Page 158 of Born of Blood and Ash

“Yes,” I said, about to make damn sure everything was fine.“I’m sorry to end this meeting abruptly.”

“It’s okay.” Penellaphe scootedforward. “Is there anything we can help you with?”

I shook my head as I opened the door. There was a goodchance I was overreacting. As long as Ash remained in Essaly,Kyn wouldn’t sense his presence. But…

My skin prickled, and I thought back to right after Rhainand I had parted ways. I’d been pacing, and yeah, I was almost always moving orfidgeting, but there had been an undercurrent of edginess there. One I thoughthad been fueled by not doing something proactive.

What if I had been wrong?

I looked down at the shimmering swirl on my right hand as Iopened the door. The sight of it quelled some of my fears.

But not all of them.

Reaver flew out behind me as Rhaharpushed off the wall, and Kars stiffened. The godling took one look at me andwent on alert. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know.” I stopped, sparing a quick glance down thehall as Reaver circled above. “It’s probably nothing, but I have this…feeling.I need to see Nyktos.”

A frown pinched Rhahar’s brow.“He’s still in Vathi.”

Reaver landed beside me. Is it the vadentia? I heard the question in my head.

“I’m not sure,” I said aloud, my fingers twitching. “But Ineed to go to Vathi.”

Kars and Rhahar exchanged a look.“Lailah is with him, and so is Nektas,” the godreminded me.

“I know.” I pivoted halfway and started down the hall towardthe foyer. “But I still need to go.”

“I’m not sure that’s wise.” Kars hurried behind me. “We canget Bele or Rhain to check on—”

My gut clenched. If something was happening or about to,there was no way I would risk endangering any of them. “No.”

I want to go with you. Reaver’s voicereached me.

Immediately, the image of his limp body after Veses had so viciously hurt him flashed in my mind.“Absolutely not.”

Reaver dipped down, extending his wings. He landed in frontof me, squawking as his cobalt eyes narrowed until only a hint of theslit-shaped pupils were visible. He straightened to his tallest heightpossible. But I can help you.

“I know you can.” I knelt and cupped Reaver’s scaled cheek.“But you cannot go with me.”

I need to be where mayeeh Liessa is, he insisted. I may be small, but Iam brave.

“I know you’re brave.” My heart squeezed as if he’d wrappedhimself around it, and in a way, he had. “Isn’t Jadis here?”

Reaver gave me a reluctant nod.

“While I’m gone, I would feel better knowing you are here tokeep her safe. Just in case anything happens,” I said.

His wings arced high and then swept down, tucking close tohis body. He turned his head away.

My hand lowered to my knee. “What is it?”

He shook his head.

“When you and Nyktos were…gonelast time,” Rhahar said quietly from behind us,“Reaver thought he could’ve prevented what happened.”

Oh, gods.

“This isn’t like that. I promise.” I gently curved myfingers around his chin, guiding his gaze back to mine. “And there was nothingyou or anyone else could’ve done. Do you understand?”

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