Page 221 of Born of Blood and Ash

I stared at the small, oval dining table that hadbeen brought into Ash’s office as I waited for Nektasto arrive. Attes had heard Lailah’s voice and roamedoff.

There were several ledgers on the table and a pitcher ofwater.

Nervous energy buzzed through me, making it hard to payattention to any one thing.

I would see Ezra and Marisol in a few short hours. Maybeeven my mother.

Excitement and anxiety crashed together. How would theyrespond to seeing me when, thanks to my eyes and fangs, it wasn’t like I couldhide that I had changed? And should I share with them what I’d become? I knew Icould if I wanted to, but I didn’t want them to see me differently—well, moreso than they likely already would.

Ash looked up from where he sat behind his desk. “What’s onyour mind?”

“Nothing.”

Head tilting, his gaze shifted back to the parchment. “Yousure about that?”

I nodded.

“I feel like we’re about to have a repeat of last night,” heremarked.

“Which part of last night?”

Ash’s gaze flicked up, once more meeting mine. “Both.”

Heat hit my blood as my mind bypassed the talking portion oflast night and went straight to the fucking-me-until-I-fell-asleep part.

Ash started to lower the parchment as his citrusy scentreached me.

Reminding myself that Nektas wouldbe showing soon, I forced my mind to more appropriate things. Once my blood hadcooled, I refocused on my eather lessons.

“Shit.” Ash’s head jerked back. “I forgot.”

“Forgot what?” Curiosity surged as Ash didn’t answer butinstead rose and turned to the credenza. When he faced me, he held the slim,black box I’d seen earlier.

He sat beside me. “I can’t believe I forgot this.” Heoffered me the box. “It’s for you.”

I took it. The weight immediately felt familiar. The wholething did, except it had been Ector who had delivered it the first time. Myeyes flew to Ash’s as my heart skipped a beat.

“Open it,” he urged.

I unfolded my legs and ran my thumb along the seam of thesmooth wood. Slowly, I cracked it open.

A slight tremor ran down my arm as I stared at the stunningdagger cradled in the same cream cloth. It was somehow more beautiful than thelast one he’d gifted me. The hilt was crafted from the same kind oflightweight, white material, but that was where the similarities ended. Thepommel had been carved into a full moon, and etched into the grip were silverflames. Carved into the cross guard was the same swirling vine pattern as seenon the throne doors.

Wordless, I gripped the hilt and began pulling it free ofits black sheath.

“Careful with the blade,” Ash warned.

The moment I saw it, I understood. My lips parted. This wasno shadowstone dagger. The blade was slender and adull white, sharpened into a fine, deadly point.

“This is made from the bone of an Ancient, isn’t it?” Iwhispered, my voice hoarse.

“It is.”

I swallowed, but a knot formed in my throat anyway. “How…?”

“Attes cleaved it from his bonespear,” he said. “And yes, he agreed to do it without me having to punch him.”

A shaky laugh escaped me as I stared down at the dagger. Theblade wasn’t bare. Carefully chiseled into the bone with meticulous attentionto detail in each stroke of fur and curve of ear was a wolf, its jaws open,baring teeth and breathing fire.

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