Page 182 of The Gods Veiling
He considers that for a second before turning from the door. I release a breath as the water cuts off and turn my back to her bathroom so she doesn’t think I was standing here staring at her door.
Her vast, nearly floor-to-ceiling curtains take me by surprise. I can’t help the chuckle that slips through when I think about how she had to pull those things back in order to shed some light in here for weeks.
I’m not laughing necessarily at her, but I swear I can hear her in here cussing about it.
“Does my room tickle you?”
My mouth dries as I take sight of her. Her long hair is still wet, and she’s slowly gripping it with her towel to get the water out. The small set of shorts she has on barely pokes out under her oversized shirt and her bare toes wiggle against the floor.
This is how she’s supposed to look.
She never should be drenched in Oblirian blood.
“It does. It suits you. Perfectly.”
She hums as she glances around. “I’m not so sure about that. Did I hear someone else a second ago?”
“Yeah, Amick came to check on us.”
The corners of her lips tip up. “I’m sure he was.”
I return her small smile and slide my hands into my sweatpants. It’s like our first day meeting all over again. I’m not exactly sure what to say and I don’t want to upset her, so I wait her out.
She hangs her towel on her bathroom door and runs her hands through her hair a few times as she stares at me. “Which are you tonight, Kyzen?”
I tilt my head. “What do you mean?”
“Good god or bad god?”
A sad smile crosses my lips. “Probably some of both, little goddess.”
It’s no secret, not even to her, I’ll do the majority of the talking. Usually, it wouldn’t bother me. It’s what I’m best suited for in our Valtrue. Tonight, though, I wish someone else took the reins.
“Let’s go get the awkwardness out of the way then.”
She crosses her room to me and with a pat to my chest, she leads our way out. Each of her steps is confident, but that small tremble is still in her hands. The brave façade she’s putting on is just that. A façade.
She’s just as nervous as we are.
The kitchen and living room are deathly silent. The distant looks in my brother’s eyes, though, scream.
First, they glance at me, then all the attention moves to Thayla. She squirms in her place, then moves to the counter and wordlessly fixes her coffee with everything Creed’s left out.
Her cream of choice tonight is Riven’s, which is by far the sweetest option. A gloating little smile lights up his face like he’s pleased she chose his. I don’t think the fact that sugar helps situations like this even crosses his mind.
“Table or couch?” I ask.
“Couch.”
I arch my brow at her and she hides her smirk behind her mug. The rest of us silently follow her lead and make our drinks while she goes and chooses her seat.
Creed and Riven decide to sit on the opposite couch together, while Amick and I take a side each of hers. None of us speak.
This is officially more awkward than our first day together.
“We—”
“Mellcom is my adoptive brother and Jeremiah, if you all didn’t catch it from his comments, is my ex.”
