Page 78 of The Gods Order

When Sevryn and I first arrived, I chalked the sensation up to knowing why he hadn’t been here. Now that hours have passed, I sense his absence.

He’s withdrawn his power from the Holding. The small enclave where we’d all pile in on his order would hum with his energy even without that wall of power. Nothing but stone remains now.

“Swords down. That’s enough for today.”

My command echoes around the arena, silencing grunts and the sounds of wood clashing with wood. Small murmurs leave the Defenders’ lips as they pass me, heading toward the chambers.

“Your face is going to get stuck like that,” I say as Sevryn stomps toward me, wearing his signature sneer.

“You’re cutting training short. What gives?”

“You didn’t get your fill of shit-talking and swinging swords around?” I ask.

He huffs a laugh, falling into step beside me as I head toward the exit.

“You can head home. Make sure our Binders haven’t killed any Beginning Gods yet. I have an errand to run before I go back.”

He raises a brow.

“An errand? Since when do you run errands?”

“Whenever one needs to be run.”

“Ah, I see.”

His sarcasm follows us into the empty tunnel.

“You’re trying to sneak off to Hell all by yourself. Your Binder is going to fuck you up when she finds out.”

I smirk. I can only imagine the mood she’ll be in after spending the entire day training with the God of Boundaries and Consequence.

I have no issues adjusting her attitude.

Or punching either of them if they actually upset her.

“She’s not. I’m not sneaking off to do anything. I need to check on something. She’ll understand when I tell her why.”

“Yeah, okay,” he snorts. “So what are we checking on?”

My footsteps halt and I turn toward him.

“We aren’t checking on anything. I am.”

His sneer returns.

“Why the fuck can’t I come?”

“Because you’re not going to like where I’m going.”

“And? I’d rather go to Hell than tell Thayla you ran off alone.”

I roll my eyes and continue toward the exit.

I don’t want anyone with me. I need to face this alone, without someone watching me choke on it. What I want to do—what’s been driving me damn near crazy since hearing Gladian’s story—is embarrassing.

The second I say that, though, he’ll start asking questions, and I’m not in the mood to explain. If he tells Thayla I disappeared into Hellveilious alone, though, I really will be in trouble.

My jaw clenches.