Page 131 of The Gods Order

“Precisely.”

“What if there isn’t a pattern?”

“Then we come up with a distraction.”

His gaze holds mine long enough to make Thayla shift.

“The waiting kills me. I hate it,” she says, earning chuckles.

“It’s been four minutes, gorgeous. Have some—”

“Don’t you dare say patience,” she warns Kyzen with a smirk. He returns it with a wink.

“You get it, honest, Thayla girl. Despite what many believe, patience isn’t my strong suit,” Val says.

She stares at her feet, then eventually she gives him a tight smile.

“Is that why you wanted to join us? You weren’t patient enough to wait until this afternoon?”

He shrugs. “Yes and no.”

She arches a brow. “Care to explain?”

“That depends on whether you care to hear the truth.”

Her forehead wrinkles. “I’d prefer the truth.”

He nods, hands clasped behind his back.

“I can’t return to your mother now that I’m here. So it was either twiddle my thumbs in Valveilious at one of Meridamus’s houses or stand in front of the Gods Binding. I figured if I asked to join you, I could observe the God of Discovery and spend time with you.”

None of us expected that. Thayla’s lips part as indecision wars within her. Curiosity flares in her eyes before she clears her throat and looks away.

“Of course Meridamus has more than one house.”

Val gives her a small smile, not pushing. Before silence settles, I ask one of my burning questions.

“Have you gone into the Athenaeum or restricted room since you’ve been back?”

“No,” he says. “Should I?”

“If you please. I’m curious about the book you left behind the barrier.”

His lips twitch as everyone’s gazes whip toward me like I said something wrong.

I understand. I said no one could know about that, but I meant people who don’t already know the truth. Or those who could be endangered by it, like Ellian. I return their stares with one of my own.

“He knew we went in there the moment we found him and the original Gods Binding. He purposely left clues in his book for us to find.”

“Did you really?” Thayla asks, then grunts when he nods honestly.

“Did you not enjoy the rest of the book?” he asks me.

“I appreciated the confirmation about a few events, but I was disappointed you didn’t mention anything about your power.”

“Oh no, really?” Yemi asks, eyes widening. “I mean—no offence. It’s your book. I was just excited to read about my Domain.”

“No offence taken,” he says. “I purposely left out details of my power. Except for Derivius and Meridamus, my counterparts still don’t know everything I can and can’t do. Unlike them, I wasn’t going to write it down for them. The book’s sole purpose was to lead you to the original Gods Binding.”