Page 216 of The Gods Order

They all see it already.

How I forgot that Yemi, her Valtrue, Lambrit, Rose, Havar, Mara, and her Valtrue were standing behind me, bearing witness to all that, beats me. My mind zeroed in on getting answers and everything else became irrelevant.

There’s no pity in any of their eyes. They all stare at me like they’re ready to go back to battle for me if need be. That warms my throbbing heart.

“Thank you, all of you, for today. We wouldn’t have survived if we didn’t have all of you by our side.”

I cough a couple of times to clear the rasp from my throat.

“One of us will let you know when Creed wakes up. Our trip beyond the barrier will be just us, but we’ll keep you all updated.”

They all nod, but no one says anything. Nor do they try to stop me as I march through them to reach my hallway.

Before I can disappear into my room, Yemi’s fingers latch onto mine.

No words pass through her lips. She just holds my stare and offers me a small smile that says I’m here if you need me.

I return the gesture as much as I can.

The second she releases me, I practically race to my room. My back presses against my door, and I slide down its length until my ass hits the ground.

I sit in the stillness. The silence.

And just…think. Accept.

Amick

26

“She found him where the sea kissed the sky, atop the rail of his weathered ship. Salt lashed her face as she drove her blade toward his heart, but Tresor merely stepped aside. The world vanished beneath her feet. One hand caught the front of her shirt before the ocean could claim her, leaving her suspended above the crashing waves.

“His fingers remained steady despite the fury blazing in her eyes. ‘Well,’ he said, peering over the edge as though she were an especially troublesome shell he’d found upon the shore. ‘You’ve certainly made your feelings known, treasure.’ She bared her teeth. ‘Let me go.’ His smile was impossibly soft. ‘I already did.’”

A small huff interrupts my reading, and I cast my eyes toward the noise.

“Are—” A round of coughs tears from Creed’s throat as he pushes himself up.

I pass him the glass of water from his bedside table and wait patiently as he chugs the entire thing in a few gulps. His head lies against his headboard as he takes multiple deep breaths.

“Are you seriously reading Doren’s little love story to me?”

“Well, nothing else has roused you awake, so I figured maybe some light reading would work.”

“Never knew romance was a part of your pleasure reads.”

I arch a brow as I close the book.

“You can find knowledge from any written words. I’ve found the genre to be quite helpful these last few months.”

A breathy chuckle escapes him as he blinks and squints around at his empty room.

“How long?” he asks.

“Twelve hours.”

A curse slips from his lips as he runs a hand down his face.

“Where’s Thayla? Is she okay? What happened after I passed out?”