Page 193 of The Gods Order

For a heartbeat, everything stills.

Even the air feels like it’s waiting and I have to choke down another laugh that’s so fucking eager to break free.

Then he snaps his fingers.

His posture straightens as he laces his fingers behind his back, smiling at us like he cannot wait for what happens next. The responding sound is quiet at first, then the echo vibrates the ground beneath my boots.

A distant, growing thunder rolls through the hall toward us.

“Shit,” Thayla breathes as she presses her back against Kyzen’s.

The others all line themselves up. Waiting.

“You’ve got to get out of here, Thayla,” Creed grunts.

“I’m not leaving you four. Even if I considered that option, there’s no way out.”

Powers flare as everyone who joined us on this idiotic mission prepares themselves for yet another battle.

Feet shift and weapons rise at the ready.

He called in the army.

“Vullie,” Thayla says, panting. “A vial would be nice right about now.”

I hold my angel’s gaze as she turns the little glass container back with no hesitation the second good ol’ Vullie passes it to her. The exhaustion in her eyes is nothing compared to the determination.

She’s fucking magnificent.

“Let Chaos reign, my little psycho,” she breathes.

I blow her a kiss.

My brothers and I tear our gazes from her and the doorway, then face our father. He smirks as though the anticipation is everything he dreamed of and more.

“Now,” he says, “let me see how much you’ve grown.”

Dark Gods and Oblirians pour into the chamber in a tightly packed surge of steel, corruption, and orders shouted too late to matter.

“Now!”

Amick’s command echoes through my ears.

Déjà vu.

Gods, just like old times. The same formation. The same roles.

The same desperate hope that together might finally be enough.

We’re the same four abominations.

Just surviving for a different reason.

Power roars through the air. The love of my life and the ten beings who have unfortunately been dragged into this shit show with us unleash hell on the oncoming guards.

My brothers and I…

Strike at our father.