Page 97 of The Gods Order

“Do not feed into their desire, Chaos. We all know what the inevitable outcome of one of our deaths means.”

“We assume the inevitable outcome. We’ve never actually been able to test it.”

“There doesn’t need to be a test for me to know the consequences.”

Derivius rolls his eyes at Meridamus like he’s being dramatic and I pinch the bridge of my nose.

There have to be more options.

Frustration rolls off everyone so violently, I swear I sense it slithering across my skin. Derivius and Meridamus continue to bicker. Amick is peppering Creed with questions he doesn’t have answers for. Riven and Sevryn are making plans and riling each other up about how they’re going to kill their fathers. I can’t even focus on what Kyzen, Nero, Iric, Doren, Lambrit, Yemi, or Rose are talking about.

The noise bellowing through the living room eventually gets drowned out. Vihaan’s words echo through my head despite never hearing them myself.

The realm will not survive divided gods. It won’t.

I’m not sure how we find unity with Obliteration or Seduction, though.

I don’t think we can.

We just have to figure out how to function without them.

There’s so much to figure out.

My gaze drifts over everyone and my attention lingers on Amick and Creed. He’s growing so frustrated. Especially now that Amick’s repeating Gladian’s story and attempting to find any thread or answer between that and the interaction with Vihaan.

Gladian and Mara should be here.

The realization slams into me so suddenly it steals my breath. Not because I forgive him. Gods no. I’m not there yet. I’m still not sure if I’m even capable of forgiving what he did to me.

But unfortunately, something I can’t deny is…he’s proven to be a tolerable ally. Mara has beyond proven herself.

More problems are piling up, and they aren’t going to be fixed in one action. One battle. Nothing is going to move us forward if we keep putting each new issue ahead of the issues we already have.

We also aren’t going to get anywhere if we keep our allies at arm’s length and pretend partial trust somehow counts as trust at all.

“Enough, everyone!” I shout and run my fingers along my temples.

Kyzen’s soothing strokes down my spine pull a deep breath from my chest. I nod to myself, then focus on Creed and Amick.

“Vihaan’s situation is horrendous and I’m so sorry you had to experience what you did today,” I say, then shake my head when he opens his mouth. “But figuring out his soul isn’t our number one priority. It’ll fall into its own place when it’s time.”

He tilts his head at me in a mixture of shock and disbelief.

I move my gaze over to Derivius.

“When can Doren track Obliteration’s Binding?”

“I was going to tell all of you later today, but then I got the call to come here. Day after tomorrow.”

“Why not tomorrow?” I ask.

“You do not want that truth, little troublling.”

“I do or I wouldn’t have asked.”

He gives me a tired, sad smile.

“Creation will be visiting the Abandon to acquire additional Attendants since hers vanished and there aren’t very many in Valveilious to spare.”