Kyzen #2
“Do you really think I would go through the trouble of creation just to let you grow into men who leave me? Don’t be silly and stop fighting me on this. What’s done is done. There will be no hearing. You won’t be getting out of the agreement. You’ll spend your days here with me.”
My unease sinks to a whole other level deep in my gut. My gaze meets Amick’s and the multiple reasons for his disappointment stare back at me.
Everything he’s worked toward just…gone.
Ripped right from under him with a chuckle and a wave of a hand.
“Amick,” I call as he rises from the table and marches toward that overcrowded fucking room of his.
“Oh, let him be. I’m sure he needs some silence and time alone. He’s always appreciated a dark, quiet space.”
My head slowly pivots back to her.
“Are you serious right now?” She bats her lashes at me. “You don’t know the first thing about us, and we don’t want to be here. I don’t know what kind of relationship you’re trying to force on us, but this isn’t the way to do it.”
“You keep saying ‘we’ like you belong to each other more than you belong to me. That’s so adorable. It pleases a mother to see her children get along so well.”
Riven tosses his head back, giggling. His napkin lands in his plate as he pushes away from the table.
“I can’t. I seriously can’t. This is too much even for me.”
My gaze follows him and his chuckle as he marches to his room, then slams the door behind him.
Creed grunts, and I fucking plead with my eyes for him not to leave as well. If we all stomp off, she’ll keep coming. Or worse, she’ll trap me here with her alone somehow.
“Kyzen, my darling boy.”
I grit my teeth and turn my attention from Creed.
“I need a favor from you.”
“What’s that?”
“Have a conversation with your brothers for me. They are beginning to hurt my feelings and test my patience. Please remind them, I am the being who decided they should exist.”
I don’t miss the warning in her tone. It rings loud and clear. Creed stiffens beside me, and I force a soft smile to my face.
Breathe.
Do what you do best.
“Of course. May I ask a small favor of you?”
“Anything, dear.”
“Will you bring Thayla back so we may see her?”
Her eyes instantly cloud over and the smirk fades from her face.
“She’s not coming back here. She is a distraction to you. You all need to focus on fixing our family.”
I reach out, gripping her small, delicate hand in both of mine before she can rise from the table.
“I completely understand we’ve made you feel that way and I apologize.”
She shifts in her seat and squares her shoulders.
“I accept your apology.”
“Thank you.” I dip my head and ignore the way Creed hits me with his knee. “We—I—only ask this favor because not everyone in the Godsdawn likes us. As you can imagine, many are jealous of our parentage and the power you’ve all blessed us with.”
“As they should be.”
“Yes,” I say, clearing my throat. “That’s the main reason why we keep Thayla so close.
She is strong, but she just received her power and doesn’t quite know how to wield it yet.
If someone takes advantage of the fact we aren’t around and harms her, well, we lose our Valtrue tie, standing, all of it.
What would the Godsden think of the sons of Obliteration allowing their Binder to be killed? We’d be a mockery.”
“My…” she says, holding her other hand to her lips. “I didn’t consider. Poor thing was cursed with Chaos as well. That must be so troubling for you all.”
I grit my teeth.
“It has been a challenge, but she’s done well not to tarnish our reputation and has tried tirelessly to gain control. It’d be such a shame if something were to happen to her because we weren’t there to protect her this one time.”
She nods. Her smirk continues to grow as her gaze shifts between Creed and me.
“I’m so proud of how much you both have turned out like your father. I can’t express how much it pleases me.”
Fuck, I want to puke.
“I’ll tell you what, after I meet with him tomorrow at the Neutral, I’ll summon Ms. Godrun and she can come back with us.”
I hold in my relieved breath as she tilts her head. Her eyes lose focus, and she quietly mumbles to herself.
“I believe you’re right. I think I went about this all wrong.
We should all, including your Binder, be together as a family.
She should learn my ways, your father’s.
She is going to spend forever with you, so essentially, she’s my daughter and I should pamper and mold her as such.
Yes, very good idea, Kyzen. This time, I won’t shove her through a starshoot. ”
“That sounds great,” I choke out.
“Lovely.” She pulls her hand from mine and claps them together as she stands. “I have lots of planning to do. If you all need more food or anything, just ring this bell. I’ll be back later.”
She whirls around and flicks her hand toward the wall. Sure enough, a simple bell appears by the door. The second she disappears, I release a deep breath and lay my head against the table.
Creed claps me on the back and grunts. “Risky fucking mediation. You think that was smart?”
“Worth it if it gets her back in our sights. There’s no doubt she’s already reached out to Derivius and Ellian. Someone is working on a way to get us out of here.”
I know my little goddess is. Once she’s here, we’ll actually be able to think straight again.