Page 42 of Imbalance
"Those fingers are going to get you into trouble," he brushed our noses together as I smiled back.
"I like trouble. Huge fan of it, actually," I explained, hoping to tempt him to kiss me more.
"I love your kind of trouble," he agreed, "but we are, unfortunately, required to go to this damned thing with the seer." I slouched against him with a tired sigh and nodded in understanding, knowing that this would have to wait until later, which sucked but was also important. I hoped nobody expected me not to grumble about it.
"We good?" Colt opened the door, eyeing our position, and I nodded promptly and strode towards the Fallen. His gaze was much warmer, as it had been after the pub incident, so I hesitantly squeezed his arm in passing, letting my fingers linger before walking into the hallway. My eyes immediately found Nico.
I felt my lips twist downward as I considered how the hell to handle this...thingbetween us. I felt hurt by his actions, but I also didn't like how exhausted he looked. Had the man slept at all? I took a step in his direction, seeing his eyes widen, but suddenly, my path was intercepted by Drayven.
I scowled up at him, and he winked uncharacteristically and dropped a kiss onto my forehead. "You sleep well? I didn't hear much when I was on watch last night."
"I didn't do much," I admitted, looking at where Adrien and Damien were walking down the hall. "Did any of you go back down to the ball?"
No, I wasn't wondering if they had interacted with other women. That would be insane...and completely reflective of my current insecurities with Nico.
"Why would we, without you?" Nico's response had me peeking around Drayven to find his expression serious. That made me feel a hell of a lot better.
Before I could respond, Jace's voice filled the hall, "You guys good to go? The seer is waiting for us."
Somehow, I felt visiting the seer was one of the most important things I would do today, and that was saying something, considering what my mates had to do.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Ama
The small temple that stood in front of me was gorgeous in its simplicity. The stairs leading up to it were covered on either side by vines that produced pretty turquoise flowers I'd never seen before.
When we reached the top of the stairs, I found the temple to be a long, rectangular building with pillars on all sides instead of walls, privacy provided only by the gauze curtains that covered each section. They still allowed sunlight through, and a ray of it shined on Pelia, the seer, who was waiting for us.
Immediately upon hearing us enter, she turned towards me and offered a smile, her colorless irises seeming to be all-seeing as they focused on me.
"Ama!" she chimed. "I am so happy to see you again. You as well, boys. I know I haven't met all of you, but any mate of Ama's is destined by the fates to be a good individual." I nearly rolled my eyes at that, considering how some of them had been acting lately, but I also didn't want to discount the sincerity in her voice. I mean, they were good men at the end of the day...a bit lost, but good men.
"Where are the king and queen?" I asked curiously, assuming they were coming.
"Oh, they will be here soon," Pelia answered before urging me forward. "Ama, come help me set up for the blessing. Boys, I am almost positive there is something you can entertain yourself with. Maybe, Jace, you can show them how to secure these devildamned curtains, so they aren't always getting in my way."
I nearly snorted at that. Jace let out a mumbled grunt but walked towards the others and did exactly as Pelia had suggested. I couldn't lie, I sort of loved how much power the seer seemed to hold over everyone. Although, if what she'd said about her line was accurate, it made her extremely important to this kingdom.
I walked towards her, and she led me to an altar, where she had a number of herbs laid out, along with a pale blue candle.
Instead of moving to set anything up, she turned towards me and offered a small smile, "How are you doing since we last talked? My sight made me aware of the conversation you had last night with the king and queen...and also this ridiculous battle they've agreed was necessary. Jace is a good man, but these senseless battles of dominance only weaken us. However, I know he and many others in our kingdom still feel the need to prove that we are not inferior."
"I thought it seemed pointless as well," I admitted, then shook my head, "but we need their help. And agreeing seemed like the quickest way to secure it."
Pelia squeezed my hand, "I think you are going to learn very soon, Ama, that both these people and the ones of Kingdom of Pura need you, not the other way around."
I nodded, not knowing how to take that but speaking my feeling, "As annoyed as I am with the situation, I also understand that everyone is just trying to do what they think is best. Even if I don't completely agree with it."
"Yes," Pelia nodded, then narrowed her eyes, looking out towards a large, empty field to our left. I had no idea what she was seeing, but she soon distracted me, "but sometimes, what the ego believes is 'best' can interfere with what the fates have planned."
"And what do the fates have planned for me?" I knew it was a blunt question, but I felt like it was an important one, and considering her smile, I felt like it was the one she had wanted me to ask.
"One that includes something far larger than any of this. One that will bring you happiness through strife and struggle. Just promise me, Ama, that you won't give up on those who are lost, and more importantly, that you will consider ideas that seem impossible—maybe even improbable. The devil has odd ways of becoming a part of our lives."
Nope not ominous or weird at all there, Pelia.
She tilted her head, looking over my shoulder, "Although, your mates’ greatest flaws may be their inability to gather fabric and tie it back." My gaze moved to where Finias was watching a frustrated Colt attempt to gather fabric that seemed to keep slipping out of his grasp again and again. As if the wind itself...my eyes narrowed on Finias pressing lightly over one of his runes, which I had to assume was elemental. I couldn't deny the smile that came to my lips at his actions, because damn him, that was really fucking funny.
