Page 266 of The Gods Order

Four.

The fifth thread is unlike the others. There’s heavy finality to it, and the instant my power touches it, the certainty that every ending serves a purpose overwhelms me.

Obliteration.

Five.

Life surges through the next thread. Warmth spreads up my arms, gentle and endlessly giving. It doesn’t demand. It nurtures and mends.

Creation.

Six.

One left to go.

The final thread doesn’t call louder than the others. It purely…agrees.

Like every thread woven before it was waiting for this one to complete the pattern. Peace settles over me as my final power slides into place.

Accord.

Seven.

Every thread thrums at once and a sensation slams through me so suddenly I suck in a sharp gasp.

“What…” I whisper, my eyes flying open. “Something feels funny and, well, very powerful.”

It’s filling me up by the second.

Verlet turns his head and his white eyes bore into me.

“That is my power,” he says.

“What?” I ask, utterly confused.

“You now control the contraption, and therefore, hold a piece of my power. You decide what to do with it from here.”

My mouth parts as a rush of air escapes me. I understand—hell, I feel why the Beginning Gods wouldn’t want to let this go. Even those—my dad, Meridamus, and Derivius—who didn’t agree with this in the first place.

This is raw, realmly power attempting to flow through my veins.

It isn’t my power to hold, though.

I hover my hand above the contraption. The faint glow that always surrounds it intensifies as I call to my power.

Return to me.

Seven threads—blue, black, yellow, white, burgundy, bronze, and green—slink through the material like veins emptying blood.

As the end of the line of power leaves the contraption, Verlet’s withdraws from my body. The last touch of his essence slinks from me, and I lay my palm back against the restraint around him.

Obliterate.

The contraption turns to nothing but ash on the wind.

A pulse vibrates beneath my feet and four grunts echo behind me. I step out of the way and turn just in time to watch my men ambush Verlet.

The smiles, hugs, and laughter pierce my heart and fill me with warmth. My soul thuds wildly in my chest, feeding off their excitement.