Page 34 of Eight Embers

I catch something weird on Saladriel’s face, and I'm fast enough with my spin that I actually see it before it disappears. “Holy fuck! You smirked. The grumpy unicorn smirked, everybody!”

He rolls his eyes at me. “Whatever. I can be happy, okay? Now, we going through this thing or not?”

I suck in a breath through my teeth. “Right. You probably want to get back to your girlfriend, huh? Should be excited to see you. Yes. I guess we're doing this.”

My mom turns to smirk at me. She hip checks me as she walks up to me, holding out a hand for fist bump. “Back of the car? Nice.”

“Mrs. Delaney's mom, it's a pleasure. Things were a bit hectic back at the dorm, but I wanted to say hello,” Rush says with another flourish. He bows to her, holding out his arm like he's in some sort of medieval court or something. “I just want you to know I'm going to treat your daughter very well.”

She scoffs. “If by treat her well you mean keep her fed, then yes, you are. And if you talk to him, tell your father I didn't appreciate his New Year's gift very much.”

“I'm so sorry about that. I told him it was a bad idea. He really doesn't listen to me, though.”

“Hmm,” is all she says. “Alright, here's your pep talk. Gods and goddesses are difficult. The trick is, you need to manage them in a way that they don't realize. They almost always have very big egos. Use that.”

Saladriel nods in agreement. “Pretty sure that's their default setting.”

“Alright, bye then! We'll see you when you get back.”

My parents hug me and then start heading towards the car while Wil stands there open-mouthed. “Wait, that's it? No, ‘keep each other alive? Don't get hurt? You've got this?’”

They all pause. And then my mother turns around. I know immediately this isn't something that anybody else needs to hear, but unfortunately, I can't make it stop. I’ve learned from numerous experiences that when my mom has wisdom to impart, she will impart it no matter what I do to try and prevent her from doing so. It’s usually better to let it roll off your back and move on.

“When in doubt, remember the lessons you learned at the infamous strip club,” my mother tells me with a big wink. “Also, ask the locals on recommendations for lube before you try and improvise. Not everything is created equal in other realms.”

My mom stops at the guard house, presumably to give them instructions about when we return, blows kisses and then starts to pull away.

“Look, I know they aren’t traditional, but I swear to you they love me.”

“Yeah, no. I totally get that,” Spencer says with a face that tells me he's trying so hard not to laugh.

“Still unclear why you're here,” I tell him, “but you know you don't actually have to accompany us to this other realm to go on some silly quest this goddess has decided I need to go on, right?”

Rush waves his fingers at my arm. “You should do the thing, Delaney.”

My jaw drops. I look at Spencer, I look at Rush, I look at my arm. And I do it all again. Maybe I get teary eyed, but there's no proof. “Why would you say such a hateful thing?”

“She doesn't mean it like that,” Rush assures Spencer. “She's just resisting the knowledge that she will have another mate to take on right now. She's feeling unprepared and overwhelmed with everything going on.”

Spencer looks embarrassed, but I probably feel more so. Best thing I can think to do at that moment is lie on the ground. Face first. And hey, if my face ends up in an ant hill, that's certainly nobody's business. I can take it. I'm tough.

“For fox’s sake, Delaney. They're literally eating your face off. Get off the ground,” Wil says with a level of exasperation heretofore unseen from him.

“I get it now. Why my mother is known to yell out, ‘there are too many dicks in this damn family!’ when she's napping on the couch. Can I not just fucking date somebody and control how everything progresses?”

“Is this a bad time to tell you I don't actually have a girlfriend?”

Okay, the venom is starting to really bother me. So, I roll over. Let them eat my scalp for a bit. “Really, Saladriel? You could have just said you didn't want to be with me. That would have been acceptable, you know.”

Right, well. Sort of feels like I'm spinning out of control; I don't really know what's happening anywhere, I need to get everyoneback. I need Cory’s sunshine. I need an Adam hug. I need the twins there to tease me and make me happy. And that's not going to happen if I don't suck it up and just go through the damn portal.

I grab Wil's hand because he looks as nervous as I am. I'm not sure what Rush is even thinking about. I don't have the mental capacity to process getting together with Spencer right now. Sometimes you just need to enforce boundaries and take care of yourself.

“Okay, here's your pep talk from me,” I tell the guys standing behind me. “I have no idea what to expect when we walk through here, but let's just do our best to work together and stay together. Spencer, if you're intent on coming with us, I'm going to need to put a pause on anything between us. I'm just not ready.”

“That's cool. Totally respect that. If you really don't want me, I can stay here, but I'm pretty good at managing Rush by this point. I might come in handy.”

“Up to you. Let's just get this over with, shall we?” And just in case something happens, and I don't get another chance, I kiss Wil on the cheek, and I squeeze Rush's hand. It's thanks to him I feel as steady as I do right now, but I think it's just going to take time to build something reliable together.

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