Page 248 of The Gods Order

“No. He deserved to know and hear it from me.”

“If you say so,” he scoffs. “Let’s get the fuck out of here before your father-in-law locks us in.”

I smirk.

“My Binder would whoop his ass.”

The thought of her has my soul clenching in my chest.

It’s been one emotional beatdown after another, and what she’s doing right now is no different.

She, Riven, Lambrit, Rose, and Ellian are on their way to his house to tell Annalise she has to pack because she’s taking the kids beyond the barrier in Oddian.

She isn’t going to take that well.

She won’t have much of a choice, though.

The moment Val confirmed they’d be safe there and could stay at his and Anylah’s house, the decision was made. Ellian didn’t even put up a fight. He agreed immediately and said he’d tell the kids he planned a vacation.

Of course, neither Val nor we explained to Ellian who Anylah actually is.

That still has to be a secret.

Thayla and Lambrit are dreading saying goodbye, but they both know it’s for the best.

And it’s just for now.

After that, she and Riven are supposed to meet Vullie at his chime tower. He pitched a fucking fit, declaring that over his dead body would anyone touch his chime tower after Amick announced every dilapidated structure needed to be obliterated to make room for the army we’ll assemble.

He made a pretty good argument that Amick had just told him to make large batches of shit that goes boom, and everything he needed was already there. They eventually agreed everything from his chime tower to the barrier would be turned to ash.

That should help Thayla relieve some stress.

I lay my palm against the stone to give Gladian, Sevryn, and Barir permission to pass through, and the resistance against my skin is new. Uncomfortable.

Their faces scrunch with wary apprehension as we approach the outer exit. It’s even stronger. It feels like I’m swimming through sludge. If it’s already pulling this hard, I have no doubt that once Val’s finished, no one is getting out.

Speaking of the god…

As soon as we step through to the other side, Val huffs at us.

“Took you all long enough,” he says.

A blast of his power rips across us and we spin in just enough time to watch ripples travel through his barrier. I keep my eye on the waves it creates until I can no longer see them. All I have to do is lay my hand against the surface to know it’s completely fortified.

No one in or out.

“Good. Let’s get back to the Court,” I say.

“I’m actually going to check on Thayla and see if she needs my help,” Val says, but I shake my head.

“She doesn’t. She’s fine. I need you, though. We’ll see you at the Court.”

I starshoot out before he can argue with me. Granted, he’s going to do whatever the fuck he wants. Hopefully, though, his curiosity is piqued enough that he comes along and I don’t have to go looking for him.

The Court is booming from side to side with Defenders in armor. There’s barely enough room for them to get a few practice swings in with their swords. It’s nearly impossible for them to part for me, Sevryn, Gladian, and Barir as we make our way to Kyzen and Mara.

His attention shifts right to me as soon as I’m a few feet from him.