Page 115 of The Gods Order

“I’m not hiding. I am doing something. I’m staying out from under the eyes of the gods before I become like those who came before me.”

His smile drops for the first time. He’s more well-tempered than Obsidian, but I know what lurks beneath that surface.

He does too. That’s why he’s running.

Respect. Glad I don’t have to kill him where he stands.

Yet.

“Disappearing doesn’t always work, Prath,” Doren says, stepping forward. “The stars drag everything back to the surface whether we’re ready or not.”

Discovery holds his gaze for a long, uncomfortable moment. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear the two of them know something we don’t. Maybe they do. Prath knew who Doren was without an introduction.

Ugh. I hate that.

Since when is power passed down like that?

“Okay then,” Prath murmurs. “I suppose we don’t know where our last member or our Binder is?”

“Just our last member. Our Binder is back at the Godsdawn with theirs,” Gladian says, gesturing at all of us.

“So you’re all already an established group?”

“Yes,” Gladian says.

“No,” I say—very confidently.

He sighs at me. I sigh back.

“I don’t like or accept you. Thayla made me do this. Plain and simple.”

“Thayla God—”

I whip my glare toward Prath so fast I’m shocked my neck didn’t snap. I’m not the only one staring deadly promises at him.

“Don’t.”

He tightens his lips and nods.

“So what’s your plan from here?”

“Simple,” Amick says. “Find your last Valtrue member. Then the five of you can figure out what you’re doing. Are you coming or not? I’m ready to go.”

His impatience is thinner than usual today.

No clue why. Thayla’s soul is perfectly fine.

I would know. I keep sending her inappropriate sensations.

“Very well.” Prath sighs, glancing back at Obsidian’s—his house. “I don’t know where we go from here, but I don’t plan to stay in the Godsdawn.”

Gladian’s eyes narrow and his fingers flex. Before he can spew whatever shit he wants, Amick steps forward. I follow.

I know better than anyone what that red creeping up his neck means.

Don’t giggle.

“You’ve deluded yourself since your power and position elevated and that mark appeared on your wrist,” Amick says, low. “By unfortunate design, you’ve inherited the knowledge of those before you, which means you inherit the horrors they left behind. You will aid in fixing them. If you don’t, you are part of the problem and we, by unfortunate design, have been tasked with fixing the problem. Choose your side.”