Page 216 of Born of Blood and Ash

He had let it go.

But he’d known.

“Sera?”

I looked up, seeing Bele and Aioscoming down the main hall.

No two people could look more different than they did.

Bele was dressed in black from head to toe, her dark hairswept back from her face. Aios wore a bright yellowtunic and white pants, and her cherry-red hair flowed to the middle of herback.

“Why are you just…staring at the floor?” Bele asked,striding into the library.

“I wasn’t—” I stopped myself. I had been staring atthe floor. “Never mind.”

“Exactly.” Bele smiled brightly. “By the way, you don’t lookso good.”

I frowned. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

I stepped away from the stairs and placed my hand against mycheek. I looked over at Aios. “Do I look bad?”

The goddess shook her head.

“She’s lying,” Bele said. “Only because she’s nice.”

“Wow.” I raised an eyebrow.

“You don’t look ill,” Aiosassured. “You just look a little pale.”

“A little?” Bele mumbled under her breath.

“Bele,” Aios snapped.

“What?” Bele threw up her hands. “You just said she lookedpale.”

“I was trying to be supportive,” Aioshissed.

“So was I.” Bele crossed her arms.

“Wait,” I interrupted. “I really look ill?”

“No,” Aios quickly answered.

“Yes,” Bele said a second later.

“Fates,” Aios exclaimed. “I loveyou. You know I do.”

My heart gave a happy little squeeze at the proclamation.

A radiant smile appeared on Bele’s face. “I know.”

“But you,” Aios continued,pointing at her, “seriously need to work on your people skills.”

Bele’s smile faded.

I smirked even though I felt a wee bit of sympathy for the babyPrimal. I, too, needed to work on those skills.

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