Page 196 of The Gods Order

Golden light joins the shimmering wall as Yemi throws both hands forward. Poor bestie looks like she’s been to Hell and back—again. Regardless, her barrier locks over Thayla’s like another layer of steel. The two powers weaving together until I can’t tell where one ends and the other begins.

It still isn’t enough. The floor trembles beneath every strike Obliteration sends their way.

Sweat drips from Thayla’s brow. Yemi’s arms shake.

The rest behind us still battle. No one yields.

“Again,” Amick orders.

No hesitation.

Death tears into the Veil and Time follows a fraction behind it. Chaos collides with both while Harmony stitches the attacks together just long enough to force another ripple across the charcoal surface.

The Veil groans.

Actually…

Groans.

The sound crawls beneath my skin and the wings in my belly flap faster. Kira hears it as well. His expression shifts from fury to calculation.

“Are the four of you truly willing to allow your Binder and your…friends to die?”

Another pulse of corruption slams into the barrier, and both Thayla and Yemi cry out.

“Don’t listen to him,” Thayla bellows. “Don’t give in.”

My humming stops for a heartbeat.

“My boys.” Our father folds his hands behind his back and smiles at us. “You already know I want you home. I want you four to step into the roles that were always meant to be yours.”

His voice never rises despite the strikes he continues to land against the barriers protecting us. Yemi stumbles a step, and Thayla catches her shoulder without tearing her glare away from Obliteration.

“Join me and this ends. I vow I will spare every life standing in this chamber. I will even give them the option to join us or go back to the Godsdawn unharmed.”

He says it so certainly, yet the fucking power he unleashes and the bellows that tear from Thayla and Yemi say something different.

“Do not fucking listen to him,” Thayla screams.

He tsks and shakes his head at her.

“Listen to your Binder and well”—his smile returns as he gestures behind us—“their blood will rest on your hands.”

The blood that coats our hands has always been because of him.

“Together,” Amick mutters, glancing at Kyzen, Creed, then me.

He holds my gaze and I nod.

“Fuck you!” I shout at our father.

My Harmony screams through my Chaos as I tear another wave into the Veil. Creed’s Death wraps around it. Kyzen’s Time spears it all forward the instant our strikes land.

The charcoal wall shudders and a fissure splinters across its surface.

Kira’s smile disappears as he raises his hands.

We all brace for impact.