Thayla
My starshoot carries me away, and a couple of seconds later, I’m standing in the middle of that hallway, surrounded by Beginning Gods statues and my men.
They each exhale like they were on the verge of panicking when I didn’t appear with them.
“Let’s go,” I say, gesturing toward the double doors.
“You literally look like you just stepped out of a battle,” Creed says, sticking very close to my left side. Amick is just as close to the other.
“Well, I mean…I kind of did. It’ll be fine.”
Each of their attention flicks to me for a moment, then back to the double doors as we reach them.
“Allow me to do the talking,” Amick says, and I brush my knuckles against his.
“It’s not going to be that simple this time, Candyman.”
He peers down at me, but all I can do is give him a tight smile. I shove the doors open before any of them can stop me.
According to Nero, the Beginning Gods can decide to leave the Neutral at any moment past the appointed time for a trial or hearing. After all this, we can’t risk that by being a minute late.
A deathly silence falls over the chamber as we march in until we’re standing in the center. The podium Amick had to stand at days ago is gone, leaving the whole center exposed.
Ready for judgment.
My eyes scan the Beginning Gods, starting at the God of Obliteration. His gaze is narrowed and his nostrils flare as my lips tilt up in one corner. I barely pay Sabelline any attention.
If I focus on her too long, I’m liable to try and kill her.
The Goddess of Accord studies me closely. I’m desperate to shake my head at her in utter disappointment.
The smile slowly fades from the Goddess of Creation as she rises from her chair.
“Impossible.”
I shrug and keep my observation going. It falters as I reach Derivius.
He looks like he’s been through hell and back. Despite the devious smirk on his lips, he can’t hide the pain behind his blue eye.
“What is the meaning of this?” the Goddess of Accord asks, and I cock my head to the side.
“Whatever do you mean?”
Her attention snaps to Derivius’s small chuckle, then pivots back to me.
“The sons are supposed to be at their mother’s house.”
“They were there. They spent two of the accumulated twenty days there. They left not a minute before or after. Now.” I hold my hands out, gesturing to the guys. “They’re here for their hearing.”
“There is no point in a hearing if they have no signatures,” Kirabaddon chuffs.
“You’re right.” I nod. “Good thing they brought those with them.”
His glare turns lethal, but I hold my ground and meet it with one of my own.
“This hearing has nothing to do with you. You may go, Ms. Godrun,” Rellannaver says, flicking her wrist at me dismissively.
“Now we both know that isn’t true. In any proceeding concerning the termination of an agreement, those bound shall be afforded the right to representation through a Mediator.
Said Mediator must hold a recognized tie of authority, influence, or binding connection to the involved parties, sufficient to ensure the integrity of their voice within the hearing. In the—”
Sabelline tosses her head back, laughing, cutting me off.
“Darling Thayla, we all know you’re not a Mediator.”
Breathe.
Don’t starshoot up there and punch her in her smug fucking face.
“No, I’m not,” I agree, and her grin grows. Stupid bitch. “In the absence of an appointed Mediator, one may be claimed by right, provided the tie is acknowledged and cannot be lawfully contested. I claim my right. As their Binder.”
I send my silent thanks out to Nero for pushing me to spend my small amount of downtime reading the exact lines he highlighted for me in the law books he brought.
“Fuck, that was so sexy,” Kyzen mutters as he bows his head. I shoot him a wink before focusing on the assholes in front of us once again.
“If a Mediator must ensure the integrity of their voice, then there is no one more qualified than me. Shall we proceed?” I ask.
They each fall silent. Even Derivius. Although instead of looking pissed like the others, he looks like it’s taking everything in him not to squeal out a laugh.
Riven’s definitely struggling to hold his giddiness in.
“Very well,” the Goddess of Accord says through clenched teeth. “Present whatever signatures you acquired.”
My subtle breath slips through my lips. Instead of starshooting the parchment to Rellannaver, Amick sends it to Derivius, who hums while he signs his name across the bottom. With a brilliant smile and giggle, he finally passes it to her outstretched hand.
For some strange reason, I feel quite possessive over that little piece of paper.
I swear, it feels like I spent the last two days protecting it with my life, and now I want to frame it, then put it on my wall.
Crazy. I know.
“Well then,” she says evenly, sliding the parchment away from her.
“Give me that!”
Kirabaddon snatches the parchment from Sabelline before she gets a chance to truly look it over. His eyes are seconds away from bugging from his head.
“These can’t possibly be real. Rella, you know this. They—she”—he stabs his finger at me—“forged the signatures.”
“Their power is embedded in the ink, Kira.”
“Then coercion. Mayaline never would’ve signed this.”
“Yet she did. Willingly. After I told her I didn’t want her to,” I say.
Heavy silence hangs around us.
“She’s telling the truth,” the Goddess of Accord states.
I don’t look at her. I hold his glare.
“Regardless, the boys were loc—staying at my house with me. Therefore, that is where they should be. Not here. This entire hearing shall be void.”
“We’ve been at your house for two days now when you originally asked for the day following my trial,” Amick says.
“Yes, but I returned here later that day and called upon all my days. Everyone agreed. Well, aside from Derivius, of course,” Calista says, rolling her eyes.
Amick’s brows furrow and he slides his attention to me. I give him a subtle shake of my head when he goes to say something else.
“They haven’t broken that part of their agreement. Therefore, this hearing can’t be voided.”
Her eye twitches as she stares me down.
“They are outside of my house. Are they not?” she asks.
“Yes, they are, but the agreement doesn’t specify your home.
It specifies they must spend time with you.
They did that, then they came to where you are.
They’re still within the terms of their agreement, while simultaneously having a hearing that will free them from that agreement. Is that not what the agreement states?”
My gaze moves over to the Goddess of Accord. Her jaw tightens, and my mind and mouth buzz.
“Yes.”
“Did you agree on giving them forty-eight hours to present ten signatures to meet the demands under the Law of Doppia Disaccord?”
“Yes.”
“They presented twelve. Plus the High Chancellor’s. Totaling fourteen with Derivius’s signature. Did they not?”
“Yes, they did,” she grits out.
“Therefore, they have satisfied the terms—the terms you put in their agreement—and the terms you set for this hearing. Under your rule and your law, that absolves them from the agreement made on their behalf, doesn’t it?”
Her gaze takes on a deadly seriousness. I don’t shy away from it.
Call it stupid or brave. I don’t know.
I’ll be either for my men.
“I do not have to absolve them from their agreement.” Rellannaver slowly rises from her chair and leans forward.
“And we aren’t fucking going to,” Kira adds in.
He goes ignored.
“If you do not, the five of you who signed—not including Derivius—will face the aftermath of going against your word. Your own law and agreement.”
“You dare threaten us? The Beginning Gods?” she asks me low.
“Threaten? No. Warn you that reality has been given permission to respond? Yes.”
Faster than I can blink, she starshoots to the center with us. She takes three purposeful, measured strides toward me. My men move as one, blocking her path to me.
Derivius appears not a second later.
“You will not touch her.”
“Get out of my way, Derivius.”
“No!” His firm bark echoes through the chamber.
“You will absolve them from this agreement. They have done everything that has been asked of them, plus some. Defying your own agreement will strip your power, and you know as well as I do, there aren’t too many beings sending you any extra prayers here lately. ”
“How dare you?”
“How dare I? How dare you? You and Calista. These are your children standing behind me, for fuck’s sake! For once in your life, Rellannaver, be a mother. Do the right fucking thing. Keep your word, although it means absolutely nothing.”
Her gasp is short-lived, and I lay my hand on Creed’s arm, moving him over just enough so I can see.
I thought maybe in the fractured glimpse I get of Accord, I’d see…something. Regret, hurt, anything that would tell me there’s a little bit of remorse in her for how she treated Derivius and Riven.
But no.
She’s glaring at him like he’s nothing more than scum beneath her shoe.
“I am the Goddess of Accord. I always keep my word when it comes to my agreements.”
“Funny,” Derivius huffs. “We have very different definitions of eternity.”
She doesn’t say anything to him. Just as fast as she starshot down here, she returns to her tier, standing in front of her seat.
“There will be no vote. All the conditions brought forth have been satisfied. I, Rellannaver, Beginning God of Accord, release Creed, Amick, Kyzen, and…Riven from the Power of Authority Agreement made on their behalf.”
Her decree carries weight, and it slams heavily against my men. Deep breaths fall from their chests as if something has just uncoiled from around them. She starshoots away not a moment later, and Kirabaddon bellows as his chair flies behind him, shattering to pieces as it hits the wall.
“No. Get back here, Accord!” His furious gaze whirls toward us, and he points a finger at Derivius. “You will pay for this, Chaos. As will the five of you.”