Page 186 of The Gods Order

Creed is bellowing. I can’t hear him, but I know he is. His swords crash against the Veil again and again. Each strike sends ripples through the charcoal wall right along with Kyzen’s fist.

Riven…

He’s laughing. Not because he finds anything funny. His eyes swirl in both burgundy and blue so fast it makes me dizzy. No matter how much power he releases against the Veil, it doesn’t move. Doesn’t change.

Amick is studying every inch of it, searching for a way to get in.

Or get me out.

My nails dig into Mellcom’s wrist as his grip cuts my airway off completely for a terrifying moment. Just as my eyes start fluttering shut, the realm shifts around me and I hit dirt once again.

I gasp for breath, crawling a few feet away from him as I fill my lungs.

He doesn’t say or do anything other than position himself back in front of my fucking exit as I push myself to my feet.

“As you can see, there are some differences to the Gods Veil in the Godsdawn and this one,” he says, waving his hand around. “This Veil listens to one god and one god only. If you don’t have his permission, you don’t enter.”

“I don’t have his permission.”

“Oh, but you do.”

He shakes his head, laughing and fucking smirking at me. My fists ball at my sides, but I refrain from making a sudden move.

“You’ve had his permission since the second he met you. He’s been counting on an opportunity to rise that puts you in the exact situation you’re in now. We definitely didn’t think you all would have the audacity to come here and pull some shit like you did today, but we knew it’d be a matter of time before we got you where we needed you. Now, when he gets here, he’ll grant you the power that’s rightfully yours.”

My gaze flicks over his shoulder, then back at him.

I hate to call his words comforting, but knowing that I’m not currently absorbing any of the corrupt power floating through the air already eases me the smallest bit.

Now, I have to figure out how to get the fuck out of here before Kira does start pounding this power into my body.

“You were watching,” I mutter. “That whole time you knew we were there.”

“Not the whole time, no. I couldn’t exactly make out what the hell happened to Kelshin, but when bodies continued to pile up, I knew it was you. I just bided my time and waited for you to show yourself.”

“Of course you did,” I scoff. “So this is how you spend your days now? Trapped inside this vile-ass Veil, soaking up corrupt power?”

He tosses his head back and laughs, and I want nothing more than to knock his fucking teeth down his throat.

“I’m the furthest thing from trapped. I’m the freest I’ve been since we set foot in this land of lies.”

“Land of lies…” I repeat, chuckling low. “The irony behind you calling it that when you’ve done nothing but lie since before we even arrived here.”

The mirth finally fades from his face, and I match the scowl he shoots me.

“I’ve tried countlessly, and quite frankly, tirelessly, to tell you the truth, Thayla. You haven’t wanted to listen.”

I throw my hands in the air before letting them fall to my hips as I pace back and forth.

“First off, it’s kind of hard to believe a damn thing that comes out of your fucking mouth. If you don’t recall, you stole my blood and entered me into the Veiling. And that was just the first betrayal.”

“I haven’t betrayed you once!” he bellows, taking a step toward me. I don’t retreat, but I prepare myself for anything. “We—you and me—have been betrayed since birth.”

My steps slow. I side-eye him as his chest rises and falls rapidly.

“What are you talking about?” I ask low.

I know how I was betrayed at birth, but him…