Page 335 of The Gods Order

One by one…

Stars ignite across the sky. Thousands. Millions. Each one bursting into existence until the night sky glitters like scattered diamonds.

“The Eye of the Veil,” Amick murmurs, fascination and wonder clear in his tone as he turns in his place.

A flinch rushes through him as the sky shifts and the stars dance across the glass. They halt just as fast as they started racing and zoom in on a cluster.

“Those are our stars,” Riven breathes.

“That’s correct,” Anylah says. “I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to show all of you this together.”

“Miss the opportunity?” Thayla and Amick ask at the same time.

Anylah laces her fingers together as she stands in the center of the dais. Val senses the shift in her mood instantly and moves to her side, wrapping an arm around her.

“The Valories came to me the moment Thayla stepped through the Stargate.”

We all fall silent and still. Thayla’s fingers tangle with mine when her mother’s gaze settles on her. Emotion shines in her eyes, though pride outshines it all.

“They told me everything that was happening during the battle and they shared the demands you made for me. They…honored them.”

Thayla exhales heavily.

“You’re free.”

Anylah nods.

“I am.” A quiet laugh escapes her. “I rushed out of here in quite a tizzy. Poor Annalise, Rose, and Lambrit didn’t know what to do with me, but I’m so happy I wasn’t alone. I shared everything with them in that moment, though. I couldn’t stop the truth from spilling out.”

Lambrit smiles down at his shoes as Rose cuddles into his side. Pure, unfiltered gratefulness shines through both Thayla’s and her dad’s gazes as they stare at the two of them.

“Then the reality of that set in,” she says low. “I didn’t know what that truly meant for me, the Eye, my future. Without Thane having all his powers anymore, I didn’t know if the Valories would sever my ability to speak to him or my ability to move the stars. I still don’t know if they’ll let me keep this.”

Her gaze casts around the space with a tender fondness.

This place may fascinate us, but this…

Is her home. She’s spent more time here than anywhere.

“They don’t get to make that decision,” Thayla grits out.

“I hope not.”

Anylah whispers through her small smile and she laces her fingers through Val’s, then cups their joined hands with her other one.

“After that, the Gods Binding spoke to me. It…” She swallows, flicking her gaze back up to Thayla’s. “It told me I finally had a choice. It said, if I wished, I could step into the Veil.”

A rush of air leaves Thayla in a breathless laugh, a smile stretching across her lips.

“Mom…”

Anylah laughs softly at the awe in her voice.

“I know, my girl. But I think…” She glances back toward the endless sky beyond the glass. “I think I’d like some time before I make that decision. Going from the Messenger to possibly a goddess is a big change. I’d like to just…be for a little while.”

Thayla squeezes my hand, her excitement bleeding through our connection.

“That’s the beauty of actually having a choice.” She laughs. “You can decide when you’re ready to find out.”