Page 20 of The Gods Order

The teasing touch on her face falls slightly.

“Sorry. I was a little lost in my thoughts.”

“You have nothing to apologize for. I know all too well how that is.”

She nods, fully understanding.

“May I join you?”

My hands pause at my waistband as I wait for her permission. It comes a moment later in the form of a breathtaking smile and a dip of her head.

Not only does the warm water welcome me, but so does she.

Wordlessly, her arms wrap around me, her fingers tracing patterns across my back. My hand cradles her head as I guide her closer until her cheek rests against my heart.

A long, peaceful moment passes. Never in my worst nightmares would I have thought I’d embrace someone like this. The thought of being wrapped in someone’s arms, naked, in a shower with water a touch too hot pouring down on us would’ve made my blood shiver.

If I replace her with anyone else in this realm, it does.

Not her. Never her.

This is my favorite place to be. This is comfort. Rightness.

Home.

“Were Yemi and the others still awake?” she asks, breaking the silence.

“Oh yes. Waiting in anticipation for us.”

She lets out a quiet chuckle. “So what’s the plan?”

“Kyzen asked them to give us thirty minutes to shower, change, and start breakfast. Then they’ll be here.”

Her drawn-out exhale fans across my wet skin as she tightens her hold and nods.

“Tell me what to do, Amick,” she whispers.

“You don’t need me to tell you what to do.”

“Well, guide me then. Give me some advice.”

A small smirk spreads across my lips. It’s cute that she thinks using a soft tone and switching to my preferred terminology will change my answer.

It, in fact, works. My mind whirls with the advice I want to give her.

Little anomaly.

I pull back a fraction and tilt her chin up until she’s looking at me.

“My advice is mostly the same. You don’t have to forgive your father or forge a relationship with him, but his identity does change some things.”

“It changes a lot. Everything.”

“Not everything, but yes, many things. In my opinion, he’ll be one of two things: a great help or a hindrance. We won’t know which—”

“Until I talk to him,” she huffs. “I don’t know how to approach that.”

“Then let’s finish our shower and go talk to the realm’s greatest mediator. Even when he hates it, he always knows what to say and how to approach any conversation.”