Page 249 of The Gods Order

“How did it go?” he asks.

“Hell is officially locked down.”

“Good.” He nods. “Some of the Attendants were receptive to our announcement and some weren’t like we expected. We got Defenders here, inside the chambers and outside the Court. All fully powered Defenders are at the barrier since we ran out of room here.”

“Have Thayla and Riven made it there yet?” I ask.

“I’m not sure.”

“V. Will you ask…”

My body falls still as the words in my mind trail off and my gaze grows distant. For a solid few seconds, I don’t breathe.

I forgot.

How the fuck did I forget?

Kyzen eyes me as a sharp line forms between his brows. I jerk my head a couple of times, snapping myself back into the present.

“You starshoot out there real quick and see if she’s made it or not. We’ll get shit organized here. We’ve got to have some room.”

He gives me an unsure nod that I ignore as his power wraps around him and whisks him away.

“Mara, get the female Defenders organized. You three get some of these people out of here and see who’s all outside the Court. I’ll be in the weapons room,” I say and peer over my shoulder.

Val stands there with his arms crossed, staring at me like I’ve kept him waiting a ridiculous amount of time.

“You’re with me.”

The corners of his lips tilt up as he nods for me to lead the way.

When Kyzen said there were people in the chambers, he meant that. I’ve never seen so many people scattered about these damn halls and stone rooms before.

“So what task is so important you needed my assistance?” Val asks as we turn the corner and head toward the locked double doors of the weapons room.

“You sound utterly thrilled to be spending time with me,” I chuff.

He hums, and I side-eye him.

“What?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard sarcasm come from you,” he says.

“End of the realm and all. Impending war will have anyone acting out of character.”

“Are you acting out of character, though, or are you just growing used to me?”

I regret asking him for his help.

He chuckles to himself all the way to the double doors. I ignore him as I press my permission through and shove them open without sparing a glance at him. I know without looking that he’s smiling at me.

My stoic stare roams over the steel that glints from every direction.

Rows upon rows of swords, daggers, axes, bows, shields, spears—enough weaponry to arm an army twice the size of ours—stretch across the chamber that you’d never guess was this large.

Val stops beside me. His gaze slowly sweeps over the room before settling back on me.

“Love what you’ve all done with the place.”