Born of Blood and Ash

Kyn shoved Attes back once more to fully face Ash. “You want to know what’s embarrassing, Nyktos?”

Attes held up a hand. “Don’t say another word.”

“No.” Ash’s voice was soft, his lips curving into a smile as cool wind blew through the throne room. The faint sound of crackling came from the walls as the candles were snuffed out. “Please, continue.”

“You.” Kyn tilted his head. “I’m embarrassed for you.”

Attes paled. “Shut the fuck up, Kyn.”

“Because you stand here,” Kyn continued, his words slithering over my skin, “beside her. When only a few weeks ago, your Consort was Kolis’s whore.”

My heart stopped. Everything in and around me did.

“And I ca

Ash was a blur of shadows and icy rage, slamming into Kyn in a heartbeat. He had shifted, his skin the color of midnight streaked with pure silver bolts of eather. Twin, sweeping arcs similar to the wings of a draken rose as Ash lifted Kyn into the air. Attes was shouting, but all I heard was the wet splatter of shimmery, bluish-red blood and tissue against the stone floor.

Ash had driven his hand through Kyn’s stomach.

The Primal of Peace and Vengeance roared, his body jerking. Blood splattered the table.

“Stop this!” Attes yelled as Thierran reached for his bottle of wine, yanking it clear of the carnage.

Kyn’s flesh turned a deep shade of stone gray. Leathery wings sprouted from his back, and he gripped Ash by the arms.

“Don’t worry,” Kyn spat, shaking Ash off. He flew back, the jagged tear in his stomach healing. “I’ll give her back to you,” he said, and I flinched.

“Stupid fuck,” Nektas bit out, thin traces of smoke following his words. “Such a stupid fuck.”

“That is,” Kyn hissed, “if anything is left of her.”

Ash laughed.

He laughed.

Then he was on Kyn, their bodies crashing together in a clap of thunder. Kyn’s fangs flashed as his head snapped down, aiming for Ash’s throat.

Kyn was ages older than Ash, but Ash was enraged, and that fury set the candles aflame again, the fire racing upward. He was possibly even furious enough to kill his second Primal as he jerked his head to the side, avoiding Kyn’s bite.

Gripping Kyn’s jaw, Ash forced his mouth open. “What did I promise you?”

“Fuck—”

“That’s not it.” Ash’s hand moved as quick as lightning.

Blood poured from Kyn’s mouth as Ash held something pink and limp.

It was Kyn’s tongue.

His actual tongue.

Just as Ash had promised, he shoved it back into Kyn’s gaping mouth.

“Stop this.” Attes whirled toward me. “You have to stop this, Seraphena.”

I knew I should. No god had been Ascended to take Kyn’s place. Not only would killing Kyn kickstart a bloodbath, but it would also damage the mortal realm.

But I did nothing.

Rhain turned to me. “If Kyn falls here and not in battle, it will send the exact opposite message you want to extend to the other Primals and gods.”

I knew that.

Kyn hadn’t done anything but run his mouth—not exactly a good reason to kill someone.

But still, I did nothing.

Ash’s arm jerked back and then thrust forward again. The other Primal’s eyes went wide, and his body became rigid as he let out a guttural scream, throwing his head back.

Ash flew up to the ceiling and yanked his arm back. Kyn’s wings collapsed.

“Holy shit,” Thierran murmured, taking a drink of his wine.

Ash now held Kyn’s beating heart in his hand. The shadows moving through Ash’s flesh stilled, leaving silver streaks across Ash’s cheeks as his all-silver eyes locked with mine.

Ash bit into the heart, tearing through the muscle. Blood spurted, ru

Then he let go of Kyn.

I watched the Primal plummet to the floor. He hit a stone bench, cracking his back.

Thierran winced. “Ouch.”

A giggle crawled up my throat, but I squelched it as Attes closed his eyes, letting out a long breath. I wasn’t sure it was one of relief, even though his brother still lived since he still had a head. It was probably more a mixture of that and dread.

Ash lowered himself, landing between Attes and me. Nektas stepped out of his way and moved back as Ash’s wings evaporated.

“I don’t care what you do with him as long as you get him the fuck out of here,” Ash bit out, turning to the others. “This meeting is over.”

The blood and gore weren’t visible on his shadowstone-hued flesh as Ash faced me. His eyes met mine, and he stalked toward me, silently taking my hand and shadowstepping us from the throne room.

Cool fingers brushed my cheek, catching several curls and tucking them behind my ear. “What are you thinking, liessa?”

I sat on the side of the tub Ash occupied, my chin resting on my forearm. The water had turned red with blood, but it had since been emptied and fresh had been brought in.

“Many things,” I murmured.

“What’s the most pressing?”

They all felt equally pressing as my gaze lifted to Ash’s. The striking lines of his face were relaxed and showed no sign of him having ripped the heart from another Primal’s chest.

And then bit into it.

“I was thinking about the eirini and how close we came to breaking it,” I said, trailing my fingers through the water. My gaze briefly lifted to his. “I was thinking about Attes. Everything with Kyn must be so hard for him.”

“It would’ve been less so if he’d gotten the fucker out of there.”

“It’s his brother.” I watched the suds swirling over Ash’s thigh. “He was trying to do it without hurting him.”

“And that’s a problem.” The tips of Ash’s fingers smoothed over a strand of my hair. “Because, at some point, he will need to hurt his brother.”

“I know.” I pulled my fingers from the water and straightened. “And he knows that.”

He huffed. “You sure about that?”

“He knows what happened when Eythos gave Kolis too many chances.”

His gaze tracked the strand of hair he threaded through his fingers. “Yeah, and I think he was more so reminding himself.”

“Possibly,” I murmured. A huge part of me childishly hoped that Kyn and Attes wouldn’t have to come up against each other, but the very real possibility weighed heavily on my mind and heart. I had to shift my thoughts to something else. “So, Thierran? There’s something…”

“Not quite right about him?” Ash suggested.

“Yes.” I gri

Ash’s fingers stilled in my hair. “I would strongly advise against attempting that again.”

My frown returned. “Well, after that dire piece of advice, I want to try it again.”

Ash sent me a look of warning. “The oneirou can do more than just invade someone’s dreams.”

“They can steal them.”

“It is more than that. They are known by another name: Sōl Eder.”

The translation caused my stomach to dip. “Soul Eater?”

“Yes. They can manipulate the emotions of their targets—including gods and Primals—both when they sleep and while they’re awake.”

My lips parted. “I think I know what kind of shit you were talking about now when you warned him.”

“They are the only gods that can mess with us if they catch us off guard,” he said, as serious as when he ripped out Kyn’s heart. “Most are smart enough not to try it. But if they catch you in their heads, it’s in their nature to do the same in return. And what they can do is far more than learning details about a person. They can create an emotion out of nothing, including manifesting and amplifying fear. They can drive someone mad in their sleep and send a god fleeing before a sword is even raised.”

What did it say about me that I thought that ability was kind of interesting? Creepy, but definitely interesting.

“You don’t fuck with them, Sera. Not unless you plan to end them immediately after doing so.”

I swallowed. “Message received.”

“Good.” He exhaled heavily.

“You were sort of fucking with him out there. In case you didn’t realize,” I pointed out.

“That’s because Thierran has just enough common sense to know I will do exactly as I warned without hesitation.”

“Oh.” My lips pursed. “I’m guessing they’re really good at blocking their minds from others?”

“Yes. Not even I can easily read their emotions without making it known that I am doing so. And I know what I’m doing.” His gaze met mine. “You’re still figuring out your abilities.”

“I said I wouldn’t.”

He didn’t look away. “And I also know you’re incredibly curious and impulsive.”

“I’m not—you know, I can’t even deny that,” I said, and Ash chuckled. “Do you think we can still go to the Thyia Plains?”

“I think so. We just need to be careful with what we say.”

I was relieved to hear that, and then I got a little distracted by all the sleek flesh on display. After he dried off, we talked a little about the eirini and what it meant. He stressed again that it wasn’t that big of a deal, but it made me feel like we were spi

Ash’s eyes flared to a heated silver as he crossed the chamber. “Beautiful,” he murmured, stopping near me.

He kissed the skin beside the gown’s thin strap. The tips of my breasts tightened, and I shivered at the touch. “I’ll be right back.”

I nodded as he entered the bathing chamber. Dragging my hair over my shoulder, I climbed into bed and pulled the blanket up.

Ash returned, drawing to a halt as he saw me. An eyebrow rose. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” I frowned. “Why?”

“You’re holding the blanket to your chin.”

“Oh.” I looked down to see that I was, in fact, clutching the soft fur to my chin. I eased up on my grip as Ash undressed.

I expected him to join me, but he didn’t until he pulled on a pair of loose-fitting linen pants, keeping his back to me. That was odd. Or was it? He didn’t always sleep nude. Prodding at a fang, I watched as he settled in beside me.

He didn’t roll onto his side to face me, which also felt strange. I glanced over at him, my mouth opening and then closing. A knot lodged in my throat.

“I think we need to talk about Kyn.” Ash shattered the silence.