Page 14 of The Gods Order

Nobody rushes to fill the silence that follows my words. I’m not sure they know what to do either. They were born knowing their parents were Beginning Gods.

Fuck…what kind of goddess is my mom?

As if he sensed my mind beginning to whirl all over again, Amick tightens his grip briefly and I turn my attention to him.

“You don’t have to know right now. You don’t have to do anything right now.”

My gaze drops to our joined hands and I let out a small, humorless chuckle as I bring his knuckles to my lips.

“If only that were true, Candyman,” I say. “I can’t hide at the hot spring forever. We have to see everyone. I left them all standing there and ran.”

“You didn’t run,” Riven rumbles behind me.

“I’m not sure what else to call that.”

He scoffs. “You separated yourself from a situation that was about to go from bad to worse. The realm continues to drop shit in our laps and expects us to keep holding it. Well, fuck that, fuck the Valories, the gods, the realm, and fuck your father. You don’t have to do a damn thing until you’re ready.”

The bark in his tone and the grunt of agreement from Creed do bring a small smirk to my lips.

I love these men.

A sharp hoot, followed by the pounding rhythm of hooves against the forest foliage, cuts my thoughts off. Our heads snap toward the tree line as Seismet bursts through with V perched on top of his head. Verlet races beside them. Amusement hits me at first. Then it’s swiftly washed away.

“There you are. You’re okay,” Seismet huffs as he trots to a stop. “I’ve been going out of my mind, and this infuriating owl was keeping me from coming here. What is going on?”

My throat tightens as I fall into the depths of his blazing white eyes. Then my focus drifts to Verlet…then to V.

The question claws its way up before I can soften it.

“Did you all know?”

“Know what?” Seismet and Verlet ask together, confusion clear in their tones.

“Yes.”

V’s soft hoot and answer knock the wind out of me.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because it would have sent you down the wrong path.”

My eyes close. I try to breathe through the sharp, painful pinch in my chest, but it doesn’t ease. It settles there, nice and heavy.

I don’t know if that’s a good enough reason for me.

“Know what? Tell her what?” Seismet demands, stepping closer as tension rolls off him in waves. “Someone explain.”

“The God of Boundaries has returned,” I mumble. “And he’s my father.”

Both Veilataras go unnaturally still.

Verlet releases a deep neigh as he paws at the grass. Seismet…his ears flick back for a second before he thrashes his head back and forth and rears up on his hind legs.

“You knew?” he snaps once V finally flies off him. “You knew and said nothing?”

“It was not my truth to say.”

“It was hers to hear,” Seismet shoots back.