peers as well.
He’s liked by many. His greatest weakness is that he’s not as serious as he should be. ”
The small smile that had been on Hay-Hay’s lips slowly fades to a serious scowl. I, for one, am happy he isn’t always serious. We already got an Amick and a Creed. Lambrit’s pretty funny. Rose is quiet, and Yemi is just coming around to teasing.
Thayla, Kyzen, Lambrit, and I can’t let the fun suckers outnumber us on our trip.
“Collum Hardin.”
I have a dislike type and it’s blonds.
I’ve never met a blond god that I like.
This fucker is quickly moving up to the third spot. He hasn’t taken his eyes or smirk off Thayla since the Meadow Hand started listing off his many achievements.
His chest puffed out when his weakness was stated as being too competitive. The way his serious glare scanned us after that was like his ass was trying to tell us not to think that’s a weakness.
I don’t like him one bit.
The High Chancellor claps politely once the Lead Meadow Hand is done with his assessments. He peers over the ten Veilatara they’ve gathered to the side, then his gaze settles on Amick.
Before he can say anything, Amick cuts in.
“The Prime was generous enough to acknowledge me and answer any questions I had. With his recommendation and blessing, the two Veilatara who will be guiding us have been decided.”
Harriseen takes a strained, deep breath. “Very well, Rising Chancellor. Which two?”
Our attention turns as Verlet and Seismet step out of the line of Veilatara with their heads held high.
That shit is so beautiful, I could cry.
Righteous badasses.
Gasps ring out and the Lead Meadow Hand looks at Amick with shock coloring his face. “The Prime himself?”
“Yes. He feels a task of this magnitude should fall on his and his familial second’s shoulders. He will prepare a Veilatara to lead the herd in his absence.”
The Lead Meadow Hand and all his gods out here bow and cheer. Due to their excitement, ol’ Harriseen can’t act all pissy without looking bad.
“And what of your Escort?”
There’s a heavy pause and immediate silence as all the Meadow Hands stare between us and the High Chancellor. Thayla cuts her eyes at me as I try my hardest to swallow down my giggle.
I really can’t help it.
Tense situations are awkward as hell, but they also tickle my favorite side to no end. I never know how the situation may flip, and my chaos loves that shit.
Amick pulls his shoulders back. “Our decision remains.”
“If that is your decision,” the High Chancellor says low, not even attempting to hide his disappointment, “congratulations, Havar Andino. You’ve been found worthy and favored.”
All heads swivel between Yemi and Havar.
Oh, yeah. That dickhead definitely did that shit on purpose.