Page 125 of Born of Blood and Ash

But maybe that wasn’t the same for all of them, especiallyif they did have souls. That meant some small part of who they were beforeremained inside them. Perhaps how strong that part was determined how long ittook them to control themselves.

“Meyaah por-na,” rumbled a deep voice.

Violent energy pulsed within me as I pulled my gaze from thefeeding and found the Primal of Peace and Vengeance. I understood what thebastard had said.

My whore.

Kyn was seated at a settee to the right of the dais and thegaudy, gilt and diamond throne, a woman draped in gold and ivory perched on hislap—one whose hair was a light shade of blond nearly as pale as mine. Staticrippled down my arms, causing my fingers to twitch.

Kyn smiled at me, flashing long, sharp fangs. Two dimplesappeared on his cheeks. “Show me the respect I’m due,” he said, slipping hishand between the slit in the woman’s gown. “And get on your knees.”

A light, airy chuckle came from one of the other couches.Anger and disgust crashed together as I held Kyn’s stare. I wanted nothing morethan to lash out like I had with Callum, throwing the dagger at that smirk onhis face.

I looked away from him and glanced at the large, prowlingwolf carved into the floor, so similar to the one on the throne room doors inthe House of Haides. It was their family crest, created by Eythosand Kolis’s father.

“Did you not hear me, por-na?”Kyn’s palm ran up the inside of the woman’s leg. “On your knees.”

I had no idea how Ash had maintained his composure amongsuch a disgusting asshole like Kyn for years—decades—but he had.

And I would, too.

Sort of.

I smiled at Kyn. “Make me.”

Aydun stiffened.

The hand delving under the skirt froze. Silence came fromthose on the couches.

Kyn’s laugh was full of malice. “Oh, I plan to.”

The Primal reminded me so much of the Lords of the Vodina Isles, and my smile grew. “I can’t wait to see youtry.”

“You think Nyktos will be able tostop me?”

“He won’t need to,” I told him. “Because I will.”

The air shifted, thickening as streaks of eather pierced Kyn’s stare. The woman in his lap paled. Shelooked like she didn’t dare breathe too deeply.

“Remember the rules.” Aydun spoke up finally. “They do applyto other Primals. There will be no fighting.”

“Lucky for you,” I said to Kyn.

Aydun’s head whipped toward me, a warning look in his glare.I ignored it, raising my brows at the Primal.

A muscle ticked in Kyn’s jaw. Seconds passed with no furthercomment. Letting out a low laugh, I looked away, giving the guards a scan. Someof them were gods. A few had those pale, lifeless eyes.

Awareness throbbed through my body. A drakenwas near. More than one.

“Where is Kolis?” Aydun asked.

Kyn lifted a shoulder as his hand moved between the woman’slegs. “He’ll be here.” His gaze shifted to me. “Why don’t you come over and siton my other leg?”

I wouldn’t even dignify that with a response, but theAncient examined the Primal with naked distaste.

“You created them,” I muttered under my breath to theAncient. “Well, you created his parents.”

Aydun sneered. “I am not responsible for the bloodline thatcreated that…creature.”

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