Creed #3
“You always preferred space,” she says. “You need enough room to practice.”
Her small, prideful laugh has him backing out and shutting the door. Her face fractures.
“Don’t you love it?”
A slow, measured breath falls from his chest. “Your design was very thoughtful.”
Her smile returns. Just like that.
Fuck, get me out of here.
“Amick. You next.”
He doesn’t hesitate to just sling the door open.
Floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with neatly arranged books cover every wall aside from the one that a bed is pushed up against. Even what I assume are the bathroom and closet doors are surrounded by shelves.
A massive desk positioned beneath a skylight is already decorated with parchments and a pen.
This is far too crowded for his liking.
He steps back silently. She doesn’t push him the way she did Kyzen.
“Creed. This one’s yours.”
Her over-the-top happiness is dimmed as she shrugs her shoulders.
I open the door and bite back my scoff.
Dark wood. Sparse furnishings. Clean lines. A wide window facing outside.
No decorations, no plants, no form of life to be found.
There’s a single chair. A bed. Bathroom. Closet.
“You prefer minimalism,” she says.
“Right,” I say as I step out the doorway.
Her smile twitches, then smooths.
“And, Riven, darling. I made this especially for you.”
“That sounds promising.” He grins. Unkindly.
Thayla fights back her chuckle as soon as he shoves the door open.
The room is split without being split.
One side is pristine. White marble floors, a perfectly centered bed, and shelves that are arranged with black-and-gold decorations in a deliberate pattern.
The other side is a fucking mess. Color is splashed across the walls in swirls, and for some damn reason, there’s fabric draped unevenly from the ceiling. There’s even a loud-ass fountain in the corner shooting water toward the ceiling.
“For Rella’s beautiful contradiction,” she says, and I cross my arms, staring her down.
Riven steps back into the living room, looking confused as shit.
“This is…chaotic.”
“It’s dynamic,” she corrects. “To please both sides of yourself.”
“Yep,” he says sarcastically.
“So you all love your spaces, yes?”
We each glance at one another.
“If you don’t mind me asking,” Thayla says with the fakest smile I’ve ever seen. “When did you do this for them?”
“Oh, moments ago, after I changed. As I was looking around my beautiful room, the idea struck me. If I created a space for each of them, then they’d be more willing to stay with me.”
“Right, okay. That was sweet of you.”
“It was, wasn’t it?” she asks, tilting her head to the side. None of us answer.
“Have no fear, though, Ms.—Thayla.” She drags her name out like she’s waiting for our appreciation that she used her name like she was asked to. “I created a space for you as well. I know my boys. They’re much like their father. They won’t be going far without you.”
“Oh. You shouldn’t have,” Thayla says with a small laugh.
“Of course I had to. Come, let me show you.” She twirls around, stopping at the doorway as we all step forward. “What are you boys doing?”
“Following you,” Kyzen says.
She gasps, laying her hand against her heart.
“You boys have no business seeing your Binder’s personal quarters. Unless…” Her eyes roam across us, then settle on Thayla. “Thayla, have you already invited one of my sons into your bedroom?”
“What?” Thayla barks out a surprised laugh as her cheeks heat.
“What Thayla does and doesn’t do in the comfort of her home is none of your concern,” Amick says, holding her stare.
“That may be true, but this is my home, my rules. The four of you have no business in her room. I decide if, when, and who should I allow a goddess to enter your space.”
“You decide—”
Thayla steps forward, cutting Amick off.
“It’s fine, she’s right. Her house. A quick peek in the door right next to you will be fine.”
Despite the fact she’s consistently stroking our souls as if to let us know she’ll do that the entire time, our faces stay firm.
“Fine,” Amick says, then he focuses on Calista. “We tolerate no disrespect toward our Binder. You offend or harm her, and we’re gone.”
“Of course, son. I wouldn’t expect anything less from my boys.”
Ice slithers across my skin.
She knows fuck all nothing about us.
“Come, Thayla. I’m so excited to show you.”
Thayla gives us a tight smile as she walks toward the Goddess of Creation. The second they pass through the threshold and the door shuts, unease fills my stomach.
“I don’t like this,” I say.
“Neither do I,” Amick agrees.
We need to get the fuck out of here.
Before I can step forward, Riven charges toward the door. A yelp rips from his lips as soon as his hand wraps around the handle.
“Motherfucker,” he shouts, gripping his wrist and hopping around.
The four of us freeze as a pulse snaps through the room.
My power and soul wither inside of me.
No matter how hard I fight against the restraint wrapping around my skin, I can’t kill it off.
“She just suppressed our power. Touching the handle was the trigger,” Amick says.
We stare at the door.
Thayla.