Page 280 of The Gods Order

They feel it too.

The Binding welcomes us the same way.

My arms stretch farther until the replicas disappear from sight, yet their weight still sits in my palms.

Confusion colors my face for a breath—then I feel the shift.

As if the replicas were piles of sand, a small breeze carries them away grain by grain. My fingers curl around nothing and a breathless laugh escapes me. Four others respond. Those small noises fade as we all realize the same thing at the same time.

The Binding isn’t releasing our hands.

I frown and shift my feet back as I jerk my arms. Nothing happens. The essence simply holds us in place. The restraint isn’t painful or uncomfortable. Surprisingly, the embrace remains gentle, patient, almost…affectionate. I glance toward my men. They peer at me.

“Why isn’t it letting us go?” I ask low.

“I don’t know,” Amick says.

“Who cares?” Riven sighs. “It can hold me forever. It feels so good.”

My head slowly shakes as I gaze back forward, watching the white continue to spin.

What are you doing, Binding?

I don’t expect an answer, but it offers one almost immediately.

A deep hum rolls through the chamber, and the sphere brightens blindingly so. The intensity sharpens, building momentum, growing until all I hear is the thud of my heart.

One thud. Two.

Then…

The Gods Binding exhales.

A pulse tears outward in absolute silence. It races through the chamber faster than thought, passing harmlessly through my body without disturbing a single strand of hair.

Behind us, two sharp grunts break the silence. I turn just enough to see my father and Meridamus bent forward, clutching their chests.

“Dad!” I shout, jerking my arm to no avail. “Dad.”

“I-it’s okay,” he groans, holding his hand up, but it doesn’t lessen my worry.

Please.

I don’t even know what I’m asking for, but it’s the only word that comes to mind. Slowly, the rhythm of the essence settles, and with a tenderness that steals my breath, the Binding releases us. One hand at a time.

My chest rises and falls as I stagger back, still staring in awe, confusion, fascination.

That was…I don’t even know.

“Thayla.”

My head jerks and I spin, hauling ass down the bronze steps to reach my father and Meridamus as they straighten.

“Are you both okay?” I ask, grabbing an arm each.

“We’re fine,” my dad says. “You have to go. Now. Th-that most certainly was felt.”

“It severed your connections?” Amick asks.