Page 96 of The Gods Order

Silence swallows the room once he finishes. No one rushes to speak, nor does anyone move. The heatless fire crackling in the fireplace suddenly sounds thunderous against the weight pressing down over all of us.

My gaze drifts toward the Beginning Gods and my stomach flips. They’re too calm. There’s not a hint of confusion or shock on their faces. There’s…resignation. Like they’re so over finding out about shit Obliteration has done.

“You three know how this is possible.”

Although I mumbled my words, they seem to echo through the room. Val’s jaw flexes. Beside him, Derivius looks toward the floor while Meridamus lets out a long, exhausted breath.

That’s answer enough.

Ice floods my veins.

“You knew he was still trapped there,” Creed growls, glaring at Derivius.

“No,” he denies immediately. “Absolutely not.”

“Then start fucking explaining.”

The sharpness in Creed’s voice cuts through the room.

Meridamus drags a hand down his face, then cuts in before Derivius can get a word out.

“Beginning Gods are tied to the balance of the realm itself. Our powers are foundational.”

I frown. We know this already.

“Obliteration’s bindings are anchored directly to his existence,” Derivius says, cutting Meridamus a glare. “He layers his bindings. With his literal Binding, his Veil, and his power.”

Creed’s expression hardens. “I don’t understand your fucking riddle. Just spit it out.”

“It isn’t a riddle,” Amick says. The calculating glimmer in his eye is not comforting at all. “Remember when we were leaving for the Abandon to save Riven, and Derivius bound Gladian and all the others to our plan using his power?”

“Yes,” we each grunt.

“He could’ve unbound them with a wave of his hand, severing the binding. Our father used all three things as a means to bind Vihaan. His power, Binding, and Veil. As Derivius said, he anchors them. Each anchor has to be severed.”

A cold knot forms in my stomach.

Derivius holds his palms up and shakes his head at Amick.

“Maybe, maybe not. Recover Kira’s Binding, destroy his Veil, and with another power boost for Creed, that may be enough.”

“May be.” I laugh humorlessly. “What the fuck?”

“If that does work, though, could I unbind myself from Hell as well?” Creed asks, and hope, the teasing fucking emotion, thrums through my chest.

My gaze bounces across Derivius, Meridamus, and Val.

His attention holds mine for a heavy moment.

“Yes. Possibly.”

My mind buzzes and I narrow my eyes on him. The sensation comes and goes just as fast and before I can question him even more, Riven startles me with a loud-ass clap of his hands.

“So our best solution has always been our original plan. Kill our father. Solves all our problems.”

Meridamus scoffs. “Were you not paying attention a moment ago when I said our powers are foundational? If Obliteration dies, eventually, the realm dies as well.”

“Key word: eventually,” Derivius says.