14. Riven #3
I won’t admit it out loud, but…he sort of has a point.
Vullie never would’ve searched, sure, but Prath? As strong as this new God of Shadows is, it doesn’t make sense that he didn’t look for his Valtrue.
“I’m not hiding. I am doing something. I’m staying out from under the eyes of the gods before I become like those who came before me.”
His smile drops for the first time. He’s more well-tempered than Obsidian, but I know what lurks beneath that surface.
He does too. That’s why he’s running.
Respect. Glad I don’t have to kill him where he stands.
Yet.
“Disappearing doesn’t always work, Prath,” Doren says, stepping forward. “The stars drag everything back to the surface whether we’re ready or not.”
Discovery holds his gaze for a long, uncomfortable moment. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear the two of them know something we don’t. Maybe they do. Prath knew who Doren was without an introduction.
Ugh. I hate that.
Since when is power passed down like that?
“Okay then,” Prath murmurs. “I suppose we don’t know where our last member or our Binder is?”
“Just our last member. Our Binder is back at the Godsdawn with theirs,” Gladian says, gesturing at all of us.
“So you’re all already an established group?”
“Yes,” Gladian says.
“No,” I say—very confidently.
He sighs at me. I sigh back.
“I don’t like or accept you. Thayla made me do this. Plain and simple.”
“Thayla God—”
I whip my glare toward Prath so fast I’m shocked my neck didn’t snap. I’m not the only one staring deadly promises at him.
“Don’t.”
He tightens his lips and nods.
“So what’s your plan from here?”
“Simple,” Amick says. “Find your last Valtrue member. Then the five of you can figure out what you’re doing. Are you coming or not? I’m ready to go.”
His impatience is thinner than usual today.
No clue why. Thayla’s soul is perfectly fine.
I would know. I keep sending her inappropriate sensations.
“Very well.” Prath sighs, glancing back at Obsidian’s—his house. “I don’t know where we go from here, but I don’t plan to stay in the Godsdawn.”
Gladian’s eyes narrow and his fingers flex. Before he can spew whatever shit he wants, Amick steps forward. I follow.
I know better than anyone what that red creeping up his neck means.
Don’t giggle.
“You’ve deluded yourself since your power and position elevated and that mark appeared on your wrist,” Amick says, low.
“By unfortunate design, you’ve inherited the knowledge of those before you, which means you inherit the horrors they left behind.
You will aid in fixing them. If you don’t, you are part of the problem and we, by unfortunate design, have been tasked with fixing the problem. Choose your side.”
They stare at each other, calculating.
“You’re referring to the rooms Obsidian created in the healing villas,” Prath says.
I grimace.
“What side do you choose?” Amick asks.
The silence presses against my Chaos, begging to come out and play.
“I’ll stand with all of you. With my Valtrue,” he finally says.
I sigh—slightly disappointed—as my Chaos simmers down.
I mean…I didn’t plan on killing two Gods of Shadows, but I was prepared. Guess that’s not happening.
“Very well,” Amick says, pivoting to Doren. “Next location.”
Discovery gives Gladian a tight smile.
“I don’t need your wrist again.”
Doren’s nervous expression has a smirk creeping across my lips.
“Uh-oh, we’re going somewhere exciting.” I chuckle, tapping my fingers together.
“Exciting is not the word I’d use.”
As soon as he says it, V whisks us away without warning and my excitement soars.
I grip my stomach and die laughing as I point at the entrance to Hell.
“This is like the fourth best day of my fucking life.”
Gladian sneers as I grab his shoulders and jump up and down. Oh my gods, I want a piggyback ride.
This is so fucking thrilling.
“I’m not going in there,” Gladdy says, shrugging me off for the fifth time.
“Don’t be a pussy. Let’s go see who this unfortunate soul is.”
“I don’t need to go see. I know.”
“Who?” Creed asks, arms crossed. “How do you know?”
“I just do. Gut feeling,” Gladian mutters, staring daggers at the entrance.
“Barir,” Creed whispers, earning Gladian’s full attention.
“How in the fuck did you guess that?”
My brother tightens his lips.
Ohhh…is he going to be honest?
“Gut feeling.”
Nope. Guess not.
Gladian accepts it anyway and nods.
“Honestly, though, how could you know that?” Sevryn asks.
“Long story.”
“Shorten it,” Amick says.
Gladian grunts. “Barir was my closest friend aside from my brothers. Our closeness was instantaneous. Why that makes more sense now. His betrayal doesn’t.”
“His betrayal?” Creed asks, then freezes. “He knew Seveous betrayed you and Vihaan.”
Gods, this is juicy. Their Valtrue is going to be so messy. I love it.
“Yeah,” Gladian grunts. “I’m not going in there for him.”
“Well, that isn’t entirely your decision, now, is it?” Prath says.
He’s right, and Gladian knows it. His fists clench.
“Then I ask for some time. Mara’s already met Barir, so I can introduce the two of you and explain what’s going on.”
“Who exactly is Barir?” Vullie asks.
“The good ol’ God of Treachery,” I cheer.
“Oh.”
Poor Vullie.
“I know this isn’t a fair request, given my introduction and the position I put you two in today,” Gladian says to Prath and Vullie. “But give me the day. I need to wrap my mind around this. And, Creed, you’ll have to figure out what happens to Hell if he joins us.”
My brother drags his hand down his face like reality just slapped him.
“What does that mean?” Vullie asks, eyes bouncing everywhere.
Damn, he knows a lot, but he really doesn’t know anything about these tiny details.
“Barir oversees the mid-level of Hell,” Creed says, and Vullie’s eyes nearly fall out. “If he leaves, that entire division has no one in charge. This is more complicated than we expected. So yes, I also ask for time. Not much. But today.”
Gladian, Vullie, and Prath share a look. Prath is clearly pissy that he didn’t get a choice like this, but he also understands the implications of leaving Hell even more vulnerable.
Vullie looks terrified.
And a little rosy. He’s definitely getting sunburned.
“Fine,” Prath mutters. “But I want to meet our Binder today.”
“That won’t be a problem. We can go straight to her,” Gladian says until V hoots and cuts him off.
“Actually, that will be a small problem.”
Prath and Vullie startle.
“Why?” Gladian asks.
“She’s a tad nervous and decided to spend a few days at Rose’s house.”
“What?” he barks, then sighs. “I’ll go to Rose’s house and speak with her alone.”
“She’s not at Rose’s house. The girls are…at our house. Still enjoying their day.”
That sounds way more fun than this.
“Then that’s where I’ll be. Later, losers.”
My power wraps around me and drops me at our front door. I creep in silently, holding back the giggle threatening to explode. That tickle becomes impossible to swallow when gods-awful singing reaches my ears. I slap my palm over my mouth.
Oh my. They’ve definitely had a fun day.
Slowly, I backpedal out the door—straight into someone’s chest—and finally let the laughter rip free. I don’t know how long I fall apart, but long enough for everyone to scowl at me as I wipe tears from my eyes.
“What’s going on?” Kyzen asks.
“Oh, nothing. The girls are in fantastic moods and can’t wait to see everyone. They told me to come get you.”
“Even Mara?” Gladian asks.
“Yes, yes, of course. Her reservations are gone.”
V hoots and flies to my shoulder.
“What are you doing?”
“Oh, come on. Give me this. It’s going to be brilliant. Trust me.”
“Riven…” he warns.
I smile at everyone.
“Well, what are we waiting for?”