Page 137 of Born of Blood and Ash

“I’m not. I just…” I shook my head as I stared at Ash’sforearm. “I mean, I didn’t have a chance to accept or reject it, and I’ll getto that in a moment, but before we entered Cor Palace, Aydun told me thatpreventing war among the Primals was not seen in anyof the threads, but that I—I guess everything from my birth to myAscension—kept snipping threads, ending some and changing others. It gave methe impression that I—or the choices I help make—could possibly prevent war.”

The office was quiet.

“And he warned me that a war among the Primalswould disturb the Ancients who’d gone to ground.”

“Disturbing them is not the same as waking them,” Ashpointed out.

“It’s not, but I think it would make them more likely toawaken,” I said. “He also said that the war wouldn’t be won until there wasblood and bone.”

Ash frowned. “Won until life and death? What is thatsupposed to mean?”

“I don’t know. And he wasn’t into explaining things. Maybehe meant it in a figurative sense. Like the war wouldn’t be won until there waslife and death.” My brow knitted. I knew he couldn’t have been talking about aPrimal of Blood and Bone because that wouldn’t be helpful whatsoever. “But thatdoesn’t really make sense.”

“Unless he meant it in the sense that, for a war to end, thePrimals of Life and Death must come together,” Rhainsuggested, his forehead creasing. “To no longer be at odds with each other.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Ash said.

I couldn’t stop the doubt from creeping in. “But by refusingto give him Sotoria, I’m choosing one person overpotentially thousands, if not more.”

Nektas leaned forward and restedhis elbows on his knees. “If one life isn’t important enough, then no livesare.”

“It’s not just that,” Ash said. “There’s no way he willhonor the deal once he has what he wants.”

“Aydun said that if Kolis went back on his deal, there wouldbe consequences. That the realm would seek to rectify it,” I said. “I guessit’s like when an oath is made.”

“Yeah, but none of that means he can’t go back on it,” Ashreminded me.

“I know. I thought the same.” But would Kolis be willing torisk pissing off the Fates and have them do something to Sotoria?Possibly not.

Restless energy surged. “That’s not all.” I slipped fromAsh’s lap. He held on for a second before letting go. I walked past the endtable and then turned back to them. “I had to counter. I wasn’t happy aboutbeing unable to talk to you beforehand, but I…I made him a similar deal.”

The office went quiet again.

My heart kicked against my ribs as I started to pace. “Ifigured that would be the response, and I know none of you believes that Koliswants to avoid a war, but even if he plans to renege on the deal he offered, heis still showing restraint.”

The air chilled even further.

“He is,” I insisted, mostly to Ash. “He knows that Sotoria’s soul is in The Star. He could simply tear apartthe realm looking for it, which is an act that would erupt into war.”

“She has a point there,” Rhain said.

“Or he simply fears that if he were to do that, you would dosomething to The Star,” Ash countered.

“True, but again, that shows he’s being somewhat logical.”

“What did you offer?” Nektasjumped in.

“My first thought was to offer him nothing, but that didn’tseem like what a true Primal of Life would do. So, I offered that he couldremain in Dalos but would not rule Iliseeum or the Shadowlands. He would renounce the throneand could not seek retribution against anyone,” I told them. “In return, wewould let him live out his life.”

The three of them stared at me.

I started pacing again. “I know that’s not desirable.”

“That is the understatement of the century, Sera,” Ash said.

“Yeah.” I twisted my fingers around a strand of hair. “Iknow. But—”

“There’s a but?” Ash questioned.

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