Page 298 of The Gods Order

Make my demands.

“Not happening,” I say.

The pleased expressions fall from their faces and pure confusion wrinkles their foreheads.

“This is what’s going to happen,” I continue. “You will no longer interfere with the Gods Binding. If it knows what this realm needs, then you will allow it to guide the realm without your influence. You will not curate choices for my men, my family, me, or anyone else in this realm.”

They glance at each other like together they can come up with a way around that.

“It wasn’t a suggestion,” I warn, and they each glance back at me. “You will not interfere. If you cross that line, I will ensure your downfall. I already have a good idea of who I can call on to make that possible.”

They fall very still.

I stay just as serious as my next demand leaves my lips.

“My mother. She’s free. From this very second on, she no longer serves as your Messenger. She will no longer be used because she loves her husband and daughter enough to obey. She chooses her own life from here on out.”

The seven look at one another. Then back at me.

Finally, Boundaries speaks.

“You dare make demands of your creator.”

I hold his gaze.

“I’m making demands of those who were supposed to protect what they created. Who they should’ve learned to love. Maybe now you can take some time to learn. If not, like I said, let me die and watch your realm fall. My men won’t hesitate to destroy it. Or you accept my demands, appreciate the power you still have, remain as the creator, and let the realm thrive. The choice is yours.”

For a long moment, the Valories stare at me. I wait.

For resistance, an argument, or for them to remind me again that they’re the beings who created everything.

Their power flares hot against my skin, but it isn’t directed at me. It swells around the seven of them. Their eyes glow and their heads jerk between each other, apparently conversing in their minds.

One by one, they dip their heads, then face me.

“Your demands are accepted,” Accord says.

My shoulders loosen and a slow breath spills through my parted lips as I nod. On my left and my right, Consequence and Boundaries step closer to me and offer me their hands. Part of me wonders if they’re doing this on purpose. The other thinks it’s simply because they were the closest.

Reluctantly, I lay my hands in theirs, and together, they lift me onto the Stargate as though I weigh as much as a feather.

I peer between my feet, and a gasp gets lodged in my throat.

My body is floating in the air and Creed’s trying his hardest to pull me back down.

Oh, my sweetling.

I’m coming.

I spare the Valories one more look, and something about the calm on their faces and their silence feels different now. It isn’t distant, nor is it warm. It’s…acceptance.

“You are already acting as the being you do not even know you are.”

My head whips to the Chaos Valorie. A satisfied, honestly terrifyingly familiar smirk crosses his lips. A shiver races down my spine, and my fingers tighten at my sides.

“What does that mean?”

They move as one, aligning themselves wing to wing and then…