Born of Blood and Ash

CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

Only an hour or so past dawn, I’d woken to find Ash gone and suspected he had been at the Pillars since the fight in Vathi had fueled violent storms that swept through the mortal realm. The destruction and death weren’t nearly as bad as they had been after Embris, but… Yeah, it was still bad.

And there was no guarantee that drawing Kolis out would prevent more destruction.

After eating a quick breakfast, I’d felt Ash’s return and left to find him. On the way, I’d stopped by Aios’s chambers and found Rhain there. I had a feeling he may have spent a decent part of the night watching over her.

“I didn’t know what happened until Aios lit up with eather,” Rhain said, standing on the other side of Aios’s bed. “Then I knew.” He sighed, thrusting a hand through his auburn strands. “We all knew.”

“I didn’t know Maia well.” Heart heavy, my gaze flickered over Aios’s peaceful features as I toyed with the button on my vest. I wanted Bele to be here for her when she woke. “But I wish…”

“There was nothing either you or Ash could’ve done,” Rhain was quick to say. “It wasn’t like preparing Saion triggered Phanos into making his choice. There was no way he could’ve readied his armies and left the Triton Isles in that little time.”

“I know.” But I also knew that Keella’s and Veses’ deaths, although for vastly different reasons, could’ve influenced what Phanos decided. It had been a risk, one we knew we were taking. I exhaled long and slow. “I didn’t feel unrest in her Court. The attack must have been quick.”

“Maia didn’t have a large army,” Rhain said. “Her forces would’ve been quickly overwhelmed.”

I nodded, hoping that meant her death was as quick and painless as possible. We’d sent as many soldiers as we could spare to secure the Court, as did Ione, but from Nektas’s quick flyover, we’d learned the capital was burning.

It felt like we were at war, even though it hadn’t officially been declared. And maybe we were. Perhaps calling it a war didn’t even matter. But I didn’t know if we were wi

“How’s Attes?” Rhain asked.

I shook my head. “I only saw him briefly when he returned with Nyktos late last night, but I imagine not good.” I lifted my gaze to Rhain’s. “I didn’t want it to be him.”

“I don’t think Attes would’ve allowed it to be anyone but him.”

My heart was even heavier because Rhain was right. Attes could’ve stepped back and allowed Ash to finish Kyn. He hadn’t. To kill one’s own brother? And a twin at that…

First, it was Kolis, and now Attes. Granted, it wasn’t the same, but I knew this was something Attes may never truly get past, even if his twin was a grade-A asshole. In all honesty, Kolis hadn’t. His grief and shame over killing Eythos had aided in him becoming what he had.

“Sera?” Concern tinged Rhain’s voice. “Are you feeling unwell?”

His question pulled me from my thoughts. “Why do you ask?”

“You’re holding your stomach.”

I glanced down, and yep, my hand was pressed to my lower stomach. “Yeah.” Dropping my arm, I cleared my throat and rose from the chair beside Aios’s bed. “I’m going to check in with Nyktos. We should be meeting with the others soon.”

“Sera,” Rhain called. “Are you…?”

Stopping at the door, my stomach dipped as I met his stare. “What?”

He closed his mouth and shook his head. “Nothing.” His attention turned once more to Aios. “I’ll be down when we’re ready.”

I hesitated. Had he been about to ask if I was pregnant? I was probably jumping to conclusions, but we’d have to tell everyone sooner or later. I knew they would be happy, even Rhain, who I imagined would probably be more of a nervous wreck than me.

We would tell everyone once Kolis was dealt with, and it…it would be something to celebrate. We just had to get to that point.

I stopped on the second floor to check in on Lailah again. I had sat with her last night for a little while. I had no idea if she would be out longer than Aios since their Ascensions were different, and I hadn’t been here when Bele rose as a Primal. As I neared the chamber, I felt a Primal nearby.

Cracking open the door, I saw that Lailah was still asleep. A chair was next to the bed that hadn’t been there when I’d spent time with her last night. I leaned in a little farther, spotting a pair of dark boots tucked under the bed. I tilted my head, hearing the faint splash of water. Curiosity rose as I let my senses concentrate on the Primal presence.

Attes.

Nibbling on my lower lip, I stepped back and quietly closed the door. Normally, I wouldn’t be too keen on the idea of him helping himself to the chambers Lailah was resting in, but I knew she was safe with him, and considering what he’d been through, I really couldn’t make myself be angry at him.

I went downstairs, passing several guards in the foyer and main hall. They bowed in a wave along both sides as if their lives depended on it as Rhahar stepped out of the hall leading to Ash’s office. “That’s not necessary,” I told them.

Rhahar’s lips twitched as he pivoted on his heel and fell into step beside me. “It’s charming how you keep telling them not to bow.”

“At some point, I’m hoping they’ll listen,” I said, nearing the office.

“Or, at some point, you will accept how they choose to show you respect,” he countered.

“It is unlikely either thing will happen,” Ash’s voice traveled from the office. He rose from where he was seated and stepped around his desk, the charcoal tunic he wore fitting the breadth of his shoulders to perfection. “Can you give us a moment, Rhahar?”

The god nodded, closing the door behind me. Ash extended his arm. I crossed the chamber and placed my hand in his. He pulled me to his chest, dipping his head to kiss me. It was such a soft and tender thing, but it still left me a little breathless when our lips parted.

“Sorry I wasn’t with you when you woke this morning.” Ash smoothed a stray curl back from my temple. “I was at the Pillars.”

I rested my hands against his chest. “That’s what I figured.”

“Did you eat breakfast?” he asked.

“Yes, and I drank juice, too.” I paused. “A full cup.”

Ash gri

“None today.”

“That’s three days in a row,” he said. “Hopefully, you won’t have any more spells.”

“I hope so.” I breathed in his fresh, citrusy scent and nuzzled his chest, rubbing my cheek against him like a cat seeking…wait. I blinked, wondering if I was somehow developing the tendencies of my nota.

Man, would I start clawing up the furniture?

“Have you had a chance to check in with Aios or Lailah?” he asked, drawing me from my bizarre thoughts.

“They’re both still asleep,” I said, keeping Attes’s current whereabouts to myself as I stepped back, smoothing my hands over the hem of my blouse. “I should probably go ahead and try to summon a Fate so we can get the others here.” Attempting to set up a meeting with Kolis was the only way we’d be able to lure him out of whatever hole he’d crawled into.

Ash nodded as he turned to his desk, reaching for a pitcher on a tray. “I’m ready whenever you are.”

Ash poured two glasses of berry-infused water, and I took a deep breath and cleared my mind. Unlike last time, I didn’t think of Holland as I summoned the eather. “Fates,” I said as the essence pulsed through me, reverberating through my voice. “I request a meeting with one of you.” I paused and then tacked on a surly, “Please.”

Ash snorted. “The please was a nice touch.”

I gri

He nodded, leaning against his desk as he eyed me. “You started to turn golden when you summoned the Fate. It was hot.”

I rolled my eyes, sitting down on a settee.

“I haven’t seen you go full Primal yet,” he noted, taking a sip. “You were close to doing so when we were in the Callasta Isles.”

I thought about that. “I think I may have done it when I was in Lasania.” My gaze fell to the violet-hued berries floating in my water. I cleared my throat. “But I really don’t know what I looked like besides my skin kind of turning gold.”

“I’m sure you were beautiful.”

I smiled at that. Shortly after, Rhain, the cousins, and finally Attes joined us. There was no Fate among them, but the latter entered with wet hair and his features drawn into tight, somber lines. He dropped onto the settee across from me with a nod. I started to ask how he was but stopped myself as Rhain busied himself pouring drinks for everyone. I knew that I didn’t like to be asked about my feelings, especially these kinds, particularly not in front of others.

I glanced around the office, growing impatient. Where was the Fate I’d summoned? Were they just taking their sweet time or ignoring me? I knew I hadn’t done it wrong. Anxiety buzzed through me as I moved to the very edge of the settee.

“I think Aios will wake soon,” Rhain stated as Ash moved to stand closer to me, picking up two of three glasses and handing them off to Saion and Rhahar before grabbing the third. “She was starting to move a little before I left.”

“That’s good,” I said.

Ash nodded, his gaze straying to Attes. “Do you have any updates on the remainder of Kyn’s army?”

He nodded, staring at the glass Rhain had given him. “When I went back early this morning, I was informed that about ten thousand surrendered,” he shared stoically. “But their newfound loyalty to me isn’t something I’m willing to trust in battle yet.”

I hadn’t known Attes had returned to Vathi. I must’ve been asleep when he left and returned.

“Understandable,” Ash remarked.

“I assume we had defectors?” I said.

Attes nodded. “From what my generals could estimate, about ten thousand fell in battle.”

“Good gods,” I said.

His silvery gaze lifted to mine. “Yeah.” His throat worked on a swallow. “That means roughly twenty thousand are likely fleeing to wherever Kolis is.”

“That’s disappointing to…” I stiffened, eather throbbing acutely in my chest. Awareness pressed down on me, alerting me to someone powerful.

Someone Ancient.

“What is it?” Ash asked.

“I think the Fate is here.” I set the glass on the end table as everyone in the room went still. I rose, expecting a portal to rip open. When it didn’t, my frown increased. “But I don’t know where they are.”

A second later, a knock sounded on the office doors. Six heads turned in that direction.