Page 180 of Born of Blood and Ash

Attes snorted.

“I’ll grab something from the dining hall,” Rhain said,jogging from the room.

I returned my attention to the oneirou.“Exactly how did you figure out what they were up to?”

“Many of the Courts are abuzz with news of yourAscension—lots of talk about what it means, what will happen, and so on,” hesaid, each word rolling smoothly off his tongue. “Then Attesshowed up in Lotho with a goddess linked to theAsher, and since I can’t remember a time he visited Lotho,it wasn’t hard to put two and two together.” He paused, and the grin returned.“That is if one is clever and pays attention.”

“Or snoops in others’ dreams,” Ash stated.

The other side of Thierran’s lipscurled up just as Rhain returned with a bottle of wine and a glass. “That,too.”

My lips parted slightly. I had a feeling the latter had muchmore to do with Thierran putting two and two togetherthan simply him paying attention.

“Though I can’t imagine why Atteswould bother with Embris,” Thierrancontinued. “He’s so far up the King’s ass, it would take the Fates to removehim.”

I didn’t like the sound of that for several reasons. “Youmean he’s so far up the false King’s ass since the true King isstanding beside me.”

“Oh, really?” Eather pulsed through Thierran’seyes.

“Yes. There is no just-a-Queen or just-a-King bullshit,” Isaid. “There is us.”

“I like you,” the oneirousaid softly. “A lot.”

Ash’s narrowed-eye glare shot to the dream god.

“And I mean that in the most respectful manner possible,” Thierran corrected, bowing his head. “MeyaahLiessar.”

My King.

My lips curved into a smile as I looked up at Ash. “I reallydo like the sound of that.”

He returned my smile. “It does have a nice ring to it.”

“That it does,” Attes agreed,drawing our attention to him. “Bringing Thierran hereisn’t the only reason I returned,” Attes began as theoneirou took the glass and bottle fromRhain. “Lailah and I got a later start heading to the Courts than anticipated.”

“Interesting,” I remarked, my eyes narrowing. “Does thathave anything to do with why Lailah is taking her anger out on some innocentsoldier?”

Attes started to grin butapparently thought better of it. “You’d have to ask her,” he replied smoothly.“I had just shadowstepped into Lothowhen I ran into this fucker.” He jerked his chin at the god. “Then Lailahmentioned something you failed to tell me about.”

“And what is that?” Ash let go of my hand and crossed hisarms.

“You forgot to tell me that a deal was offered.”

“I didn’t forget,” Ash replied. “I told you Kolis summonedher. I just never got to the point where details were shared.”

I glanced between them. “How much time did you spendpunching him?”

Thierran glanced up curiously fromthe glass of wine he was pouring.

“Not enough,” Ash muttered, and I rolled my eyes. “Kolisoffered her a bullshit deal, and she had to offer him one in return.”

Attes’s gaze flicked to me. “Andwhat was that deal exactly?”

“That he had to abdicate the throne and agree not to seekvengeance,” I said. “Then he could live out the rest of his existence.”

Attes stared at me.

Unease slithered down my spine as I gripped the tail of mybraid. I glanced at Ash. The eather had stilled inhis eyes as he gave me a small nod. I took a deep breath. “We want to doeverything we can to prevent as much bloodshed as possible. And I don’t believeKolis wants an all-out war. A part of him understands that there are…biggerissues at hand than what he believes he’s entitled to.” I met Attes’s gaze. “Like the Ancients.”

---