Born of Blood and Ash

“I’d heard that he had keen foresight. Something close to precognition.” Rhahar swallowed. “If you could figure it out, why did you ask?”

“This intuition thing is really hit or miss,” I said. “And by that, I mean it’s mostly a miss.”

His lips pinched, and then he blinked several times. “Yes, he did release Saion’s and my soul back to us.”

“Knew it,” I murmured. “Because your soul was held by him, it allows you to know the names of the deceased.”

“Yes, but that’s not the only reason. I had to take his blood, and it only works when I’m holding the Book of the Dead. Rhain can also do it.” He idly scratched his chin. “Just in case something should happen while we’re both out of pocket.”

“That was very smart of him,” I said.

Rhahar’s chin lifted. “Nyktos is one of the smartest beings I know.”

I smiled, affected by Rhahar’s loyalty and moved by his willingness to share this information with me. It hadn’t always been this way. “Thank you.”

“No need to thank me,” he said, inclining his head. “Is there anything else you need?”

“No, but this was…nice.” Warmth crept into my cheeks. “I mean, talking with you. About Ash and stuff,” I stammered as Reaver slowly turned his head toward me once more. My neck continued to heat. “I know we really haven’t had the time in the past, and, well…things are different now.”

“It has been nice.” A moment passed. “And things are different now.”

“Because I’m the true Primal of Life and the Queen,” I surmised.

“The foresight thing truly is more of a miss than a hit.” A faint smile appeared on his handsome face. “It has little to do with that.”

“Really?” I drawled.

He nodded. “You risked your life for Nyktos and the Shadowlands.” Stepping farther into the office, he lowered his voice. “And for Rhain.”

My stomach hollowed, and the heat drained from my skin.

“I…I don’t know how you convinced Kolis to release him alive, and Rhain has never gone into a lot of detail…” he said, pressing his right palm to his chest as he glanced at the younglings. “But I know it must have come at some cost to you. You had no reason to do it—not for him. Not even for the Shadowlands when Kyn attacked.”

“That’s not true,” I whispered.

“But it is.” Eather pulsed in his eyes. “We never gave you a reason to, yet you continued giving us ones.” His shoulders squared. “That is why things are different now.”

I opened my mouth but didn’t know what to say. I always sort of wanted to crawl into myself when confronted with these types of situations, where someone said something nice and there were no expectations. No strings attached. But even more so with this. And it had little to do with Nektas being correct when he said I was terrible at accepting praise of any kind.

Luckily, the sound of approaching footsteps put an end to my awkwardness.

For a brief second.

The very auburn-haired god Rhahar had just spoken about appeared in the doorway. I tamped down the wariness that came with his presence. It wasn’t his fault. It was mine. All mine.

“If you’re looking for Nyktos, he’s at the Pillars,” I told him as Rhahar faced the other god.

“I know.” Rhain cleared his throat. “I’m here to see if Rhahar wanted something for lunch.”

“You saved some for me this time?” Rhahar laughed. “I’m shocked.”

“Next time, I’ll make sure I forget,” Rhain replied before glancing into the office. “What about you all?”

“I’m good,” I said, turning to the younglings. “I’m sure they’re hungry, though.”

Both Jadis and Reaver nodded eagerly. The former waved at Rhain, and he smiled down at her, his dark amber eyes warming.

“All right. I’ll go grab something for you all.” He started to turn away, then stopped. “I almost forgot. Just a heads-up, Thierran is staying in one of the rooms on the second floor until one of the insulas becomes available.”

I nodded.

“I doubt you’ll see much of him,” Rhain quickly assured me.

Realizing my thoughts showed on my face, I shook my head. “It’s not that. Did we not have space available for him in Lethe?”

“We have space, but we’ve been saving it for those we don’t want to put in a…” He glanced at the younglings. “Complicated situation.”

He meant a dangerous situation in case a war broke out, which made me laugh.

Rhain’s brows rose.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “It’s just fu

Rhahar snorted. “You met him, right?”

I nodded. “He seems nice.”

Both gods stared at me.

“What?”

Rhahar curtly shook his head. “I’ve just never heard anyone describe Thierran as nice.”

“Or any oneirou,” Rhain muttered and then said louder, “but especially that one. You saw him when that thing went down in the throne room. He was more worried about getting—” His lips pursed as he realized Reaver was listening intently. “He was more worried about getting stuff in his wine.”

My lips curved up. “Yeah, he was.”

“And that amuses you.” Rhain coughed. “All right, then. I think I’ll leave now.” He turned, frowning at the glasses on the shelf.

“Oh! I have a tiny job for you.” I clasped my hands together as Rhain faced me. “Is there a small table or something we can bring in here to place refreshments and stuff on? And have it not be removed like the other tables? I would do it myself, but I’m not sure I should randomly take a table from another room.”

Rhain tilted his head. “I can find one for you.”

“Great.”

“Is that all?” he asked.

I nodded and then thought differently. “Maybe an additional chair? Or two?”

Rhain stopped at the doors. “Two chairs?” he repeated, and I nodded. “Nyktos tends to be a minimalist regarding the spaces he spends time in.”

Didn’t I know it. “The space is big enough, isn’t it, Reaver?”

He nodded. “It is.”

“We could maybe place them across from the settee,” I suggested. “I’m sure Nyktos won’t even notice.”

“He’ll notice,” Rhain stated flatly.

“It’ll be okay,” I assured him.

Rhahar gri

“A table and two chairs,” Rhain said. “Is that all?”

“Yes.”

He hesitated. “You sure?”

I nodded. “Thank you.” Then I gave him a wave, which Jadis mimicked, nearly smacking Reaver in the face.

My redecoration plans took center stage as I watched Jadis and Reaver, who quickly devoured the sandwiches Rhain had returned with. It was nice to think about something so mundane. Figuring that at least Jadis would soon be taking a nap, I found her blanket in the credenza and tossed it onto the couch. Her eyes were getting heavy-lidded—

My chest suddenly hummed, causing me to stiffen. I knew what that feeling meant.

A Primal was here.

And I knew in my bones it wasn’t Ash.