Born of Blood and Ash

“Until you return,” I added, my voice hoarse as I opened my eyes.

His stare met mine. “Until I return.”

This time, I breathed through my nose. I wanted to tell him they weren’t ready, but that wouldn’t be fair to the twins, and it would also be a lie.

“Don’t.”

I blinked rapidly. “What am I not to do now?”

“Be sad.”

A shaky laugh left me.

He lowered the bottle. “I’m not dying, Sera. I’m just going into stasis. I will be resting.”

“I know, but…” My chest rose as I forced in a deep breath. “But I was hoping you wouldn’t be ready.”

Attes said nothing to that.

I lifted my gaze to his. “I will miss you.”

He smiled and looked away. We stood in silence for several minutes, each watching Lailah and the others dancing.

“Attes?”

“Yes, my Queen?”

“You’d better not take too long. I feel as if we will need your aid when it comes to keeping track of these two,” I said, patting my stomach.

“Not sure if you really want my influence.”

“And I’m pretty sure I do.” I stretched up and kissed his cheek. “You’re a good man, Attes.”

His cheeks pinkened, and I could’ve sworn I heard a low growl coming from the floor. “And I think you’re trying to get me murdered before I can even go into stasis.”

“He would never.” I patted Attes’s arm, reluctant to leave his side. “If you need anything between tonight and tomorrow…”

He nodded. I knew he wouldn’t need anything. This would be the last time I spoke to him until…until he was ready.

I looked away from him, catching sight of someone who sent a bolt of surprise through me.

Ward stood beside Penellaphe, where she spoke with Ione. I had no idea where Bele and Aios had disappeared to. I hadn’t expected to see Ward here. I’d figured the likelihood of him attending was about the same as Holland showing up. Ward looked over to where I stood, a faint smile on his handsome face.

“I’m going to go a

I arched a brow. “And here you were, just worried about being murdered by him.”

“I decided watching him struggle not to throttle me is worth the risk,” he said with a wink.

Laughing, I watched him make his way to Ash, knowing this was for the best. He was tired. He needed rest. He needed to heal so he didn’t become his brother.

And when he was ready to return to us, we would be waiting.

I stayed where I was as Ward excused himself to join me in the alcove.

“I hear many congratulations are in order,” he said, the skin at the corners of his eyes creasing with his smile.

I glanced down in surprise. I’d thought the style of gown, how it gathered under my breasts and with its loose waist, had hidden the small bump.

“It’s not noticeable,” he assured me.

“Then…” My head jerked up, and I sighed. “Holland?”

Ward nodded. “He wanted you to know that he’s absolutely thrilled,” he said. “He would’ve given the message to Penellaphe, but he hasn’t told her.”

“Really?”

“He knows it is wise for only a few to know at this time,” He paused. “And he also knows that Penellaphe will be too excited not to blurt it out.”

I looked over at Penellaphe, resisting the urge to cradle my stomach, something I found myself doing often for no reason at all. “You really think she will be excited?”

“Of course.” A slight frown appeared. “Why wouldn’t she be?”

“The prophecy.” Since Penellaphe hadn’t been there either time when we spoke with Keella, I had filled her in on what we had learned and what Aydun said. “You’re aware of what we discovered?”

Ward nodded.

Something occurred to me then. “If we are somehow unable to prevent Sotoria from being reborn? A viktor will likely be involved.”

The breeze ruffled his sandy-brown hair as he tilted his head. “I can’t say for sure, but she would usher in great change.”

“She will do more than just that.”

His gaze lifted to mine.

“Holland said that none in my bloodline has ever hungered for power,” I said after a moment. “Even those who held power. I imagine that will hold true, be they mortal, god, or Primal.”

Ward was silent.

“If she is reborn and given a viktor, I want it to be you. I plan to get a message to Holland to let him know that I have requested this. I don’t think he’ll refuse. I feel like he owes me.”

Ward’s sea-blue eyes shot to mine. “I—”

“If not for you, I would not be standing here today. You saved my namesake and likely my life in Lotho,” I said quickly. “I trust you.”

“You barely know me.”

“I know that you would not kill a child,” I replied.

He closed his mouth, but I swore I saw relief in his eyes.

I looked closely at him. “What did you think I was going to ask?”

Ward didn’t answer immediately. “What my last Queen asked of me.”

My brows flew up. “I would never ask you to kill a child.”

“I do not mean to insult you with such a suggestion,” he said. “But she will not be just a child, whether she hungers for power or not. She will wake the Ancients.”

“I know.” My fingernails pressed into my palms. “But until then, she will be a child. One day, she may become a great and powerful being, but she…” Pressure clamped down on my chest, and I had to count to five. “Kolis will be aware of her from the moment she’s reborn. It may take him years after to free himself, but he will do so, and he will come for her. I doubt we will get lucky and have him only find her after she rises as this Primal.” I absolutely hated what I said next because it made me feel like I was aiding in history repeating itself. That I was taking part in what I wanted to prevent Sotoria from ever experiencing again. “She will have no real memory of herself—or of Kolis and what he will do to her. And I assume the Fates will demand that nobody warn her in order to keep the balance.” I spat the last word. “She needs to be trained to defend herself.”

I held my breath for five more seconds. “Just as you trained the Silver Knight. Just as Holland trained me.”

Ward was silent for several moments. “Okay.” He nodded. “I will do as you ask. I will serve as her viktor with honor, and I will not fail you.” His chin lifted. “I will not fail her.”

Ash held my hand, ru

I threaded the fingers of my free hand through Reaver’s soft hair. He was half-lying on Attes with his head in my lap. Jadis had left her father to wind herself around Ash’s shoulders. Why she liked that so much was beyond me.

My gaze flickered over those before us. I smiled at seeing Bele and Aios finally dancing, holding each other as they slowly swayed completely off-beat with the lively music. Lailah had joined Theon, both moving to sit opposite Attes. For once, Theon wasn’t looking at Attes like he wished to punch him. They were actually having a conversation. I think that had a lot to do with the god sitting next to Lailah. It turned out he wasn’t an asshole. He was one of Attes’s generals. Farther down the table, Thierran had joined Ione and Penellaphe. Ward was with them, and they were watching a card game between Saion and Rhahar that had grown to include Rhain.

I glanced up at the colo

It was the first time I’d seen her in her mortal form.

Aurelia had an earthy beauty to her and a husky, infectious laugh. I caught Nektas’s lips curving up at the sound of it more than once as we all…as we all simply enjoyed one another’s company.

Family.

That was what all of them were to me. To Ash. Family. With them, I would always be seen. Accepted. With them, I knew it would one day be easier to accept and live with the terrible things I’d done and experienced. That’s what family did.

And I would do everything in my power to protect them. Just like we would do everything we could to ensure that a powerful being like a Primal of Blood and Bone wasn’t created from our union. Our sons would, too. They had to.

But that sense of knowing filled me even as I sat there with my hand wrapped firmly in Ash’s. The future wasn’t completely written in stone. There were choices. Free will. There were things that not even the Fates could predict. There was love. What had not yet come to pass could be altered. I knew that. I believed in that.

But the two daughters had been promised eons ago. The rise of a great Primal of Life and Death had been seen. The remaking of the realms and the end had been foretold. When I looked down at Reaver, I knew in my heart and felt it written in my bones that she would return.

The true focus of the prophecy. The harbinger that would set Kolis free, unleashing death and destruction. She who would awaken the Ancients and leave the realms in ruin.

It had all started with her, and it would end with her. The one who was the begi

The Queen of Flesh and Fire.

Sotoria reborn.

The Primal of Blood and Ash.

So, when that day came, we would be ready.

Until then?

Ash squeezed my hand. I looked over at him. Nyktos. My King. My husband.

My everything.

His lips moved in a silent I love you.

Until then?

We wouldn’t waste a fucking second.