Page 46 of The Gods Order

The weight in my chest loosens with his sincere gaze. I nod.

“Okay. Should we go? Make sure the Court is clear?”

He chuckles and brushes his thumb across my bottom lip. “Sure, gorgeous. If that’s what you want.”

His hand rests against my cheek as he tugs me until our lips meet. I soak up his unwavering support like it’s the first drink of water I’ve had in days.

Unlike his soft kiss, Riven pulls me into his chest and devours every inch of my mouth like he simply can’t get enough of me. He releases me with a laugh as soon as a moan bubbles in the back of my throat.

With nothing more than a wink, he turns me toward Creed, and the scowl on his face makes my lips twitch for a whole other reason. He scoffs at me as his fingers tangle into the back of my hair. My head tilts instinctively and his demanding ass fully takes over the embrace.

I hiss from his little love nibble against my lip, but Amick’s quick to wash away the pain with his gentle but all-consuming kiss. He’s so attentive, sound escapes my hearing for a solid five seconds.

“Ready, Mysenta?” his breath whispers against my parted mouth.

“Yes.”

“Straight to the center or the entrance?” Creed asks.

“The entrance,” I say.

“We’ll meet you there, my endling.”

I shake out my hands and call my power forward. Warmth spreads from scalp to toes as the seven spots meet and carry me away.

This is one of those moments where I wish starshooting were slower.

The dim torches outside the Court greet me first, then my men. They stand shoulder to shoulder, not blocking the entrance, just waiting for me to say I’m ready. At my nod, they part, leaving space for me in the middle. Amick and Riven on my right, Kyzen and Creed on my left.

My fingers tremble as we march through the hallway. I flex them repeatedly to make them stop.

“It was silly wanting to come early, wasn’t it?” I ask. “No one’s going to be fucking off around the Court at night.”

“Just anyone? No,” Creed says. “With all the shit Gladian’s dealing with, though, I wouldn’t put it past him to be cooped up in his chamber.”

“That’s true. I feel so bad for them. More so Mara, but still. Their situation is a reminder that it’s not just our lives being fucked with.”

“I don’t feel bad at all,” Riven says. “Others are just now getting a taste because it’s getting worse before it gets better. We’ve been dealing with this shit forever, so welcome to our lives.”

The others grunt in agreement. I don’t add anything else.

Shadows dance across the walls from the torches, and I keep taking deep breaths as we near the end of the stretch.

I don’t think I’ll shake my nerves completely, but that’ll be okay. What I don’t want is to lash out because of my nerves. I’ve been telling myself all day I’m not going to be a bitch or cold for this conversation.

Val and Meridamus will get the me I’ve been trying to become since arriving here. Not the broken girl left in Oddian, who responded to everything with anger.

“You want to check Gladian’s chamber first?” Kyzen asks.

“Yeah. No point in—”

Our footsteps stop the moment we step into the center of the Court. Derivius, Meridamus, and Val spin toward us.

“Welp. Never mind.”

“You’re early,” Derivius says, walking toward us.

“So are you three. We were going to make sure the Court was cleared.”