Page 143 of The Gods Order

Amick doesn’t give me the opportunity to respond.

“For our final introductions, Sumadirem, better known to us as Meridamus, Beginning God of Consequence, and Valthaneus, Beginning God of Boundaries.”

Mara’s entire Valtrue, including herself, pivot their attention to the two of them. The Court falls intensely quiet as we all watch their reactions. First comes shock, then disbelief. Followed by utter fucking confusion.

“You all weren’t going to give us a warning that they’d be here for training?” Gladian asks, narrowing his eyes.

“We weren’t aware either, but their presence was apparently needed for whatever Thayla needs to discuss,” Amick says, and I square my shoulders as that’s obviously my cue.

“V, dropping the Binding in my hand right now would be good.”

A hoot cuts through the Court and not a millisecond later, he appears on my shoulder with the powerful little globe clutched in his claws. I take it and a deep breath before focusing on everyone.

I don’t say anything as my gaze roams across them. Understanding dawns immediately across some faces. It takes a few others a couple heartbeats to put it together.

Creed and Amick step closer to me, while small chuckles fall from Riven and Kyzen. Out of everyone, it’s Havar who cracks first.

“Hell yeah!” he cheers, running circles around Yemi and her men.

Sevryn sneers and shoves him when he starts patting his chest like his pecs are drums. A laugh escapes nearly all of us when he punches the air and jumps up and down.

“This is fucking great. I can’t wait to see how the Veilatara react to me after this.”

“That’s the energy I love to see, Hay-Hay,” Riven says, giving him an air five.

Gods.

“What’s going on?” Gladian asks, silencing the excitement.

Giant fucker.

“This is one of the seven Gods Binding replicas. Val’s, to be exact,” I say, and Gladian spares him a glance before focusing back on me. “Derivius didn’t give Mara a power boost last time. I did. And I’m doing it again, right now. For everyone who wants more power.”

I suppose I should ask if they want this and not just assume.

Judging by the way Gladian’s head twitches and how he gawks between Mara and me, my men definitely didn’t tell him the whole truth during boys’ day.

That shocks me. Amick is not one to leave out a detail.

As if he knew I was thinking about him, his hand presses against my lower back and his fingers run up and down my spine.

Before Gladian or any other member of his Valtrue can ambush me with questions, I jump into explaining the process, Meridamus’s and Val’s roles, and what Val told me about Domain Gods receiving more power.

Except for Mara, their Valtrue plus Doren was the whole reason for that question.

I don’t have to explain that going not only to the Abandon but straight to the God of Obliteration’s house is the reason behind this decision. Yes, me wanting more power to hopefully help with my Boundaries sparked this desire, but ultimately, I’m not going on that mission alone. I need everyone I care about powered as much as possible.

The tolerable allies need to be prepared too.

“Any objections or anyone not wanting power? Speak now.”

No one speaks.

“Okay then.”

I take a deep breath, meeting Val’s and Meridamus’s prideful gazes. It takes me a second to shake the lump forming in my throat and get my mind wrapped around what I’m supposed to be doing.

At my nod, they both release their power. I can’t sense it, but I know. Val’s eyes glow in all the colors of the rings around his pupil. Meridamus’s light brown shines in hypnotizing amber. My lids shut as I clutch the Binding and command my power to flow into it.