Page 35 of The Gods Order

All quiet laughter instantly silences.

“What?” Yemi and I ask at the same time.

“She isn’t a Defender, nor can she have the Domain of Strength. She can’t be if she’s in a true Valtrue with Gladian. If everything we’ve learned is true, also take into account the structure of ours and Yemi’s Valtrues, none of the members will have the same Designations or Domains. Gladian’s is indisputable. Therefore, hers have been altered.”

My mouth gapes open.

“She has to be. She doesn’t fit into any other Designation and I’ve literally felt her Strength first-hand.”

“Except for an Attendant. She’s adapted to her role as a Defender. She’ll adapt to the rest of her Valtrue once their true identities are revealed. As for her power.” He shrugs, falling quiet in concentration. “It isn’t Strength, but must be something that can present itself as such.”

Again, my lips part and I hold my hands up. My lids blink repeatedly while I try to digest this information.

“Do you know-know this, or are you just profiling and predicting right now?” Kyzen asks.

“Well, I suppose I don’t have concrete proof yet, but I’d be willing to bet this is exactly what the Volreen is going to reveal.”

“Oh my gods,” Riven cheers, bending over, gripping his stomach as his laugh tears through the empty space. “You sent them to the Volreen rather than telling her what you thought. Fuck, I want to be there to see the look on their faces.”

“I can imagine it’s going to be full of shock,” Amick says.

Valories…

Riven pats Amick on the back like this is the best news he’s ever heard and the greatest surprise he’s ever been given.

I pinch the bridge of my nose and shake my head.

“Anyone want to share any more fucking surprises this morning?” I ask. “Yemi, any secret family members or hidden abilities I need to know about?”

“Nope. I thought my Domain was special, but it’d seem I’m the dull one out of us. Thank fuck.”

She’s the furthest thing from dull, but yes, thank fuck she doesn’t have any truths to drop into our shit show.

“I’m so fucking done with surprises for the day,” Creed grunts.

“Gods, I’m not. I hope Big DD has more in store for us tonight.”

Riven claps and dances around us. The intensity of his full-to-the-brim Chaos skirts across my skin.

Oh, fuck me.

Riven

5

Today has been gloriously chaotic.

To think I planned to check on that locked hallway, then sneak home and sleep the day away. My, what I would’ve missed.

That hallway is back to being locked, by the way. Well, locked to everyone but maybe us. I saw and slipped through the barrier dear ol’ daddy-in-law put in place. There are doors on the walls, but they’re fake. My hand flowed right over them.

I’m not sure if he’s purposely giving us access or if my powers are strong enough now that he couldn’t keep me out.

I’m going to go with him not being able to keep me out.

“I’m over sitting around. Can we go?” I ask.

“It’s going to take two seconds to get there. We don’t need to leave yet,” Amick says, not bothering to look at me from his books.