Page 165 of The Gods Order

A genuine smile crosses my lips and I tug her into me.

“Sounds like the plan.” My eyes drift shut as she lays her head on my shoulder. I hold her a little tighter before she can rip herself away from me. “I love you, Laney girl.”

“Love you, Thay.”

A giggle breaks free from her as Riven scoops her and spins her around. I narrow my eyes at him when he tells her to cause some chaos while he’s off doing boring adult stuff. She agrees.

She spares Creed, Kyzen, and Amick quick hugs as her friends call her name and tell her to come on, that their game is starting.

I give myself a moment to watch her. Then I roll my shoulders out.

“Let’s go home.”

Four murmured agreements reach my ears and my power wraps around me. The realm snaps back into place in a quiet rush of air and dim light as our living room greets me.

No one speaks right away.

We don’t move like we usually do when we get back from anywhere. No scattered conversations, no teasing remarks, no immediate breaking off into routines.

Just…stillness.

Like we all arrived at a conclusion at the same time and haven’t decided what to do with it yet.

“I’m going to shower,” I say quietly, more to myself than anyone else.

No one argues.

That, more than anything, tells me they’re all in the same space I am.

I don’t look back as I head down my hallway and through my room.

The bathroom door closes behind me with a soft click, and for a moment, I just stand here, letting the silence settle around me.

It’s comforting for about three seconds, then it becomes suffocating.

I wash quickly. Like I’m trying not to give my mind too much time to obsess over all the thoughts, worries, things to do, things to say. Everything.

When I step out, the steam in the bathroom covers my mirrors and steals the air from the space. My chest tightens unbearably and I swear I practically sprint to the door.

The sensation evaporates the second I sling it open.

They’re here.

Their heads turn toward me, and I sigh. It’s not like I really thought they’d be anywhere else but somewhere in the house.

I just…needed my eyes on them.

I also recognize it’s hours earlier than when we’d go to bed, but I don’t want to do anything but lie with them.

My towel hits the floor of my closet as soon as I cross the threshold, and I grab the first large shirt I see. I sling it on and head right back out all in a matter of maybe two seconds.

No one has to shift or move from where they’re already lying as I climb into bed and settle myself between them. Creed’s on one edge with Amick beside him. Kyzen’s on the other while Riven takes up his spot and half of mine. I don’t tell him to move. I wrap his arm around me like it’s a rope that’ll keep me tethered to this familiar safety.

For a while, none of us move. The silence isn’t awkward. It’s just full.

Tomorrow lingers over all of us like a dark cloud.

“My little psycho,” I whisper, bringing his knuckles to my lips. “Will you do me a favor?”