Page 195 of Born of Blood and Ash

When the stars fall from the night, the great mountainscrumble into the seas, and old bones raise their swords beside the gods, thefalse one will be stripped from glory as the great powers will stumble andfall, some all at once, and they will fall through the fires into a void ofnothing. Those left standing will tremble as they kneel, will weaken as theybecome small, as they become forgotten. For finally, the Primal rises, thegiver of blood and the bringer of bone, the Primal of Blood and Ash.

Two born of the same misdeeds, born of the same greatand Primal power in the mortal realm. A first daughter, with blood full offire, fated for the once-promised King. And the second daughter, with bloodfull of ash and ice, the other half of the future King. Together, they willremake the realms as they usher in the end. And so it will begin with the lastChosen blood spilled, the great conspirator birthed from the flesh and fire ofthe Primals will awaken as the Harbinger and theBringer of Death and Destruction to the lands gifted by the gods. Beware, forthe end will come from the west to destroy the east and lay waste to all whichlies between.

I sat back, glancing at Ash as my heart pounded. “Kolis waswrong.” I looked over at Keella. “And he didn’t knowthe part about the two daughters.”

The Primal goddess said nothing.

I rubbed my palms over my knees, suddenly feeling anxious. Ishould feel relief that Kolis had been wrong about the order of the prophecy,but that meant Penellaphe had been correct, and mysuspicions regarding how it sounded might also be on point. “Kolis said thatthe part about the bearer of two crowns and the born-of-blood-and-ash part wasabout me.”

The Primal goddess was quiet for several more moments. “Iwasn’t sure if it was referencing you,” she said, holding her hands together sotightly I saw her knuckles bleaching of color. “Not until your coronation.”

“The brightest moon,” Ash murmured, still staring at thepaper he held. “It was just something that popped into my head. And it madesense.” He looked up then, his eyes meeting mine. “Your hair always reminded meof moonlight.” He let out a rough laugh, his gaze moving to Keella.“That is why you said it made you feel hopeful.”

Delfai, the God of Divination, hadsaid the same thing. “Kolis also thought I was the silver beast, but…”

“‘A silver beast with blood seeping from its jaws offire, bathed in the flames of the brightest moon to ever be birthed, willbecome one,’” Ash read aloud. His throat worked on a swallow. “I’m thesilver beast.”

“And you have become one,” Keellasaid.

Ash blinked, shaking his head. “It’s crazy. I had…” Hetrailed off, clearing his throat. “Then this means the false one—Kolis—will bestripped. Will be defeated.”

“That’s not the only thing it says.” I rose, unable to stayseated. “I’ve always thought the prophecy sounded like Kolis would be defeatedbut then return.” I walked behind the settee. “That he was the false one andalso the great conspirator. And we—” I stopped myself before I spoke about ourplans.

Ash got where I was going with it, though. He nodded. “Butthis also sounds like the Primal of Blood and Bone will rise. If that’s notKolis, then who is it?”

I stopped walking as I reached the opening to the outside. Aknot lodged in my chest. I turned back to where Keellaand Ash sat. “What is that part again? After it says, ‘as they becomeforgotten?’”

Ash turned his attention back to the parchment. “‘For,finally, the Primal rises, the giver of blood and the bringer of bone, thePrimal of Blood and Bone.’”

“Will become one,” I murmured. My breath caught, and my headsnapped up. “Could that part about the giver of life actually be about me?” Myheart lurched. “I mean, I had the embers of life inside me even before IAscended. I was the giver of life. But I’m not the bringer of death.”

“You’re not?” Keella questioned.“You are the bringer of a death.”

“Not Kolis,” I whispered. “But…”

“Me,” Ash finished.

I glanced down at the golden swirl on the top of my hand,and my chest hollowed. “Then could the prophecy mean that Nyktosand I are the giver and bringer of the Primal of Blood and Bone?”

“I believe so,” Keella said. “Ibelieve the prophecy was always speaking about you, Nyktos,and Sotoria. Eythos thoughtthe same.”

“But that doesn’t make sense,” Ash argued. “We are not trulyone. And that doesn’t explain who these two daughters are.” He frowned,dropping the parchment onto the table. “I can’t shake the feeling that theanswer is right in front of us.”

“Isn’t it usually?” Keella leanedforward and picked up a slice of cantaloupe. “But with prophecies, sometimesyou must read between the lines.”

The thing was, though, Ward had been correct. This was what Eythos had planned. And that had to mean he knew exactlywhat the prophecy meant.

“You said that some of the prophecy is about Kolis?” Ashasked.

“Yes, but he is too arrogant to realize what role he’ll playin the end.”

My stomach hollowed. “In the end?”

“That is what the prophecy warns of,” she said, hervoice dropping. “It is the end of all that is known. The rise of a Primal ofBlood and Bone and the Awakening of the Ancients.”

Walking toward Ash’s office the following morning, Itugged on the lacing of my vest. For some reason, the top felt tighter. Eitherthat or my breasts were way more sensitive than usual.

I stopped messing with it as I came upon the shadowstone pillars and heard Ash speaking with Attes. He’d sent word to the Primal last night to come whenhe could so we could share with him what we’d learned from Keella.

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