Page 132 of Born of Blood and Ash

His smile widened, reaching silver eyes full of swirlingcrimson flecks. The tips of his fangs appeared. My stomach twisted sharply asmy very insides flashed cold. An icy sensation crept down my spine, strokingthe essence. It flared hotly as I forced myself to hold still and not back off,even though every instinct screamed for me to do just that.

“Kolis,” Aydun warned, his voice low. “You know the rules.”

“And I haven’t violated a single one,” Kolis replied, hisgaze locked onto mine. “I’m only speaking to her.”

“And that could not be done as you were before?” the Ancientcountered.

“It could.” Kolis’s head tilted and lowered, sending a lockof hair falling against a sculpted cheek. He inhaled deeply, and his lipcurled. “I can smell him on you.”

Tiny bumps of dread broke out all over my skin. Revulsionrose, choking me.

That fucking smile grew even wider. “I could’ve punished youfor the lives you took when you were here as a guest.”

“A guest?” I sputtered.

“I could’ve punished Nyktos moreseverely for killing one of his brethren,” he said, his voice clear but hislips barely moving. “And for attacking me, his King. I would even bewithin my rights to punish you for your blatant disavowal of my authority andfor calling another ‘King.’ Wouldn’t I be, Aydun?”

“You sit upon the Throne of the Gods,” the Ancient repliedstoically. “But she bears the Crown of Crowns.”

The flesh beneath his eyes thinned until I could see a sheenof crimson bone. “I could’ve killed her many times over,” Kolis answered, thoseswirling eyes still fixed on mine. “Easily. But I didn’t. Does that notmatter?”

Aydun may have answered, but I didn’t hear him. I didn’teven see anything beyond Kolis. It was almost like it was just him and me. Breatheout. And it didn’t feel like we stood in Cor Palace’s atrium. Hold.It felt like we were in the Sanctuary, in his private chambers, and I was—no.I was not caged. I was free.

“Instead, I was generous and kind,” Kolis said, but I sworehis lips didn’t move. And—

Gold glinted dully from behind Kolis. My gazedarted over his shoulder. I didn’t see the throne. Panic trickled through myveins as I saw bars, but that was impossible. I’m not there.

“I was gentle with you. Considerate.” Kolis’s voice throbbed.“Even pleasing.”

There had been nothing pleasing about what Kolis had done. Ihadn’t wanted to feel anything. He’d forced it. But I wasn’t there. Kolis wasstanding in front of me—

Or was he? Panic surged like a trapped, wild animal becauseI could feel him behind me, beneath me, his arm too tight around my waist, andhis hips rocking—

Every inch of my body was drenched in an icy downpour ofraw, sharp fear as I felt that twisted tremor in his arms as he held me.Pressure settled on my chest, causing my breath to hitch as I felt the rapidpounding of his heart against my back, his hand sliding down my side, grazingmy breast and clutching my hip. Breathe in. The essence swelled at thememory of the unwanted heat of his bite. Hold. My fingers twitched,tingling. Breathe out. I couldn’t stop him. I couldn’t do anything butsit there and take it, just as I had with Tavius, with all the training, with—

I was trapped.

“Kolis.” Aydun’s voice suddenly thundered, snappingme into the present. “That is enough.”

Breathing heavily, I stepped back as I stared up at Kolis.We were in Cor Palace. The gold behind him was from the throne and all theother tacky décor. There were no bars. He was standing in front of me, and…

I glanced down. Was the floor trembling? My gaze flew aroundthe atrium. The thick swaths of material covering the windows were swaying. Afine layer of dust drifted down from the ceiling as stone cracked like thundersomewhere in the chamber.

“Do I scare you, Seraphena?”

My head whipped back to Kolis as eatherpulsed through me.

The skin under his eyes thickened, and the gleam of dullbone faded. “Clearly, I do.”

“That is not her.” Aydun faced me. “You need to calmyourself before Nyktos breaks with convention andshows himself.”

It took a moment for the Ancient’s advice to sink in. Itwasn’t me causing the palace to tremble.

It was Ash.

He was picking up on my emotions, even though I knew he wasnowhere near us. I didn’t feel his presence.

If Ash showed, he would bear some twisted consequence. Mygaze swiveled back to Kolis. He smirked as he eyed me. That was exactly what hewanted.

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