Page 32 of The Gods Order

“We kept believing he’d stop eventually. That one day he’d grow into his domain instead of letting it consume him.”

He laughs quietly, but there’s nothing humorous about the sound.

“But he didn’t,” I whisper.

“No. He got worse.”

“He got more powerful,” Kyzen says, and Gladian nods.

“Every year when his Coming-of-Age Day passed and he received more power, it got harder and harder to handle him or even get through to him about how he took things too far. Vihaan and I, we…fuck,” he mutters under his breath as he tilts his face to the sky. “We went to Harriseen and asked that he arrange a meeting for us with the Beginning Gods. We petitioned that no more power be released to him.”

My eyes widen.

“Shit,” I mumble.

It was meant to stay in my mind, but it didn’t, and Gladian glances at me.

“Pretty much. Everything went to shit after that once he found out. He thought we betrayed him. Thought we chose the people of Godsden and the Godsdawn over our own blood.”

“Did you?” Amick asks.

Gladian’s attention flicks to him. “Yes.”

He doesn’t offer an excuse, defense, or anything other than that straightforward truth.

“What happened after that?” Creed asks.

“Your father happened.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Amick asks.

“He came to see Vihaan shortly after that and basically asked for repayment for siding with us. He wanted free rein to pull gods out of Hellveilious as he pleased. Vihaan rejected. Obliteration didn’t take that well. He bound his soul to Hellveilious. Vihaan couldn’t leave.”

Creed startles and opens his mouth, but before he can say anything, Gladian continues.

“I didn’t realize he’d done the same thing to you until I went with Thayla to get the signatures you all needed. He’s trapping you there as well to force you to comply.”

Creed’s jaw clenches so tight, I’m surprised he doesn’t crack a tooth. A fierce grip spreads across my soul and all I can do is breathe through the stranglehold.

“Vihaan never gave in to our father’s demands,” Creed finally grunts.

Another faint smile spreads across Gladian’s lips before it morphs into a frown.

“No, he didn’t. Obliteration couldn’t break Death, so instead, he found someone who could.”

Understanding slashes across my heart.

“He offered your…younger brother more power in exchange for the gods in Hell,” I say.

He nods.

“For years, we didn’t know. He stood beside us while sneaking gods to Obliteration behind our backs. When we discovered the truth, Hell turned into a battlefield. We fought our own brother to drive him out. And when all was said and done, we disowned him, told him if he ever returned, we’d kill him ourselves.”

No one speaks for a long moment, and the frown on Amick’s face continues to deepen.

“There are no records of any of this. I’d have known who your brothers were if there were.”

Gladian sighs. “I went to Harriseen and asked for another favor. That one came at a cost. Erase all the records and history of our line, bind our brother so he can’t speak about our true lineage, mark him as a traitor to never be allowed to step foot back in Godsden, or face death. In return, he wanted my unyielding loyalty. I gave him that.”