The silence got a little awkward.
“That’s it?” I finally demanded. “He’s trying to whisk me away to his sex palace and you tell him you disagree?”
Sex palace, Randall mouthed at Morgan.
“What more do you want me to do?” Ryan asked, brow furrowed.
“Stab the shit out of him!”
“You do that and I’ll melt your face off,” Randall said.
“You know how I feel about my face,” Ryan said to me. “I use it for things.”
“Motherfucker,” I growled. “And for those wondering, I meant that for all three of you.”
“Is it to help him?” Ryan asked Randall, ignoring my glower.
Randall glanced at me, and he must have seen something on my face that told him in no way, shape, or form did Ryan need to know about Myrin wanting to eat my magic. Probably not the best move, but if he was going to hear it from anyone, it would be from me. And I didn’t know how I would tell him. “It is.”
“And you’ll keep him safe?”
I expected Randall to bristle. Instead, shockingly, he softened the smallest amount. “Always.”
“And you’re sure I can’t be there?”
“I think it best that Sam is… without distraction.”
“Great,” I said. “Please, continue talking about me as if I’m not even here. That’s a good way to go about this. Also, the fact that you’re all trying to make decisions about me like I can’t make them on my own is really endearing all of you to me. Just in case you were wondering.”
Ryan flinched at that. “I’m worried.”
“About?” I asked coolly.
“You.” He took a step toward me. I thought about being an asshole and taking an answering step back, but I couldn’t do that to him. Not when he looked as earnest as he did. And everyone knew that when faced with the Ryan Foxheart Earnest Face (capitalized, so you know it must be true), you stood no chance whatsoever. “This has been a lot for you.”
“I’m handling it fine, thank you very much.”
His lips twitched at that, and then he was standing in front of me, hands on my arms, thumbs brushing along my skin. “I know you are. But this would be a lot for anyone, Sam. With everything that’s gone on, Vadoma and the destiny—”
“I still really hate that word,” I mumbled.
“—and Myrin, it’s a wonder you’re still standing at all.”
“You are.”
He shook his head. “But this isn’t about me. Not directly. And if Randall thinks he can help you, don’t you think you should listen?”
I narrowed my eyes. “What’s your angle on this, Foxheart? Why are you so quick to send me away?”
He frowned. “I’m not trying to send you away.”
“You’re certainly not not trying to send me away.”
“What? What does that even mean—no. I’m not going to let you talk your way out of this, Sam. You do that all the time. If this is what it takes to keep you safe, then you can bet that I’ll agree to it. You’re my priority. Always.”
“I’m not a child.”
“I’m well aware of that.”