Page 165 of Born of Blood and Ash

“Exactly,” Ash said as my eyes narrowed. His gaze met mine.“We’ve got this.”

My hands curled into fists. “Have I mentioned how much Imiss my dagger?”

Attes dipped, catching one of thebeasts around the shoulders as another rushed him.

“Attes!” Lailah shouted, dartingforward. “Behind you!”

He cranked his head around as a kynakosleapt over the Primal as if he were just an obstacle in its way.

Clumps of grass kicked up as the Dog of War landed near thesteps, its yellow eyes fixed on—

Bone cracked as Ash stepped forward and launched a shadowstone dagger at the kynakos,striking it square between the eyes. It fell back, dead before it hit theground. “Do I have two daggers?” he responded.

“Asshole,” I muttered as another shot past Attes, saliva dripping from its gaping mouth.

Nektas stalked toward the verandajust as Lailah spun, her long, dark braids fanning out as she brought her sworddown on the back of the kynakos’s neck.Dark red blood spurted and mixed with smoke as Nektas’schin lowered—

“Holy shit.” I jerked back as a powerful stream of silverflames erupted from the draken’s very mortal mouth.

The funnel of fire slammed into the beast, engulfing thecreature within a heartbeat.

I stared at Nektas while Attes tackled another war dog. “You just spit fire fromyour mouth.”

“I did,” Nektas replied, wisps ofsmoke wafting out from the corners of his lips.

“Yeah,” I whispered, blinking rapidly. Never in my life hadI seen anything like that.

“I wish you could see your face right now.” Ash pulled hisdagger free from the kynakos andtossed a grin over his shoulder. “It’s quite adorable.” He whirled,releasing the other dagger. The blade struck the kynakosAttes had pinned to the ground.

Lailah cursed as one of the beasts dodged her. “What?” Shestraightened, her grip firming on the hilt of her sword. “Do I not look tasty?”

“You always look tasty.” Attesgrunted as he snatched another kynakos. “Exceptionallyso.”

“I didn’t ask for your opinion,” Lailah retorted, stalkingpast Attes.

Attes replied to her as he twistedthe beast’s neck, but I didn’t hear what he said. That prickly, unnervingfeeling remained as silver flames swallowed another Dog of War. The scent ofburning fur and charred flesh filled the air as my gaze flitted from one kynakos to the next. Myfingers twitched as one after another avoided injury, their focus singular. Thekynakos were on the hunt. Another skidded tothe side as flames pummeled the ground.

On the hunt…

A kynakos barreledpast Nektas, its jaws snapping at the air as Ashturned, the length of his blade soaked in blood. Like before, the beast ignoredcloser targets.

“The Primal of no Court,” I murmured, my stomach dipping as Attes grabbed the kynakosaround its waist. Fear punched through my chest.

Ash shoved the dagger under the massive beast’s jaw andturned his head toward me.

“I didn’t overreact.” Red-hot fury replaced the fear and hadme stalking toward the veranda steps. “They’re hunting you.”

Nektas’s gaze shot to mine.Understanding flared. “Fuck.”

The corners of my vision turned white as power swelledinside me. Summoning eather to fight wasn’t somethingI’d done often. When I used the eather against Kolisbefore my Ascension, it had been instinctual, born of panic and rage. Theessence had just responded to my emotions—

No, it wasn’t only that.

It had also responded to my will, just as it had when Isummoned the water to fill the rivers. Even before my Ascension, the essenceresponded to what I wanted. Yes, it could be stoked by my emotions, and I hadlost control before, but I wielded it. The eatherdidn’t have power over me, and I was no longer just a vessel.

I controlled it.

Me.

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