Page 121 of The Gods Order

He twists his fingers together as he steps forward.

“I did, and I do apologize, angel. I had—”

Riven’s echoing gasp has Vullie snapping his mouth shut.

“What the hell did you just call her?”

“I, uh…angel. That’s what you call her.”

Kyzen and Amick, as well as Doren and Sevryn, shake their heads and stare at Vullie like he’s lost his ever-loving mind.

“Her name is Thayla,” Riven says so low, I swear the house drops a few degrees.

Gods, his possessiveness should not turn me on the way it does.

“Of course.” Vullie clears his throat and faces me fully again. “Thayla, I had no clue what it was going to be used for. I never would’ve sold it if I had known.”

“Why make such a thing anyway?” I ask.

“There are many who have trouble sleeping. Whether they’re plagued with nightmares or any other afflictions that inhibit them from catching a restful night of sleep. The use of it on you and Yemi was the first time it’s ever been used in such a way. That I’ve been made aware of, at least. And again, I’m truly sorry for that.”

This time, he bows to both Yemi and me. The sincere guilt on his face eases any animosity I may have still been holding onto. Riven’s explained to me numerous times that his friend creates solutions to issues that others in the Plentiful and Healer Designation don’t want to fix.

I can respect the fact that he goes against the grain to help people.

I mean…he does make shit that blows up as well, but that actually came in handy for us.

The second newcomer in Mara’s Valtrue takes a step forward until he’s aligned with Vullie. He smiles a lot more compared to anyone in their Valtrue.

Maybe his cheeriness will rival Doren’s.

So far there’s a grumpy one, a nervous one, and a happy one. I wonder what the fourth will be. Smart one, funny one, quiet one, ass—

“My name is Prath. I’m the new God of Shadows.”

My mental list and laugh die in my mind, and my attention slowly zeroes in on him. That smile of his has grown tender while the entire house has descended into silence.

Kyzen’s strong hand lies gently on my lower back as I stare. Riven and Amick shift closer to me.

The new God of Shadows…

That familiarity. Oh no.

“I swear to you, just as I did to my Valtrue, yours and Yemi’s, I am new in all ways. I won’t repeat the ways of old.”

I swallow down the lump in my throat and hold his gaze as I push my Accord toward him. My mind doesn’t hum with any trace of deception.

“I hope not,” I mutter.

“If my life starts leading down that path, I hope the same thing that was done to my predecessor will be done to me.”

Riven and Kyzen attempt to cover their chuckles with coughs, and Prath smirks at both of them. That reaction eases my worries.

If he knows the truth of what they did and can smile about it, then he isn’t a threat to me. Plus, I have no doubt they would’ve killed him—or at least have tried to—if they thought he was like Obsidian. They sure as fuck wouldn’t have let him come into our home.

“Well, I believe that’s enough for introductions today. Kyzen, escort Rose home on your way to walk them to their new home,” Amick says.

“Yes, please. I’m going to catch a little nap before Lambrit gets home,” Rose says, hopping up off the couch.