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“When are you all leaving then?” Saion asked, rocking back on his chair as he planted his boot on the edge of the desk.
Nyktos knocked his foot off the table. “After we return from Irelone and have removed the embers.”
I stiffened, my hand stilling.
“Got it.” Saion lifted his chin. “We’ll hold it down here.”
“Wait,” I said. Reaver turned his head toward Nyktos. “We don’t know how long that will take.”
“We know where to start looking for Delfai,” Nyktos responded. “And we will take however long is necessary.”
I glanced at Nektas. The draken said nothing as he tried to tuck Jadis’s foot under the blanket. “How long did it take before Kolis grew angry when you last delayed in answering a summons from him?”
Nyktos said nothing.
Irritation rose as I glanced around the room, my hand sliding along Reaver’s back. “How long?”
Everyone studiously studied the floor, the ceiling, or one another. Everyone except Rhain. “Less than a day.”
“Fuck,” Nyktos growled, pushing off the desk as he turned to the god. “Normally, I expect that shit from this one.” He jerked his chin.
“Hey,” Ector grumbled. “I kept my mouth shut this time.”
Rhain didn’t back down, but he did take a step back. “She should know what the delay will cost.”
“Pretty sure he wanted the exact opposite,” Bele murmured. “Either way, we’ve got it covered.”
Theon nodded. “That we do.”
“No,” I said.
Every head turned to me—even Nektas’s and Reaver’s. But it was only Nyktos who spoke. “Sera—”
“No,” I repeated, and Reaver rose onto his haunches, eyeing the Primal. “I don’t want to be a part of whatever Kolis will do in retaliation for us not answering his summons in a timely ma
Eather seeped into the skin of Nyktos’s cheeks. “You are more important than—”
“Don’t say it,” I warned as he took a step forward. “The—”
Reaver expanded his wings, startling me. I leaned back as he stretched out his thin neck and lifted his head.
Nyktos drew up short as a low rumble radiated from Reaver’s chest, and smoke wafted from his nostrils.
Stu
Reaver hummed as he eyed Nyktos. He made a low, chattering sound.
“Man,” Theon drawled, his mouth twitching as if he fought and then lost the battle to hold back a laugh. “That’s kind of wrong.”
“It’s the embers,” I guessed. “He’s probably responding to that.”
“No, it’s you.” Nyktos looked at me. “He’s protecting you.”
I frowned at the back of Reaver’s head. “You’re not going to do anything to me.”
Nyktos sighed. “He knows that, but he’s just letting me know that he doesn’t appreciate me upsetting you.”
I snorted. “Well, he’s going to be busy letting you know that, then.”
Someone, and it sounded like Aios this time, laughed under their breath. Reaver settled beside me, draping his head over my knee again. This time, he didn’t need to nudge my hand. I got to petting him.
“You can stop gri
“I know,” the draken replied, still smiling.
“We answer his summons,” I said, looking up at Nyktos. “We don’t wait. We take care of that first.”
A muscle ticked in Nyktos’s jaw. “Then we leave within the hour.”
Aios had followed me to my chambers, offering to help pick out the appropriate attire.
“Is what I’m wearing not appropriate?”
“It is.” Her back was to me as she flipped through the garments in the wardrobe.
“But?”
“But Kolis will think you too casual,” she said, and that was the last thing I was worried about him thinking. “And he would see it as disrespectful.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “It seems like he sees many things as disrespectful.”
“He does.” Aios pulled out a deep crimson gown that Erlina had made. I had glanced past it when going through the clothes. Not because it wasn’t beautiful but because I wasn’t sure where or why I would wear something so elegant. “This will do.”
Seizing on irritation instead of focusing on the rapidly building dread, I took the gown and, with Aios’s help, changed into it.
“It’s beautiful on you,” the goddess murmured, toying with the chain around her neck as she stepped back.
“Thank you.” I ran my hands over the velvet and lace. The gown was tailored perfectly, hugging my breasts, loose at the waist, and tight at the hips. There was no fear of falling out of it with the neckline that swept around the back of my neck and draped over one shoulder. A fine layer of lace had been stitched over the bodice and hips, and there were slits on both sides of the skirt, something that had to be the style in Iliseeum and was of benefit to me as I strapped the sheath to my upper thigh.
“You’re so much like Bele,” she remarked. “Stashing weapons here and there.”
“I wish I had more than this.”
“As do I.” She smiled tightly as she glanced at the closed chamber doors. Nyktos had said he’d come for me when it was time. Currently, he remained with the others, going over things for when he was gone. “Hopefully, you won’t be there long enough to worry about any other attire.”
My heart skipped, and I didn’t want to consider the possibility that this wouldn’t be an in-and-out journey. Or the oath Nyktos had made.
Or what terrible things Rhain had spoken of.
“Can I…can I ask you something?”
“Of course.” I smoothed the skirt of the gown as I straightened.
“Will you attempt to go after Kolis while you’re there?” Aios asked.
Her blunt question caught me off guard. I shook my head.
She pressed her lips together as she looked away. “I hope you speak the truth. I don’t understand why you would’ve tried something like that before, and I worry that you will do so again.”
“It was different then. I didn’t think there was any other option,” I said, feeling the uncomfortable weight of my words. The guilt. “Now, there is.”
Aios was quiet for a moment. “Why would you think that was an option in the first place?” Her eyes met mine. “You’re brave. Strong. You have embers in you—powerful ones—but why would you even think you could somehow harm a Primal?”
“I have reasons to believe that I can.”
“Whatever reasons you have, you’re wrong.”
The slippered heels I wore barely made a sound as I took a step toward her. “There is something you don’t—” I let out an exasperated breath, not finding it in me to lie. “I’m Kolis’s graeca.”
Aios’s chest rose with a sharp breath. “That’s impossible.”
“I have Sotoria’s soul,” I said, giving her a brief explanation of how I knew. “Eythos placed her soul in my bloodline, along with the embers,” I said, my voice low even though no one was around us to hear. “Eythos knew what he was doing when he put her soul in with the embers. He was creating a…a weapon. I am Kolis’s weakness. If I’d made it to him, I could’ve stopped him. That is why I left.”
“But…” Creases formed above her brows as she shook her head. “You don’t have Sotoria’s soul. You are Sotoria.”
I sucked in a sharp breath. “I’m Sera. I’m not her.”
“I know. I’m sorry. You are you.” Her fingers went to the thin chain again. “I…I just wasn’t expecting you to say that.”
I laughed hoarsely. “Yeah, well, I didn’t expect to hear it when Holland told me either.”
She exhaled heavily. “If Kolis were to discover…”
“That was my whole point in leaving before,” I said. “I don’t know if I look like her or not. I was hoping I did, and it wouldn’t require me to…seduce him.” My stomach soured. “So, that’s why I left. It wasn’t just what you said. It’s my destiny. It’s been my destiny. Becoming Nyktos’s Consort isn’t. It never has been.”