Page 205 of Born of Blood and Ash

She stiffened. “You are no Queen.”

“I’m the true Primal of Life.” The essence rippled throughme as Ehthawn reared his head back. Silver embersfell to the stone. “Look around you. How can you deny that?”

Her gaze darted left and right, passing over the land nowripe with life. “You redecorated. How lovely. It means nothing.”

“It means everything,” I said. “Your failure to accept that,just like your failure to realize that Kolis is a piece of shit who, just like Nyktos, doesn’t want you, doesn’t change the reality.”

Her pretty face twisted into a sneer. “Then why don’t youkill me, Seraphena?”

“I’m trying to be a better person.” My hands curled intofists.

“Better than who?” Her finely arched brows rose. “Nyktos? I saw what he did to Kyn.”

“How—? You know, I don’t even care.”

“He needed blood,” she answered anyway. “After what was doneto him.”

“You fed him after what he did to you?”

She shot forward as quick as a pit viper. “I told youbefore, I like—” Her hair blew away from her face as she skidded back severalfeet. “Bitch.”

“I remember what you said. You liked it.” I lowered my handand stared at her. I would never understand her. Ever. “And to answer yourquestion? No, I’m not better than Nyktos. He heldback.”

Her hair fell back over her shoulders in perfect ringlets.Another reason to hate her. “You think you’re better than me,” she spat.

“I don’t have to try to be better than you.”

“Cute.” Her nostrils flared. “Especially when you have noidea.”

“About what? You? I know everything I need to know.”

“You don’t know shit, Consort.”

Rhain shot forward. “She is no Consort.” His voice vibratedwith anger. “She is the Queen.”

Veses laughed, the sound like windchimes. “I recognize no such title or crown.”

Rhain stiffened. “That would be considered—”

“It’s okay.” Lifting a hand, I stopped Rhain. “At the end ofthe day, her acknowledgment means nothing to me.” I lowered my arm, refocusingon Veses.

“Is that so?” Her head moved in a serpentine manner. “Whenyou call yourself Queen and refuse to acknowledge the King?”

My eyes narrowed. Clearly, someone had been talking to Kolisor Callum. “Because I am Queen, and Kolis is no King.” Violent energyramped up. Clouds gathered above us, thickening and dimming the sunlight. “Areyou here on his behalf, acting as his little lapdog? Eager to please himdespite his abuse?”

Her cheeks flushed pink as the sound of footsteps closed inbehind me. “No, I’m not here on his behalf. But speaking of the King,”she said, “I’m sure he would reward me greatly if I brought you back to him asa gift.”

The air charged around me. “I would love to see you try.”

Her gaze flicked behind me, and then her voice lowered. Icould feel her…essence and the anger feeding it. “After Kolis is done withyou,” she said, “Kyn has big plans for you.”

In an instant, all I could see was silver-laced gold.

“Fucking Fates,” Bele hissed from behind me. “Do you wantto die?”

“I’m not talking to you,” Vesessnapped.

“Exactly,” replied Bele.

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