Page 88 of The Gods Order

He shouldn’t be here. Souls pass on. That’s the entire point. Damaged souls, tortured ones, corrupt ones, pure ones. If their vessel dies, the soul passes on.

My stomach twists. I know how hypocritical that thought makes me. I literally oversee a Soul Chamber. I imprison gods’ souls there for years. But this—he—is different.

The souls in the chamber are still tethered to living bodies. Their godly forms continue breathing while their souls face punishment or redemption. Eventually, they return to themselves or death frees them completely. That’s the purpose of the chamber. An ending still exists.

Vihaan has no ending. No body waiting for him. No judgment. No release. My father’s unjust punishment has gone too far.

“Vihaan,” I mumble. “I’m going to set you free now.”

For the first time since appearing, genuine confusion crosses his face.

“Really?”

Sevryn looks between me and empty air. “Okay, what the fuck is happening now?”

I barely hear him.

“Yes,” I tell Vihaan firmly. “It’s time for you to move on.”

Something unreadable flickers across his expression.

Hope. Gods damned hope.

Small enough to crack my chest open.

“I…” He glances toward Sevryn, his features softening faintly. “I want what I always wanted. The best for my brothers. My family.”

My throat tightens.

“I’ll pass it along.”

He huffs a quiet laugh. “Please don’t phrase it like a dying man’s final message. I’ve had enough of those.”

Despite everything, the corner of my mouth twitches.

My power surges awake beneath my skin as I call it forward and it floods through my veins with familiar ease. The Crypt drops ten degrees colder as Death coils around us in recognition.

Sevryn jumps beside me, whipping his head from me to where I’m focusing.

“What are you doing?” he asks.

“Helping him pass on. Got anything you want to say?”

His gaze widens and his mouth gapes.

“I…fuck, I don’t know.” He turns toward where I point. “We’ll figure it out.”

Vihaan gives him a small grin.

“I don’t doubt that.”

His words feel absolute, but I can’t place the expression on his face when he focuses back on me and nods. I return the gesture and reach for his soul. I choke on a breath as pure white-hot agony rips across my chest.

What the—

My power recoils violently before surging forward again on instinct, slamming into something wrapped around Vihaan’s soul. The moment the two forces touch again, a scream rips free from me. I stagger hard enough that Sevryn catches my arm.

“Creed?”