Born of Blood and Ash

Because he wasn’t sure what he would do if he learned. Still, if he had to guess, it would probably be akin to what the vision—the one he had interpreted so fucking badly—had warned him about all those years ago. That he would set the realms on fire in his rage, leaving nothing but death and destruction behind.

And when he thought about Kolis, that was the kind of rage Ash felt. One reckless and wild enough that he would gladly see the realms crumble to dust if it meant he could witness Kolis’s death. Because he didn’t care how many souls his actions sent through the Pillars of Asphodel. He truly didn’t. As long as Sera never had to worry about that bastard again.

However, his rage would inevitably harm Sera. Life could not exist without death. And vice versa. His rage would be the ruin of realms. Of them.

So, he needed to chill the fuck out.

Ash watched her, knowing she would likely punch him if she knew. His lips curled into a faint, brief grin. She seemed to have settled a bit, but he could still feel her unease. Hoping what plagued her would pass, he was reluctant to wake her. Sera had fallen asleep shortly after they’d made love, and she needed the rest. But after a few minutes of him keeping guard, her brows snapped together once more. Her hand twitched, and then her fingers curled into the blanket until her knuckles bleached white. Another emotion reached him.

Bitter and suffocating.

Fear.

Then she made a sound he’d rarely heard her make.

Sera whimpered.

Then screamed a word.

Just one.

No.

Ash’s entire being split wide open.

Yeah, fuck. Lying there and doing nothing, even if it was just a nightmare, turned his insides to an icy mixture of anger and sorrow. A tremor ran through his arm as he lifted his hand.

Get your shit together, he instructed himself. She didn’t need his anger right now. He closed his eyes and cleared his mind. What she needed was everything he’d denied himself after dealing with Kolis’s punishments and that Primal bitch Veses’ demands. Sera needed comfort and stability. Support. The tremor ceased. His chest loosened.

He checked his deadly anger. Lightly touching her face, his jaw hardened as she trembled in her sleep, a charge of energy passed through her to him, stroking the Primal essence.

Ash kissed her brow, easing the tension there. “Sera,” he called, letting a little of his power seep into his voice. There was a chance it wouldn’t work—compulsion couldn’t be used against other Primals by anyone but the Primal of Life—but she’d just Ascended and wasn’t anywhere near full power. He hoped it worked and then hated that he had that hope. Didn’t like doing it at all. But he loathed her fear more. “Wake up, liessa.”