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“But his plan didn’t work in more ways than one. I’m not Sotoria. Her soul only resided in me. Even if everything else had gone as pla
“There is only so much Holland can tell me unless I happen upon the information myself,” she said. “And even then, he must walk a fine line regarding what he confirms.”
I blew out a heavy breath. “That would drive me insane.”
Penellaphe laughed softly. “It has been…trying, but I love him.”
My breath caught. The way she said that—so simply. As if it were the only reason needed.
And it was.
It really was.
“Attes said the Fates could’ve intervened and made it so Sotoria and I were not one and the same as a way to restore the balance,” I said. “But I got the impression that Holland believed I was Sotoria.”
“As did I,” Penellaphe admitted, creases forming in her brow again. “But if he knew or even suspected that what Eythos did hadn’t worked, and depending on what that kind of knowledge may have impacted, he would not have been able to say anything.”
My jaw tightened. “I don’t like it, but I get it. Especially in this situation where both Eythos and Kolis did a number on fate and balance.” I was rather proud of my response. What came out of my mouth next ruined it, though. “It’s still fucking a
Penellaphe’s lips twitched.
“Her soul?” Ward cut in, drawing my attention. Tension bracketed his mouth. “Does it still remain in you?”
“I didn’t want her soul in me when it came time for Nyktos to take the embers,” I shared. “I thought I was going to die, and her soul…”
“It would’ve been lost,” Penellaphe finished, her voice troubled. “She would’ve been lost.” Her eyes widened. “You found The Star. Is that…?” The goddess blanched as if she couldn’t bring herself to say it.
“Yes. Her soul is in there. For now.” Rubbing the heels of my palms over my knees, I thought everything over. I had more questions than I’d had before. Frustration rose, but I knew it wasn’t Penellaphe’s fault. “Which means using The Star to transfer the embers anytime soon is out of the question.”
“Back to the part about Eythos’s plan,” Ward began after a moment, stretching out a long leg. “I know I don’t know much.”
“That’s not true.” Penellaphe’s smile turned fond. “You often figure things out before I do.”
“We’ll have to disagree on that,” he replied, and I had to think, for someone who lived as long as he had and would, there was likely a lot he knew. “But what if we’re wrong about what Eythos actually pla
Reaver eyed him and then lifted his head, listening intently.
“And in this case?” Ward dragged the back of his hand over his chin, the creases at the corners of his eyes deepening. “We believe that Eythos pla
Penellaphe twisted toward him. “What do you mean?”
“I have to admit, I, too, have a hard time wrapping my head around all the risks Eythos took. Though I never met the man.” His gaze flicked to the goddess before returning to me. “I heard he could be impulsive,” he continued, and I thought about the lyrue he’d created. “But he was also very smart. This plan we believe to be his? It’s full of so many holes I could fall through it.” Ward dropped his hand to his thigh. “What if this—or a part of this— is what he intended all along? That either you or Sotoria Ascended as the true Primal of Life, therefore truly making you the weapon he intended? One that could go toe to toe with Kolis and make sure another could take on the embers.”
Like Ash? Could Eythos have intended that for his son instead of him becoming the true Primal of Life?
“This,” Ward repeated, his sea-blue eyes meeting mine, “could’ve been his plan all along.”
And if it was, then…
Kolis knew how The Star worked, and he knew we had it. He’d even said that Ash would be clever enough to figure out its importance. Kolis would expect us to use The Star against him, and for Ash to take the true Primal of Death embers.
My heart felt like it stopped as my gaze fell on the marriage imprint. Although Ash and I hadn’t discussed the fact that he was a Primal of no Court, I hadn’t forgotten that realization.
I wasn’t a threat to Kolis.
Ash was.
And that put a target on him.
Shooting to my feet, I startled the goddess and the viktor. “I need to go.”
Reaver rocked back on his hind legs, lifting his wings. He rose into the air and followed me.
“It’s all right,” I told him, not wanting him to worry.
“Is it?” Penellaphe asked.
“Yes,” I said, about to make damn sure everything was fine. “I’m sorry to end this meeting abruptly.”
“It’s okay.” Penellaphe scooted forward. “Is there anything we can help you with?”
I shook my head as I opened the door. There was a good chance I was overreacting. As long as Ash remained in Essaly, Kyn wouldn’t sense his presence. But…
My skin prickled, and I thought back to right after Rhain and I had parted ways. I’d been pacing, and yeah, I was almost always moving or fidgeting, but there had been an undercurrent of edginess there. One I thought had been fueled by not doing something proactive.
What if I had been wrong?
I looked down at the shimmering swirl on my right hand as I opened the door. The sight of it quelled some of my fears.
But not all of them.
Reaver flew out behind me as Rhahar pushed off the wall, and Kars stiffened. The godling took one look at me and went on alert. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know.” I stopped, sparing a quick glance down the hall as Reaver circled above. “It’s probably nothing, but I have this…feeling. I need to see Nyktos.”
A frown pinched Rhahar’s brow. “He’s still in Vathi.”
Reaver landed beside me. Is it the vadentia? I heard the question in my head.
“I’m not sure,” I said aloud, my fingers twitching. “But I need to go to Vathi.”
Kars and Rhahar exchanged a look. “Lailah is with him, and so is Nektas,” the god reminded me.
“I know.” I pivoted halfway and started down the hall toward the foyer. “But I still need to go.”
“I’m not sure that’s wise.” Kars hurried behind me. “We can get Bele or Rhain to check on—”
My gut clenched. If something was happening or about to, there was no way I would risk endangering any of them. “No.”
I want to go with you. Reaver’s voice reached me.
Immediately, the image of his limp body after Veses had so viciously hurt him flashed in my mind. “Absolutely not.”
Reaver dipped down, extending his wings. He landed in front of me, squawking as his cobalt eyes narrowed until only a hint of the slit-shaped pupils were visible. He straightened to his tallest height possible. But I can help you.
“I know you can.” I knelt and cupped Reaver’s scaled cheek. “But you ca
I need to be where mayeeh Liessa is, he insisted. I may be small, but I am brave.
“I know you’re brave.” My heart squeezed as if he’d wrapped himself around it, and in a way, he had. “Isn’t Jadis here?”
Reaver gave me a reluctant nod.
“While I’m gone, I would feel better knowing you are here to keep her safe. Just in case anything happens,” I said.
His wings arced high and then swept down, tucking close to his body. He turned his head away.
My hand lowered to my knee. “What is it?”
He shook his head.
“When you and Nyktos were…gone last time,” Rhahar said quietly from behind us, “Reaver thought he could’ve prevented what happened.”
Oh, gods.
“This isn’t like that. I promise.” I gently curved my fingers around his chin, guiding his gaze back to mine. “And there was nothing you or anyone else could’ve done. Do you understand?”
Bright, glimmering blue eyes met mine, and that brought tears to my own eyes. I do.
I didn’t think he did, and that was something Ash and I would have to make sure he understood. “You’ll keep Jadis safe while I’m gone?”
Always.
“That’s my Reaver-butt.” I pressed a quick kiss to the top of his head, right beneath the nubs of his newly sprouted horns.
“Sera—” Kars began.
I rose. “I’m going to Vathi.” I faced them, pulling the Queen card. “No one else is going, and that is an order.”
Rhahar’s jaw hardened. “Got it.”
“Perfect.” I turned.
“Just one question,” he continued. “Exactly how are you getting there?”
I stiffened. Good gods, that hadn’t even crossed my mind.
“You haven’t shadowstepped that far, right? And even if you have, you don’t know where you’re going to move that fast. So, you’re on horseback. That will take hours. And that’s the shortest route, which puts you smack-dab in the middle of the territory controlled by Kyn,” Rhahar continued. “To go to where Attes is, you’ve got to cross over Mount Rhee. You’re looking at a day’s ride at least.”
My stomach gave another twist at the mere thought of doing that alone, especially since it wasn’t the kind of shadowstepping that was as simple as moving really fast. It was shadowstepping through the eather, basically tearing open the realms, and I had no idea how to do that. But I knew how to find out. “How do you shadowstep between realms?”
“I don’t know how to explain it,” Rhahar caged his response.
But I wasn’t asking him.
I’d asked myself.
The skin behind my left ear tingled, and the knowledge came to me, much like remembering something I hadn’t thought of in a while.
Shadowstepping between Courts or even realms was like using the Primal essence for anything else. It was a result of my will. I just needed to think of where I wanted to go and then will it.
Except I didn’t know exactly where Ash was in Vathi. He could be at the palace or somewhere else, but could I shadowstep to where Ash was?
The answer came to me in an instant.
Ru
“Damn it,” Kars exploded.
Smiling, I grabbed onto the image of Ash as I harnessed the Primal essence.
“Seraphena!” Rhahar lurched forward.
Power surged through me like a fiery torrent as I willed myself to Ash’s side.