Page 160 of Born of Blood and Ash

The tendrils of gold-and-silver-streaked eatherslowed and faded, revealing slivers of stone, ivory walls covered inbright-green ivy that glistened in the sunlight, and comfortable-looking brownleather settees. Several people were there, but at first, I only saw him.

Ash stood only a few feet from me, a shadowstonedagger strapped across his broad chest. He crossed that space in half aheartbeat.

“Sera.” He clasped my cheeks, and a charge of energy shiftedbetween us. “What are you doing—?”

“Is everything all right?” I cut in as Nektasappeared to Ash’s left. We were on some sort of veranda.

“Of course.”

“That’s debatable,” muttered Attesin his familiar, deep voice just as I heard the distant sound of barking dogs.

“What do you mean it’s debatable?” I started to turn my headtoward Attes.

Ash wasn’t having it. He kept my attention on him. “Forgetabout him.”

“That’s rude,” the Primal remarked as Lailah crossed betweenAsh and Nektas, holding a bronze cup.

“You shadowstepped here?”Ash stated. “By yourself?”

The way he said it, like I was a child not old enough toride a horse by myself, stroked my already frayed nerves. And not in a goodway. “Three things.”

Behind Ash, Nektas pressed hislips together and sat on one of the wicker settees.

“Number one,” I said, holding up my hand, “I obviously shadowstepped here. Number two, I’m also clearlycapable of doing so by myself.”

Ash straightened. “Number three?”

“I’m not a child,” I snapped and saw Lailah’s eyes double insize as she lifted the cup to her lips.

“Trust me, liessa,” Ashdrawled, his voice dropping to a shadowy, silky tone that stroked all the rightnerves. “I know you are no child.”

I ignored the simmering heat curling low in my stomach. Nowwas not the time for that nonsense. “Good to know we’re on the same page, but Iwasn’t done. I came here because I was worried about you.”

“Liessa…” The line of hisjaw softened. “That was four things.”

“Don’t even try being cute,” I warned him. “I should’ve justignored the feeling I had.”

“Sometimes, I think, ‘Hey, I’m feeling lonely. Maybe Ishould look for something more long-term,’” Attessaid to no one in particular. “But then I’m always quickly reminded of why I’mmore into the short-term.”

Lailah huffed out a dry laugh. “As if that is a choice,” shesaid under her breath.

A throat cleared behind me. This time, Ash didn’t stop mefrom turning. Before I could even meet his gaze or speak, Atteslowered himself to one knee and placed his empty hand over his chest.

“Meyaah Liessa,” he said, his head bowed so deeply that hishair tumbled forward in waves.

“That’s not necessary,” I said for what felt like thehundredth time.

“It’s completely necessary,” Ash drawled.

I shot him an arch look. He simply winked at me.

“I agree with Nyktos,” Attes replied. “I’m honored to do so. It has been far toolong since I have felt pleasure upon paying such respect.”

The air chilled behind me.

“I would gladly spend a hundred years on my knee beforeyou,” Attes continued, his tone turning to silk.“Both of them if you so requested that of me.”

“Well, that’s really not necessary at all.” Ifought a grin as the temperature in the antechamber cooled more. “You can rise,you know.”

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