Page 105 of Born of Blood and Ash

“Sera.” Ash caught my shoulders, stopping me from topplingoff the bed. “Look at me.”

I strained against his hold, attempting to stand. “Ican’t…get air…in.”

“I know, liessa. I’mgoing to help you. I just need you to look at me,” he said. “Please.”

My gaze flew to his.

His hands went to my cheeks, the feel of them cool againstmy too-hot skin. “Listen to me. You can breathe. You’re just breathing toofast. Understand?”

I nodded as my hands spasmed.

Ash smiled. “Remember what I taught you before? Close yourmouth and put your tongue against the back of your teeth. Yes. Justlike that.” His smile grew like a warm wind on a fall day. “Now, I need you toexhale nice and slow for the count of four. Can you do that?”

I nodded again, doing as he instructed.

“That’s it.” His eyes never left mine. “Now, you’re going toinhale for four seconds. I’ll count them. One. Two. Three. Four. Exhale now.”

Ash kept counting, lifting his chin on an inhale andlowering it on an exhale. His patience didn’t waver as the seconds turned tominutes. He stayed with me until my breathing slowed, and I was no longergasping like a fish out of water.

Ash’s thumbs swept across my chin. “How are you feeling?”

“Okay,” I croaked, my face hot despite his cool touch. As myheart rate slowed, embarrassment rose. I closed my eyes. “I’m so—”

“Do not apologize for that.” Shifting, he pulled me betweenhis legs and held me to his chest. “Do not ever apologize for that. You have noreason to, nor any reason to feel embarrassment.”

I pressed my cheek to his chest, not so sure about that.“I’m a Primal,” I whispered hoarsely.

“A newly Ascended Primal.”

“I’m still a grown-ass woman,” I countered.

Ash’s hand folded around the back of my head. “I don’t thinkage has anything to do with it.”

It should, because…seriously. How was I supposed to be theQueen of the Gods when a dumb nightmare could send me into a panic spiral? Andwhy was I even having that nightmare? Again? It was…uncalled for.

I felt like a mess.

A hot, nauseous mess.

But I still relaxed into Ash’s embrace, letting the coolnessof his body beat back the flush in mine. I didn’t know how much time passedbefore Ash tilted his head and pressed a kiss to my temple.

“You want to talk about it?” he asked.

Tension crept into my muscles. “Talk about what?”

He smoothed a hand down my back. “What you were dreamingabout.”

I closed my eyes even tighter, seeing bursts of white stars,but I still saw what I had in my dream. A gilded cage full of gold and…Kolis.

I just need to hold you.

Throat drying, I pulled back. My hands dropped to my lap asmy gaze fell on the balcony doors. The curtains were drawn open, revealing thedark night sky beyond. “I don’t remember what I was dreaming about.”

“Not a single detail?”

“No.” I forced a shrug. “Probably because it was nothing.”

“Nothing,” he whispered, watching me in a way that made itseem like he could see straight through me.

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