Page 236 of The Gods Order

Just one.

Just my Riven.

“And then it was Calista’s turn,” I say. “She created three vessels for herself.”

My mother looks at me and holds my glare.

“She did. She no longer cared about what they had agreed on before stepping into that Binding. She was making a claim. Making it known she’s the greater of the goddesses and that she controls Creation.”

My fingers curl at my sides.

“So, three vessels in her, one in Rella. My men. All they were missing were souls.”

“Yes, but first, those vessels had to become babies with ten toes, ten fingers, a nose, mouth, ears, and…power. They had already decided what power that would be.”

I fall completely still.

“Death, Knowledge, Time, and Duality.”

She shakes her head and my frown deepens.

“Death, Knowledge, Time, Harmony, and Manipulation.”

“What?” I gasp.

“Manipulation was supposed to go to Sabe like originally planned, but since Calista went back on her agreement, she didn’t want to give any baby that power either. So, to satisfy her jealousy and, I suppose, get back at Rella however she could, she gave her baby Harmony and Chaos. A daily reminder of the love she lost. The love she threw away.”

My palms land against my mouth and my eyes slam shut as tears slip down my face. I can’t… I don’t even know what to think or say.

“Everyone always pretended they didn’t know about Riven’s Chaos.”

“Calista always knew.”

That fucking crazy bitch. She still acts so innocent to this day.

I should’ve punched her when I had the chance.

My mom clears her throat, and I force my eyes back open. Her gaze is more tender now than it was a moment ago.

“Their souls still descended naturally the way they were supposed to, but their vessels weren’t like any other. They were already at a gestation you wouldn’t see for a few months. They carried too much power early on. Their souls weren’t prepared for what they were being born into. They began breaking as soon as they attached.”

“Breaking?” I breathe.

“Yes. They were taking too much damage to stay whole. So Kira fixed it the moment he realized what was happening. He knew they wouldn’t survive if he didn’t do something.”

“Mom…” I say as she trails off and stares out at the stars for a heartbeat too long for my patience. “What did he do?”

She clears her throat.

“He connected their souls. Basically, tying the four of them together in the hope that by doing so it would help them stay alive. Their souls still couldn’t heal fast enough, so he…

“He took pieces of his own soul and wove them into theirs. He anchored them. Strengthened them. Gave them what they needed to survive. Your men have always believed they carried stains, but those aren’t stains. Not entirely anyway. Those are the pieces of their father’s soul. They just became noticeable when they made the decisions they did in the Abandon.”

My chest aches and I can’t help but stroke the threads of my soul that lead to each of my men. My amazing men.

“Their souls were never whole from the beginning,” she whispers.

When I glance at her, her expression falls like this story is the last thing she wanted to tell me. I know there’s worse to come by the water gathering in her eyes, though.