Page 108 of The Gods Order

Rows of vials cover his desk, glowing faint purple. I hum in appreciation.

“Have you tested the healing tonic on anyone besides yourself?” he asks.

“I have. On Creed. Worked like a charm.”

“Splendid. I strengthened the recipe even more. Added a petal of angel orchid. As you can see—”

“Vullie,” I cut in, my eyes dropping to his wrapped wrist. “Why is your wrist bandaged?”

His gaze widens. He tries—and fails—to hide the shock.

“Oh, this is nothing. A little burn from a concoction gone wrong.”

“You’re lying, and you know how I feel about my friends lying.”

“I, uh…” He slumps into his chair. “The Valories have forsaken me.”

I nod and drag the half-broken stool out. My ass plops down too hard, and I steady myself as a leg creaks.

“I know.” I sigh. My heart breaks for him. “You’re tied to a completed Valtrue.”

A gasp escapes him as he sits straighter.

“How do you know that?”

“One of your members is outside, waiting to meet you. He’s a giant fucking moron.”

“What?” he shrieks, launching out of his chair and nearly busting his ass racing to the door.

It takes him thirty seconds to lock the fifteen deadbolts. Then he whirls around.

“You brought him here? Why would you do that? You know my rules.”

“In my defense, I didn’t know we were coming here. Doren led the way. By the time I realized, it was too late.”

“The God of Discovery is up there too? Who else?”

“My brothers, Sevryn, and your Valtrue member.”

“Oh, this is bad. Very, very bad.”

“Could be worse.” I shrug. “So, where’s your escape route? I’ll sit here, rummage through stuff, then go back up and tell them you’re not home. How’s that?”

“That could work.”

“Good. Get to it,” I say, slapping my thighs and standing—just in time for the stool to collapse. “Lucky me. Now grab what you want. Lie low for a while. Once that fucker sets his mind to something, he doesn’t give up. He’ll show up every day.”

“Is…out of curiosity and in the name of science, who is he?”

“Ugh, only like the seventh—maybe ninth—worst god in the realm. The God of Strength.”

He clutches his chest and staggers back into his seat.

I groan. “What are you doing? Get up. You need to go.”

He shakes his head, clearly having a crisis we do not have time for.

“Why, of all beings, would the Valories or the Gods Binding choose me for such a Valtrue?”