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“Well, we know it’s not Aydun since they actually knocked,” I murmured.
Ash snickered at that, putting his glass on the table behind him. “Come in.”
The door opened, and my mouth dropped open at who walked in. I almost couldn’t believe that he had answered.
Holland stood near the pillars as the door swung closed behind him, dressed in white. We were all staring at him, but it was my gaze he held with those eyes full of stars and churning colors. I was in shock, unable to move or speak. He was the very last Fate I’d expected to show. Even though I had Ascended Penellaphe, something he had clearly appreciated, I figured I would likely never see him again. That he wouldn’t want to see me again.
A fond, almost fatherly smile broke out across his handsome features, creating fine creases in his rich brown skin at the corners of his eyes. “Sera.”
The sound of his deep voice—the familiarity of it and the kindness in that single word—did something to me.
Ash tensed as I jerked forward, almost as if he wished to stop me, but held himself back. I crossed the antechamber but stopped in front of Holland, a lump forming in my throat as we continued to stare at each other.
Without saying a word, Holland lifted his arms, and I might’ve thrown myself at him. A soft grunt turned into a surprised laugh as his strong arms wrapped around me, one hand folding over the back of my head.
A shudder went through me as I buried my face against his chest, my eyes squeezed shut.
“Well, that’s not something you see every day,” Attes drawled under his breath.
“I don’t think you’ve ever greeted me in such a ma
I inhaled deeply, soaking in the familiar scent of iron and earth. My thoughts felt a little bit messy. Even though I understood why, I was still angry with him for knowing that what happened in Lasania could’ve been possible and doing nothing, but I needed this hug from the man who was the closest thing to a father to me. I loved him, and gods, I was relieved to know that I still felt that way.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered hoarsely. “I’m sorry for what I’ve done.”
“I know, Sera.” His embrace tightened, and I knew that he recognized what I was apologizing for. “I know.”
Tears pricked my eyes as my fingers balled into the back of his tunic. “Do you…do you forgive me?” I asked, even though I knew I didn’t deserve it.
“Oh, Sera.” His chin lowered, and he spoke softly, “It is not my forgiveness you need, but you have it.”
The breath I exhaled was ragged as I held on to him tightly. Slowly, I remembered that we weren’t alone. Cheeks burning, I lifted my head.
Holland smiled and slid his hands to mine. He gently squeezed my fingers, and his stare lifted to where Ash stood, now only a foot behind me. “It is good to see you, too.”
“Same,” Ash replied with the level of enthusiasm Reaver had shown when speaking of practicing his letters.
“Ash,” I hissed.
Holland chuckled, unbothered. “It’s okay.” With one last squeeze, he released my hands. “He has a right to be wary of my presence.” Holland’s swirling, odd but beautiful gaze moved over the others, who all remained transfixed where they stood. “Hello.”
“Hi.” Saion drew out the word while a pale-faced Rhain raised a hand in acknowledgment.
Attes lifted his glass in greeting. “I don’t believe we’ve met.”
“We have not,” Holland replied. “But that is a good thing, is it not?”
My brows snapped together as Attes snorted.
Ash snaked an arm around my waist, guiding me back so he stood a hairsbreadth behind me once more.
I rolled my eyes, caught between being charmed and a
Holland turned his attention back to me, his gaze briefly dropping to Ash’s arm. The smile widened again as he refocused on me. “How are you feeling?”
“Good. I mean, I feel stronger than I ever have.” I stared up at him, still somewhat shocked to see him and unsure how to answer. The last time we’d seen each other, well, it hadn’t been the time to exchange pleasantries. “I’m still getting used to the whole foresight thing.”
“It takes a while to grow accustomed to it, but you will soon truly be a know-it-all.”
My laugh was shaky. “And here I thought I already was.”
“So, I’m going to hazard a guess here and say you two know each other?” Attes stated.
I started to respond but stopped myself, unsure how much I could share.
“I’ve known Seraphena since she was a child.” Holland clasped his hands behind his back. “I trained her.”
“You…acted as her viktor, then.” Attes studied Holland from over the rim of his glass. “Didn’t know the Arae were allowed to get so hands-on.”
“There is much we’re able to do,” Holland replied. “As you are well aware.”
My gaze shot to Attes. The Primal had lowered his glass. Did he know what Holland truly was? Nektas hadn’t said none of the other Primals knew, only that he remembered the Ancients more clearly than some of the oldest Primals.
“I wish I could linger, but doing so would likely draw the ire of the others.” Holland cleared his throat, angling his body toward Ash and me. “You summoned a Fate?”
“That would be correct,” Ash replied.
I shot him a sharp look of warning over my shoulder.
Ash ignored it. “We appreciate the fact that you knocked. The last one didn’t.”
“That would be Aydun you speak of,” he replied. “He is not known for his decorum.”
“I can’t argue with that,” I said. “We wanted to set up a meeting with Kolis.”
Holland didn’t even bat an eyelash. “When and where?”
“In the Bonelands,” Ash said, naming the one place closest to Oak Ambler without being an inhabited place in the mortal realm. “And as soon as possible.”
Holland nodded as he clasped his hands together. “And the reason,” he said, catching my gaze, “you want to give for the meeting?”
I caught on to what he was asking. He wanted to know what we wanted Kolis to believe. He asked for the lie. “We would like to make a truce.”
One of the stars in his eyes brightened. “Is that so?”
I nodded. “If he agrees to meet with us, I’m willing to give him what he wants in exchange for coming to an agreement.”
Holland’s head tilted. “And do you request a Fate to moderate such a meeting?”
“No,” Ash answered.
“Without a Fate present, there is no guarantee of nonviolence.”
“We know,” I said. Without a Fate present, we also wouldn’t be obligated to make any deals that we would be held accountable for, which was the main reason we didn’t want a Fate there. We had no plans to offer shit to Kolis. Besides, even if we were truly attempting to enter into a new eirini, I already knew Kolis would no longer just accept Sotoria’s soul. He wanted our suffering. But I also knew he would do and risk anything to get his hands on Sotoria again. So, we were playing this game as dirty as he had because he would never see her again.
The way Holland’s eyes glimmered told me he either suspected what we were up to or had already seen it all in one of those many threads. “That is all?”
I nodded.
“I will go to him immediately,” he said. “I can’t say how long it will take before he agrees.”
“He’ll agree,” I stated.
Holland’s gaze lowered with a sigh. “If you are speaking of Sotoria’s soul, he will.”
From the settee, Attes’s lip curled. I stepped out of Ash’s hold before the other Primal could say something that would add to his troubles. “I know you can’t stay, but I…I wish you could.”
That softness returned to Holland’s features. “As do I.”
“Before you leave,” Ash said, “I do have a question about Aydun. He knew we had entered an eirini before but made no mention of that. Seems odd that he wouldn’t have reminded Sera, especially considering she just rose as the Primal of Life.”
Holland grimaced. “I wish I could say for certain why Aydun failed to mention it.” Holland’s gaze searched mine. “But he should have. I am sorry he didn’t.”
“It’s not your fault.” Something crossed my mind. He had mentioned inciting the ire of the other Ancients. My stomach pitched. “Will you get in trouble for answering the summons considering our history?”
The colors slowed in his eyes. “Some of the others were not pleased with my intention to do so, but if I were in the wrong, the realms would have prevented me from doing so. The others know this.”
“I am never going to get used to the idea of the essence as some sort of living entity capable of critical thinking,” I admitted.
“Interesting,” Ash remarked, kicking off tiny warning bells. “If the others are aware of this, why would they still be unhappy with you answering the summons? It can’t just be your history with Sera.”
“That is…a complicated question.” For the first time since I’d learned of Holland’s true identity, he looked uncertain how to answer as he stared at Ash. “One that may have crossed your mind.”
I turned to Ash, frowning. “What has crossed your mind?”
He folded his arms over his chest and eyed the Fate. “We have both questioned the methods of how the Fates right the balance.”
“We have.”
“As have I,” Attes remarked. “If anyone cares to know.”
“Well, I’m not sure I believe that it is always the essence itself intervening,” Ash continued. “And I’m sure that is something you’ve thought.”
I had, and it immediately made me think of that damn prophecy and what Keella had shared.
Ash smiled tightly. “We also know the only way Kolis ever had knowledge of The Star was because a Fate told him about it. Of course, it could have been done as it was suggested.”
Delfai had mentioned that Kolis might have used someone the Fate loved to manipulate them into giving him what he wanted. That would be on par with Kolis’s past behavior, but Ash was right. How the Fates—the Ancients—intervened often made no sense. Tension crept into my muscles. There were times when actions to right the balance almost seemed to be in Kolis’s favor, creating another situation that would tip the scales again. Until recently, we didn’t know why they would do that. Now, we knew they wanted to wake the Ancients—clearly, not all of them wanted that, but why would any of them want to do that? That was what Ash was getting at by his question to Holland.
I met the Ancient’s stare. “We know why some of the Fates have been intervening. They want the Ancients to wake up.”
As Saion let out a low whistle, Rhain looked like he might fall over.
“That is a question I ca