Page 302 of The Gods Order

She isn’t losing control anymore. She’s choosing.

A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth, while yards across from us, the amusement fades from Kirabaddon’s. His hand snaps outward, and he says something to his minions that I can’t hear over the roar of battle.

I don’t need or care to hear, but it’s obvious he gave a command.

Mellcom disappears into the fray to our left.

Seveous tears away to the right. Sabelline stays where she stands.

I set my power free.

The battlefield before me disappears as Time reveals what could come.

Threads burst from every living soul. Thousands of them. Too many to count. They weave through one another in an endless web of possibilities.

One thread ends with Riven falling at Sabelline’s feet.

Another with Creed watching Sevryn die.

Another with Amick arriving one heartbeat too late.

My pulse remains steady as I maneuver through time, watching these futures unfold. They aren’t set in stone. They simply wait for someone to choose that path.

I’ll make sure they don’t.

I step forward, and the threads move with me.

An Oblirian lunges, and I sidestep without looking. His blade passes harmlessly through the space my throat occupied in another future.

I drive my sword through his chest. He falls and another charges. My blade meets his, and steel screams as it clashes. Out of the corner of my eye, another thread splinters.

Riven. Wrong step.

I release a pulse of Time toward him.

Barely anything. Half of a heartbeat.

Across the battlefield, his stride lengthens just enough to carry him in the right direction toward Sabelline.

The future of him getting there too late vanishes.

Amick’s steps are sure, focused. He analyzes the path he needs to take. His eyes map out the best possible route. There isn’t much that gets in his way of where he’s heading. Except for the spear hurtling his way.

My power wraps around the weapon.

His steps slow as he approaches the spear floating in the air, frozen in time, and his gaze immediately finds mine. A smile crosses his lips as he grabs it and spins it at his side. He carries on.

Another future disappears.

Another appears.

A jagged axe arcs toward Creed’s back. In one future, it pierces his spine. In another, it clips his shoulder, damn near taking off his arm.

Neither will do.

I reach into Time and steal a single heartbeat from the soldier throwing it. His arm lags right before he releases. The weapon sails harmlessly behind Creed as he charges on, never realizing death had attempted to touch him.

I exhale slowly.