Page 292 of The Gods Order

My body is still surrounded. Everyone is pushing their power through the barrier my father and Yemi hold strong.

And the beings who created this realm…are observing. Like this is nothing more than a passing moment in time.

“Are you just going to watch?”

My voice echoes across the empty space, and none of them acknowledge me. Too long a fucking moment passes before one finally speaks.

The one who resembles Accord.

“The outcome is already being determined.”

My brows pull together.

“Being determined?”

“The battle. The lives lost. The decisions made. The consequences that follow. All being weighed as we speak.”

Her voice holds no sadness, anger, or fear. Only fact. The detachment has a chill crawling over my skin.

“Those are beings with lives down there. Your creations.”

“I am aware.”

“No, you’re obviously not.”

The words leave my mouth before I can stop them, but her expression doesn’t change.

“You don’t understand them. Any of us,” I mumble.

Another Valorie tilts her head.

“Understanding is not required to create.”

Creation.

My stomach twists, and I huff out a breathless laugh.

“That’s your problem.”

For the first time, all seven of them look at me with genuine curiosity like I’ve suddenly become something worth studying.

“You believe we have failed as the creator.”

The one who carries Consequence.

“I know you have.”

The silence that follows should feel intimidating. Instead, it feels like standing before a wall that has never once been challenged.

One of them glances back down at the glass.

“The realm continues.”

“Because of them!” I shout, shoving my finger at the glass. “Because of every living being down there. Not because of you.”

“You are emotional,” the Accord Valorie says.

“Yes. I am.” I laugh and shake my head as I glare at each of them. “That’s what makes us so painfully different. You all created this realm, life, yet you’ve never lived. You don’t live and when you watch all of us below, through your little Stargate, you simply can’t fucking fathom why we are the way we are. You don’t understand, and you don’t try to. You just shift all the pieces around until we resemble something that pleases all of you.”