Chapter 12 Thayla #2
“I’m not in a foul mood, per se. Just got a lot on my mind. I guess moody is a better word since I’m experiencing multiple different moods all at once.”
“You’re going to be quite difficult when you enter into your reproductive time frame. I’ve read that the hormones you’ll release during those times can be very temperamental.”
I poke my head out the closest and glare at him. “I’m going to be sweet as pie, thank you very much. Unlike a certain someone’s mother I remember being quite mean.”
“Well, can you blame her? They thought they’d only have me. Mom hit her end years and bam, little Laney.”
My heart pinches at the longing in his voice. “I better have hundreds of years until I have to worry about that, and I can sure as shit promise you, I won’t be praying to the Goddess of Creation to ask for it any time sooner.”
“Fun fact, did you know that the nonmagical women enter their reproductive phase very early in life? There’s some sort of monthly cycling system that wasn’t explained in great detail, but it’s every month for years.”
My nose scrunches as I pull a new shirt over my head. “Nothing about that sounds fun. Is their reproductive time frame twenty-five years like ours?”
“More than that. In the text I read, it was recorded that on average, they enter their reproductive years around age twelve and exit around age fifty-two. Some earlier and later, depending on different factors.”
My whole body grows hot, and nausea sweeps through me as I stumble around my closet looking for different pants.
We don’t endure that at all. Especially at such young ages. I mean, in the grand scheme of things, at fifty-two, us immortals are still babies ourselves.
I guess, with their short lifespans, that makes unfortunate sense.
The women of the Valorian Veil go through a twenty-five-year period where our bodies and hormones most certainly change. It happens anywhere from around three hundred years and up. You never really know when it may come. You just know by the changes you begin to experience.
Increased sex drive, attachment to your partner…or partners.
Maternal want and instincts kick in. I guess some mood swings. At that point, once you sense the shift, you decide whether you want children. If you do, well, have fun.
If you don’t, you have to be a little more careful. Take precautions and there are several natural remedies that can be made to prevent it.
“Dear Valories. That’s awful and I feel it’s one of the Gods’ faults. They went to the nonmagical realm and fucked shit up. I just know it. Why were you even reading about this?”
“I was reading up on Rose’s abilities and how to satisfy her sexually and fell down a reading hole.”
I choke on a gasp and slowly release my breath.
Okay, calm down.
You knew one day it’d be you having this talk with him.
His parents definitely were never going to have this conversation, and you know Mellcom and Jeremiah didn’t.
Breathe, Thayla.
I clear my voice and pull on some random pants, then slowly make my way out of the closet. “Did you find what you were researching for?”
“Yes, I believe so.”
Oh gods, he believes so but doesn’t know.
I know the first time can be awkward for everyone, but I refuse to let my best friend get or feel embarrassed.
“Lambrit, every woman is different and pleasuring them—”
“Stop right there. Are you attempting to talk to me about how to have intercourse?”
“Yes, but don’t be weirded out about it. It’s a completely normal conversation. I can give you tips on how to make Rose feel comfortable and make sure she and you—”
“Nope, Thay, stop it right now. I do not want to have this conversation with you. Plus, I’ve already sought out advice.”
I jerk back, offended he went to someone other than me. “Who did you have this conversation with?”
“I think I’ll keep that to myself.”
“No, you will not. I need to make sure whoever you spoke with actually gave you good advice, so you tell me, or I start my own lesson right now.”
He sits up, scowling at me, but quickly enough drops the look when he sees the seriousness on my face.
“You really want to know? It’s going to make you mad.”
“You let me worry about my own emotions.”
He frowns, then looks toward my door. “Riven and Creed.”
I flinch. “I’m sorry, do you mean my Riven and Creed?”
“How many Rivens and Creeds do you know?”
“Enough with the sarcasm,” I snap, then shut my mouth before taking another breath. “I don’t even know what to say. When and why did you ask them of all people advice on this?”
“Well, I actually asked Riven one day when he caught me in the Goddess of Affection’s section in the Athenaeum.
He told me to tell him all about what I was looking for, so I did.
Creed just so happened to be looking for Riven and found us both.
He naturally inserted himself in the conversation and they both gave me helpful advice. ”
“Did they pick on you? Were they teasing or mean about it? I’ll fuck them up.”
I know how much Riven likes to pick about sensitive topics and Creed can be a flat-out asshole. I take a step toward my door, but he blocks me.
“Neither of them did either of those things. They took teaching me very seriously, and I’m pleased to say their lesson paid off.”
Oh my stars.
“For the Valories, Thay, don’t make this a big deal. I’m thirty years old.”
His teasing but exasperated tone has my mouth snapping back shut. I sure as fuck was about to scream and celebrate. I’m proud to say I gather myself together quickly and plaster on a genuine smile.
“So it’s like official, official right?”
“We’ve been official, official, as you put it, since our third week here. We’ve just entered the next phase in our relationship.”
Relationship…my best friend definitely has his first girlfriend.
By the smile on his face, the first and last.
“Well, I want to remind you that I called it in like the first hour.” I chuckle and he rolls his eyes. “Why did you wait this long to tell me?”
“You’ve had enough going on in your own relationships.”
That sobers me up.
I turn and stare into my fireplace as guilt rises with my nervousness. The fact that I’ve made him feel like he’d be overwhelming me by coming and talking to me about what he has going on has pain searing through my heart.
“Thay.”
“No matter what’s going on with me, the realm, anything, you can always talk to me. I’m always going to be here for you. You know that, right?”
He gives me a small smile. “I knew the second I said it you’d take it that way. I didn’t mean for it to sound like you’ve been too busy for me. I meant it as in, we’re both trying to navigate and merge two new lives together. We’re just figuring it out.”
“Figuring it out is the last thing I feel like I’m doing.”
“What do you mean? In my opinion, you’ve handled all these changes pretty well.” I hang my head as the guilt surfaces even more.
“That’s because I’ve been hiding so much of the truth from you.
” I take a shuddering breath, then turn toward him.
“The guys and I had a conversation yesterday. We’ve decided it’s time I tell you all, meaning you, Yemi, Rose, and Havar, everything that’s been going on with me and some truths about them.
I asked if I could do it alone with all of you and they agreed.
That’s why I asked everyone to have dinner at Yemi’s.
I wanted to get you alone first to see if you wanted me to tell you by yourself or with everyone else. It’s…it’s going to be a lot, Lambrit.”
The corners of his eyes wrinkle as he examines me closely. “Why have you been keeping things from me?”
“Because it’s all dangerous and I didn’t want you to know more than you should, just in case. I didn’t even really want you to come on this quest with us because it’s dangerous, but I also didn’t want to take an opportunity like this from you.”
“You’re lying, Thayla.”
I huff. “I’m not lying. Don’t study me right now, Lambrit.”
He’s already doing it. The calculation is reflecting back at me in the depths of his eyes.
“You’re afraid we’re all about to freak out and abandon you. That’s why you didn’t want your Valtrue there so if we did, you could hide your hurt from them and act like it doesn’t faze you.”
“Lambrit,” I warn, and he shakes his head.
“Fine. I don’t want to know beforehand. You can tell us all at once and I can show you how I’m going to stay by your side no matter how the others react. You know, you’ve been trying to get rid of me for like a year now, and I’m starting to take it personally.”
I snort and close my eyes as a smidge of relief attempts to spread through me. “I’ve literally planned countless times how I was going to kidnap you and we’d run away. I have no plans of getting rid of you.”
“Good, ’cause you’re stuck with me. And our group’s growing pretty quickly. It’s going to be hard to kidnap everyone.”
Fuck, he’s so right.
That’s something I’ve thought about numerous times. No matter how private I’ve tried to be with Yemi, Rose, Havar, even the guys to an extent, it’s gotten harder as the days have flown by.
I couldn’t run away or leave them behind now.
“I’m going to go grab the cookies, then we’ll head over there through my door.”
“Do you want me to go ahead and warn all of them so you don’t feel so awkward or wait?”
“A warning for them would probably be nice so I don’t ruin everyone’s dinner.” I laugh, although the thought of him preparing them for me makes me feel a lot better.
At least now when I walk in, I won’t be surprising them. They’ll be waiting for me, and I can just spit it out.
“I’ll see you in a minute then. Everything’s going to be okay. There’s nothing you can tell me that’ll get rid of me.”
Fuck, I hope not.
I give him a smile that’s as convincing as I can make it, then leave my room as he shuts my back door. There’s nothing but silence up ahead and I shake my shoulders out with each step.
“Ready, V?”
“Very ready. They’ll be shocked just as you’ve been at every turning point, so prepare for that, not for them to turn on you.”
“Okay then. Are you going to meet me outside or pop up in Yemi’s house?”
“Oh, I believe I’m going to let my entrance be a surprise.”
“That’s exactly what they need. Another surprise.”
I get nothing in return but a hooting laugh in my mind.
The mouthwatering smell hits my nose as soon as my fingers grip the warm plate Creed’s wrapped and prepared for me. I open the cooker to see where he’s stored the other ones but find it empty and there really aren’t any cookies anywhere else.
Damn, he seriously wasn’t going to share with the guys.
Deciding I’m going to be nice, I grab a small plate from the cupboard and lift the wrapping off the tray so I can leave a few for them.
A note sitting right on top has my fingers twitching.
“If they hurt your feelings, I’ll snatch their souls from them.”
A threat against my friends really should have me pissed off. Instead, a small smile lights up my face as my soul flutters in my chest.
I don’t dare stroke it too hard, but enough to let Creed know I appreciate his dark and deadly support.