Riven #2
I know just as well as he does, if bestie were to come crying at our door and tell us Sevryn ran off, we’d be armoring up and heading over the barrier.
We’re such good friends.
They’re so lucky to have us.
“No matter what, your Valtrue will have your back. Although I do ask that you don’t do something as reckless as that. It’d truly hurt Yemi, and I won’t be happy about that. I’ll always come for you, though, Sevryn.”
I snort and cough to cover it up. It still gets everyone’s attention.
“Sorry. That was super sweet but sounded so sexual.”
Sevryn appears disgusted with me even though I’m not the one who said the shit.
“Thanks, Doren, but again, I have no plans of doing that. Can’t a man just talk shit without everyone thinking he’s gone crazy? Damn.”
His shout sends us into an awkward silence. Obviously, we pushed his buttons a little too far.
“None of us think you’re crazy,” Creed says. “You have every right to be angry. You just can’t let that anger push you to the point of doing something stupid. That’s all we’re saying.”
“Well, I fucking hear you. Now drop it.”
Pissy, pissy.
I swallow my laugh. I’m well aware this isn’t a good time to let that slip out.
“Is anyone going to explain to me how exactly an Attendant and a being born in the Abandon are in a completed Valtrue together?”
Our footsteps fall still and the four of us pin Gladian in his place with deadly glares. I don’t know how we forgot his stupid ass knows so little of what’s truly going on.
Must be nice to be so ignorant.
“That’s none of your business,” Sevryn growls with a narrowed, threatening scowl.
Gladian’s gaze roams over each of us. “Fine.”
“What was the point of you stalking us again?” I ask.
“I’m not stalking. I wanted to discuss the rotations with Creed and see for myself that the High—Harriseen truly killed two Attendants.”
“Why do you care? You’ve done fuck all nothing to protect them. You let your little Defender bitches toy and torture them for funsies.”
He cuts his eyes at me, and I raise my brows. I’d like an answer to my question. He’s apparently not in the mood to give me one. Those serious orbs of his face back forward and he picks up his march through the forest foliage again.
Sucks we’re so close to Hellveilious. This woodland is boring as shit with no creatures roaming about. They’re smart, though, and know not to hang around a place so vile.
“Things are changing,” Gladian says low, breaking the silence. We each glance at him like he’s stupid. “That means I am as well. I’m trying to, at least.”
I chuff.
That’s hard to believe.
You know the saying, old creatures, new tricks, blah, blah, blah.
“Sevryn and I aren’t the only ones who have rotations in the Court now. Kyzen and Thayla do as well.”
Gladian’s neck snaps toward Creed. “Why do they have rotations?”
“They’re training the Attendants.”
“That’s why High Chancellor Ellian wanted you to coordinate the rotations.”
“Aww, you sound relieved, Gladdy. Were you worried he demoted you from your pedestal? He did, by the way. We’ll always be Ellian’s favorites,” I taunt, smirking and shrugging when he stares at me.
“I don’t give a fuck about standings or pedestals, Gladian, so don’t get your ego in a twist. Ellian left me in charge of planning our rotation so I could keep your fucking worthless Valtrue members away from my Binder and the Defenders away from the Attendants.
There won’t be overlap, and there won’t be strife.
The first Defender to try some shit will regret it. Immediately.
“Starting tomorrow, Thayla and Kyzen will be in the Court every other morning for those rotations. Sevryn and I will be there after lunch on those same days. You’ll have every other day to yourself.
What you do about the Defenders at the barrier on the days you’re in Court is up to you.
You can also decide which Defenders will be with us in the afternoons. ”
They hold each other’s gazes long enough that I have to choke back my laugh.
Talk about an awkward stand-off.
“Very well. I’ll keep completed Valtrues, plus the top-ranking Defenders at the barrier at all times.
Including when I’m in the Court. Mellcom and Jeremiah can take post there every day so we can guarantee there won’t be any run-ins.
Those below the top Defenders will work with you and Sevryn. Work for you?”
Creed nods once.
“So glad you two got that settled. Now, let’s find these—”
My words cut off as my eye catches on the shoe sticking out behind a bush twenty or so feet away.
Doren bobs his head as my gaze flicks to him.
“Well, looks like we found them.”
Creed calls me down as I jog forward. There’s literally nothing for him to worry about. It isn’t like they’re about to rise from the dead and attack me.
My feet slam to a stop the second my eyes land on the two bodies laid almost ceremoniously beside one another. My brow scrunches in confusion as I peek back at Creed.
“Something isn’t right.”
“Nothing about this is right. We just found two murdered Attendants,” Sevryn snarks, but I shake my head and focus back on the two men.
They’re…
“They shouldn’t look like this,” I murmur as Creed finally reaches my side.
“No. They shouldn’t,” he grunts as he kneels and hovers his hand above them.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d tell you they were just laid here.
It’s been weeks since they were killed. By this point, I expected to see decay, insects crawling through their decomposing skin, and a wretched smell that should’ve made Gladian puke.
“Riven,” Creed says, nodding for me to squat beside him. When I do, he lowers his voice. “Do you sense that?”
I stretch my hand out beside his.
A small itch starts at the back of my throat, and no matter how much I try, I can’t stop the giggle that works its way through my lips.
I throw my head back, laughing so hard I fall straight to my ass. The confused, concerned, and a touch disgusted glares being shot my way from Doren, Sevryn, and Gladian make me chuckle harder.
Oh, little burden…you magnificent, confusing creature, what did you unknowingly do?
“What the actual fuck is going on?” Gladian asks.
No one answers him as my mirth fades out and I wipe the stray tears from my eyes.
This is truly glorious.
“Well, Amick most certainly has his proof now,” I say as I shove myself up and wipe my hands on my pants. “Harriseen’s little stab wounds are still perfectly visible.”
“Don’t be an idiot, Riven. This creates a whole new set of issues,” Creed growls. His eyes also tell me to shut the hell up.
“Are either of you going to explain?”
“No,” Creed and I say, and Gladian rolls his eyes.
“I’m going to take the bodies to the healing villas. Sevryn and Doren, go to the house with Riven and wait for me there.”
I don’t miss his emphasis.
“Will do, brother. Gladdy, this was a blast. Hope you fall on a sword on your way home.” I blow him a kiss as my power surrounds me.
I starshoot outside our front door and command my Chaos to cover me. Tiptoeing through the threshold and down the short entrance hall, I pause and listen to the feminine cackling coming from the living room.
The three goddesses are none the wiser that I’m watching them. They’re all comfy on the couch with what smells like coffee and sounds like entertaining gossip.
“I’ll get it.” Thayla chuckles and stands at the three knocks that echo behind me.
“No need, angel,” I say, dropping my Chaos. Her mug hits the ground as the other two jump and shriek. “I’ve got the door.”
“Riven, you asshole,” Thayla shouts as I smirk and turn around before she hurls something at me.
I fling the door open for Sevryn and Doren, then march my way back into the living room. The glare my little burden gives me is equal parts sexy and terrifying.
Not knowing if she wants to kill me or fuck me makes my dick painfully hard.
Damn, I love that dangerous creature.
“What in the hell—”
“Bad, bad burden.” I wiggle my finger back and forth as I plop down on the couch, then lace my hands in my lap. “You’ve done something you shouldn’t have.”
Her nose scrunches in the most adorable way. “Amick made it seem like what I did with my Consequence at the address was okay. It actually wasn’t?”
Oh, damn. I forgot she did that.
I don’t have a clue if it was bad or good.
It was fine with me.
Before I can answer her, a bright flash of light spears through our living room and my eyes widen at Derivius’s appearance. Thayla’s mouth gapes as she glances between him and me.
“I really fucked up, huh? I didn’t mean to declare a consequence on my own. I was just pissed that that fucker so blatantly threatened the Attendants.”
Derivius cocks his head to the side. “Whatever are you talking about?”
She sighs while pinching the bridge of her nose. In a short explanation of the events, she breaks down the information Amick gave her on the power of Consequence, then informs him of how the gods took the news of the Attendants at the address, and how she used her power of Consequence on them.
“So Amick’s explanation about you not directing consequences on your own is partially correct.”
“How is it only partially correct?” the man himself asks as he, Creed, Kyzen, and Lam-the-man join us.
“Shit,” Thayla mutters as she laces her fingers on her head. “If you all are home when you have more important things to handle, that means I really did screw up.”
Derivius snorts softly. “Oh, relax. You didn’t screw up anything this morning at the address.”
“I threatened that asshole with my power,” she snaps, tossing her hands up. His smirking is pissing her off more.
I swallow down my laugh.
“If you had actually declared a consequence that crossed a line, you’d know.”
“It would’ve done that rebound thing that Kyzen explained, right?” she asks.
“That would’ve depended on the declared consequence. The power of Consequence as well as the power of Accord are your only two powers that create an awareness rather than a visible or physical action. You understand that so far, yes?” he asks, and she gives him a timid nod.