Page 133 of Born of Blood and Ash

Hands clenching, I focused on my breathing, taking slow andeven breaths.

“And you.” The Ancient turned to Kolis. “Using the essenceagainst her in such a manner is unbecoming of one who calls himself King.”

“I didn’t harm her.” Kolis tipped his flaxen head back asthe swirling red shadows disappeared from his flesh. He began walking backwardtoward the dais. “Unbecoming or not, I violated no rules.”

“Wait.” I stiffened. “What are you—?”

“The true Primal of Death can root out one’s trauma and whatthey fear, sending them back to that moment,” Aydun answered before the vadentia could. What he spoke of was similar towhat an oneirou could do—if an oneirou only manipulated negative emotions andcreated nightmares. “It’s the syhkik—theunique ability associated with a Primal. And this one is reserved for thosesentenced to the Abyss.”

My lips parted on a quick inhale as I looked back at Kolis.He crossed the dais. He had…

He hadn’t been able to do that before. The nape of my necktingled as Kolis sat on his throne. When Kolis stole the embers, he’d upset thebalance. And when the embers he’d stolen faded, even Kolis had weakened. But myAscension had restored the embers of life and the balance.

And it would—or already was—restore the Primals’strength, including Kolis’s, even though only a few embers of death remained inhim after he made the transfer. The remaining emberswere in Ash.

And all that meant was that Kolis would become even morepowerful.

That should be the biggest concern. It was, but the factthat he had used that ability on me took center stage. Fury rose, erasing whatfilaments of fear and panic remained.

“What did you ask me?” I said. “Just a moment ago.”

Kolis shifted, widening his sprawl on the throne. “I askedif I scared you.”

Holding on to that rage, I smiled. “You fucking disgust me.”

The flesh along his jaw and cheek thinned. Swirling cords ofcrimson reappeared, churning.

I wasn’t done. “Just like you always disgusted Sotoria.”

The waves of red shadows in his flesh stilled. Severalseconds ticked by as the false King’s gaze held mine, and the crimson fadedfrom his flesh. “I would suggest that you use this time wisely, Seraphena.”

Then, without another word, Kolis vanished from the throne.

The Ancient was quiet as we left the atrium andentered the empty hallway. I felt like I had just finished running up and downseveral flights of stairs—my knees were that weak as we reached the archway.

“Seraphena.”

I should’ve kept walking as my name echoed down the hall.

I didn’t.

“You should’ve accepted what Kolis offered,” Callum said.“It was more than gracious of him.”

A dry, cutting laugh parted my lips. Yes, Kolis was theepitome of generosity.

“If you are as wise as you think you are, you will acceptit.”

That wasn’t going to happen, and Callum could likely tellthat.

There was a moment of silence. “My sister does not belong toyou.”

“She doesn’t belong to Kolis, either.” My control fell tothe wayside as the little monstrous part of me seized control. Reaching behindme, I grasped the grip of the dagger and spun. The blade left my hand withshocking speed. “You sick fuck.”

The dagger pierced Callum in the center of the forehead,throwing him back. He hit the floor, dead for the second time today.

“Was that necessary?” the Ancient asked.

“Always.”

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