Page 36 of The Gods Order

“Yeah, if we starshoot. I’d rather walk, get some of this energy out. I’m never going to be able to sleep tonight.”

“I got something that’ll fix that,” Creed says with a small smirk, and I scowl at him.

“You’re not drugging me, asshole.”

He shrugs like that’s still a plan he’s considering.

Not happening. Drugging people is my thing.

“I don’t know how I feel about that, Riven,” Thayla says. “I don’t want any of us to have to hurt those creatures. We can completely avoid that possibility by just starshooting straight to the temple.”

“We aren’t going to have to hurt them. They already keep their distance from Creed. Hell, Kyzen can stop time in the whole forest by now, and I can create any distraction we need. It’ll be fine.”

She stares at me, biting her succulent bottom lip between her teeth. I should go over there and free it with my tongue.

“Fine. If it’ll help you get some of this energy out.”

“He wouldn’t be full of Chaos if he had listened to me in the first place,” Amick says, shutting his book and standing with a sigh.

Thayla takes his outstretched hand with a smile on her face.

“Are you still upset with him about going and spying on Mara and Gladian?” she asks.

“I’m upset I bothered wasting my breath telling him not to do it when I knew he wouldn’t listen.”

“I did it for you,” I say, fluttering my lashes at him.

“For me? How would sneaking into the room the Volreen is in and watching them offer their blood benefit me in the slightest?”

“Because now you know you were right. Mara has some weird-ass Elevation power—whatever the hell that means. And the poor thing is an Attendant. The rest of their Valtrue is wandering around in Godsden, probably confused out of their minds. Have you figured out why her Deliverance said Complete Valtrue, rather than listing their names yet?”

He scowls at me. He hasn’t figured that out.

I smirk.

“Elevation isn’t some weird power. I’ll have you know,” he says, making sure I know he isn’t suddenly clueless.

“Pray tell then. What is it, ol’ smart one?” I ask.

“It’s exactly as it’s called. She can Elevate power, essence, abilities, and many other things. Hence why it’s been so easy to believe she was under the Domain of Strength. She’s been elevating her own strength. Subconsciously, obviously.”

Damn…that is kind of cool.

“Still, the poor vicious thing is an Attendant and has to learn a whole new power.”

“Don’t say poor thing like that,” Thayla scoffs. “There’s nothing wrong with being an Attendant.”

“I’m not saying there is anything wrong with it,” I say, crossing my arms and tsking at her. “I said it that way because that girl’s whole realm just got flipped upside down. She’s spent, what, over half her life since her Coming-of-Age Day believing she was a Defender, and now she’s actually in a Designation she’s treated like shit longer than she’s treated them with respect. Reality smacked her in the mouth today harder than you did, angel.”

She sighs, shaking her hand at me like I said something untrue.

“Yeah, and that sucks for her. I swear to the Valories I’ll fuck Gladian up if he’s a dick to her about this.”

“Ah, let me do it, please,” I beg, dropping to my knees and everything.

The tempting thing strolls toward me and runs her hands through my chaotic curls. Her fingers tangle through my strands as she tilts my head back.

“I do love when you get on your knees for me.”