Page 333 of The Gods Order

“Well.” Riven chuckles, strolling over. “That looked painful.”

He starts peeling children off one by one by the backs of their shirts.

“Give the poor man a chance to breathe. He’s still got a wife waiting.”

Sure enough, Annalise stands in the doorway with that patient smile only she could manage and baby Ezra on her hip.

The moment Ellian reaches her, every ounce of restraint disappears.

He cups her face and kisses her like he’s making up for every second they’d spent apart.

“Eww!”

The chorus of disgust from the kids earns nothing but laughter from the rest of us. Only then does my attention drift beyond them.

Three familiar figures step through the doorway and Thayla gasps.

She slips free of her parents before they even realize she’s gone.

Lambrit reaches her first, but Laney isn’t far behind.

She wedges herself between them with all the determination only a little sister could possess, wrapping both arms around Thayla’s waist while Lambrit pulls her into a hug.

“Easy there, sweet girl.” Thayla laughs, somehow managing to hold on to them both. “You’re going to squeeze the life out of me.”

I frown.

Too soon.

“I missed you,” Laney mumbles against her.

“I missed you too. Did you have fun on your vacation?”

“So much. We played games, hiked, and your momma made cookies. I got to sleep with her one night because I had a bad dream.” She leans back just enough to look up at Thayla as seriousness crosses her little face. “I didn’t even know you had a momma. You never told me.”

Thayla’s mouth parts for a breath before she collects herself.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to keep that from you. I just didn’t…know where she was. We got separated when I was a little older than you.”

“That’s what she told me. She also told me one day you’d find her, and now you have!”

Thayla offers her a small smile as she tucks a piece of hair behind her ear.

“Laney!” Ellian calls from across the yard. “Come see me, sweet girl.”

Her head snaps up in his direction and a laugh leaves her as the kids once again bombard him.

“I’m coming.”

She gives Thayla one last squeeze before darting across the yard, weaving between everyone with a grin as she throws herself into Ellian’s waiting arms. A quiet chuckle slips from Thayla, but it morphs into another gasp. My attention drops to where her fingers curl around Lambrit’s hands.

Black glints against his wrist, and my brows rise.

“You…have marks,” Thayla says.

Shock and happiness color her tone, and her gaze bounces around wildly.

Lambrit glances down at the decorative A and L weaved together before exchanging an amused look with Rose. She turns her wrist over and I stare at her matching mark.