Page 205 of The Gods Order

My head thrashes back and forth. He always knows. The streams of tears flowing down Riven’s cheeks have me falling still.

“What did I do?”

He swallows roughly as his eyes stop swirling.

“Saved a species,” he mumbles. “But then…I don’t know either, angel.”

Saved a species…

That’s what I thought I was doing. That was my intention.

But this…

What did I do wrong?

“Where’s Creed?” I ask, stumbling out of the center of my father’s, Amick’s, and Riven’s circle as Gladian and Kyzen emerge from the Veilatara’s ring. “Where is he?”

“In there, little goddess,” Kyzen mutters.

“Why? What did they need—”

A gasp silences my words as a beam of light crashes into the center of the Veilatara’s protective circle. They all halt their running and rear up on their hind legs.

The neighs they release are so powerful, we all stagger back a step. The ground hums and vibrates beneath my soaking wet boots. I can feel it in the depths of my bones.

Just as fast as it began, it stops.

We all fall statue still as we watch.

The Veilatara stomp their feet in an almost ritualistic way. The rhythm creates a beat that thunders in my chest.

My neck cranes back as the two creatures I just created slowly emerge in the air, flapping their wings as though they’re preparing to take their first flight.

I can’t breathe.

I can’t think.

I don’t know what is happening.

“No.”

My arms reach out as if I can actually reach them when they disappear in a bright flash of white light.

Slowly, one by one, the Veilatara peel off and run through the meadow, neighing and purring louder than I’ve ever heard before. My realm tilts as enough of them clear the way for me to see the center.

“Creed,” Kyzen, Amick, and Riven shout.

My feet pound against the ground as I sprint to him. None of the remaining Veilatara attempt to stop me as I throw myself down beside him.

“Creed,” I whisper.

His eyes are shut and he lies there so unnaturally still.

Terror holds me and the air in my lungs frozen as I stare down at him.

Amick, on the other hand, slings him to his back and lays his head against his heart. His fingers press into the side of his neck for a petrifying second.

“He’s alive,” he says, and I finally release the breath I was holding.