Page 220 of Born of Blood and Ash

Attes raised a brow. “You okay?”

“Yeah, sorry about that.”

A quick grin appeared on Attes’sface. “While Callum and Varus have been speaking for Kolis, one particularvisitor has spent a lot of time with him, in what I can only assume is anattempt to ensure he has their support.” Attesshifted back in his chair. “Phanos.”

“First off,” I began, “it pisses me off that he is havingmeetings. And secondly, there is no way Phanos willgive him support.”

“I wouldn’t be too sure of that,” Saion stated.

“Seriously?” Shock filled my voice. “Kolis made Phanos sacrifice so many of the ceeren—somethinghe obviously wasn’t thrilled with. I saw the sorrow in his eyes.”

A muscle ticked in Saion’s jaw. “Phanosdoesn’t like to make waves.”

“Nice pun,” Attes noted.

“Thank you.” Saion then continued. “Look, Phanos doesn’t particularly like Kolis. I don’t think anyof the Primals do.”

“Except his brother,” Rhain pointed out with a nod at Attes.

“Clearly, I was the twin born with intelligence and goodlooks,” Attes said, but his usual humor was missingfrom his voice.

Saion smirked at that. “But Phanoscan be very…self-involved.”

“Name one Primal who isn’t self-involved,” I said,and when Attes opened his mouth, I added, “Besides Nyktos.”

Attes pressed a palm to his chestas if he were wounded. I rolled my eyes.

“Oh, I’m self-involved,” Ash said, his arm brieflytightening around me. “And I am just as selfish.” His eyes met mine when Ilooked over my shoulder. “And you know that.”

Denial rose to the tip of my tongue, but I wouldn’t besitting here if he wasn’t selfish. Then again, was saving my life really thatselfish? Yes? No? Probably a little of both.

“Do not forget that, at the end of the day, this is the samePrimal who drowned a city,” Saion reminded me. “Simply because those livingthere ceased to honor him by endangering their lives.”

“I haven’t forgotten that.” Blowing out an aggravatedbreath, I drew the braid over my shoulder. “He was upset about the loss ofthose ceeren. Why would he not want justice for that?Or, at the very least, want to avoid being put in that situation again?”

Rhahar rubbed his chin and shookhis head. “Because seeking that justice could negatively affect him.”

“And not seeking it will still negatively affect him,” Ipointed out. “It’s not like we’re going anywhere. No matter what side hechooses, if Kolis doesn’t take the offered deal, there are still two sides.”

“Exactly,” Ash said, moving his thumb down the curve of myhip. “Phanos may see himself as damned if he does,and damned if he doesn’t. Most in that situation would side with who theybelieve poses the least risk.”

“Then what?” I started twisting the end of my braid betweenmy fingers. “That’s basically saying he believes Kolis will remain as he was.”

“He has no reason not to think that. Phanosdoesn’t know you. He doesn’t know what you are and aren’t capable of,” Ashstated. “But he knows Kolis. And he knows how vindictive he can be.”

Pressing my lips together, I turned my attention to theempty shelves. Phanos had to feel what happened herein the Shadowlands when I brought the river back. So he knew I was capable of something.But I’d suspected that, hadn’t I? That many of the Primalswouldn’t immediately jump on board and be okay with the idea of me being Queen.Ash and I had even discussed it.

“Phanos knows you, though,” Rhainspoke to Ash. “He has to be worried about standing against you if it comes downto it.”

Ash’s tone was pure ice and shadows when he said, “He’dbetter be.”

“What we need to keep in mind is that Phanosmay side with Kolis now, but you will have a chance to convince him otherwise,”Attes reminded. “Both of you will once the eirini ends.”

I nodded slowly. “You’re right.” I met Ash’s gaze. “Wewill.”

Because we had to.

Phanos had the second-largestarmy, and if it came down to war, we needed him on our side.

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