Page 16 of The Gods Order

Silence stretches between us as the truth of that statement becomes clearer in my mind.

“By the realm, you mean their father, who hates him, plus any other god who doesn’t care for him.”

“Yes. If you had forged a connection with him before you were truly ready, one of three outcomes would have followed.”

Seismet shifts. “Three?”

V nods once.

“First, you would have drawn him out prematurely, revealing the relationship you share. That would’ve resulted—”

“In her becoming more of a commodity to our father,” Creed growls low.

“Yes.”

A chill spreads through my chest.

“Second,” V continues, “your power would have responded to him because of your relationship. Not gradually. Not safely. It would have all settled at once and he wouldn’t have been able to hold back claiming you in order to get it under control.”

My breath catches. “I wouldn’t have the seven ties I have. I would’ve been a being of Boundaries.”

“That is correct.”

“And the third?” Amick asks.

V’s gaze softens in a way that has the fine hairs along my body standing.

“Every decision you have made up to this point was made without the weight of who he really was. Your anger, need for answers, all of it was aimed at the ungodly man you had in your mind. If you had known, you would have diverted your path. You would have prioritized him over the threats that needed to be faced. You would have trusted differently. Acted differently. Hesitated where you should not have or rushed where patience was required.”

I exhale slowly. “And that would have…what? Obviously, change some things, but what? The guys and me? All our friends?”

“You five are and always will be inevitable. The group you’ve grown close to would be smaller, and…” he trails off, taking a pause long enough that my heart skips a beat.

“What?” I ask.

“Someone would have died, who currently lives. Everything would’ve unraveled.”

That statement slices me across my chest, stealing the air in my lungs.

“Who?”

He ruffles his wings and shakes his head.

I grit my teeth. “Tell me, V.”

“It does not matter now.”

“It matters so much. You’re sitting here telling me that simply by sharing this truth with me, literally everything could’ve changed. Someone I care about could be dead. That information completely changes the way I feel about you keeping this from me. Keeping everything you do from me. Tell me who—”

“Derivius.”

My mouth snaps shut and I jerk back. My men fall concerningly still aside for the nearly painful grips they have on me.

“What?” I breathe.

“If this truth had come out and the God of Obliteration, the Goddess of Seduction, or any other would’ve gone after you or your father, more forcefully than they’ve already attempted to, he would’ve stood in their way until he couldn’t stand anymore. He would’ve been cut down, and the realm would unravel.”

Valories.