Page 225 of Born of Blood and Ash

“I’m not sure.” I cracked a grin. “I can tell when it’s you,and I think I’m starting to know the other drakenbefore even seeing them, too. Ash said it’s like I’m picking up on an echo.”

“What he and the other Primalsfeel is an echo, but what you’re sensing is our imprint,” he said. “There’s adifference. Only the true Primal of Life and the true Primal of Death can pickup on our imprints and use them to communicate with us.”

My brows shot up. “You mean like I can talk in your head.”

“Part of me wants to tell you no.”

“That’s rude.”

“But yes, if we open ourselves to it,” he said. When Istarted to speak, he cut me off. “Let’s talk about this more when we’re notstanding in the mortal realm.”

Blinking, I jolted. Good gods, for a moment there, I’dactually forgotten what I was doing and where I was. Nektas’sgrin showed he knew.

“Come on.” I sighed, tabling my new discovery for later. Iedged around the bench and followed the darkening path. “I’m thinking we’ll beable to find Ezra in the dining hall.” At least, I hoped so.

Passing another statue of Maia, we walked out onto the mainpathway. The golden light of the veranda peeked through the sweeping branchesheavy with pink blossoms.

“There appear to be guards ahead,” Nektascommented.

I could see their shadowy forms standing at the open doors.“I’m not sure if any of them would recognize me.”

“I find that hard to believe,” he said. “With your hair andfreckles, you have quite recognizable features.”

I lightly dragged my fangs over my lower lip as my stepsslowed. “I…I wasn’t seen a lot. I usually used the servant’s stairs and halls,and honestly, half the guards here probably thought I was a servant, so it’squite possible none of them would recognize me. And I doubt they would just letme enter the dining hall.” I thought about the last time Ash and I had visited.“Most of the guards don’t even know my name.”

“That’s…” Nektas trailed off. WhenI looked over my shoulder, I saw that his jaw was set in a hard line.

“Just the way it was,” I said, facing forward.

“More like unacceptable.”

“Yeah,” I sighed. “That, too. But because of the deal, Iguess it was easier to keep my identity hidden so no one had to explain why Iwasn’t available to marry or wonder what happened when I eventuallydisappeared.”

“As if that was the only option,” Nektasnoted, his gravelly voice flat.

It wasn’t.

But it had been the easiest for my mother. My shoulderstightened as I focused ahead. We had far more important things to think aboutat the moment. “When we were here last, Ash basically scared the guards intoleaving us alone.”

Nektas laughed. “Sounds aboutright.”

I smiled as I stopped near the last of the autumn-bloomingcherry trees. “I don’t think I’ll have the same effect,” I said, speaking low.“So, I guess I could use compulsion.” My lip curled at the thought of that.

“I think you underestimate your presence if you think youwon’t have the same impact.”

I looked back at Nektas and archeda brow.

His head lowered. “You’re the true Primal of Life, Sera.What would the guards do if you showed them that?”

“Freak out?” I glanced back at the veranda.

“That and allow you to go wherever you want.”

I thought that over. “Ash didn’t really reveal who he waswhen he was here.”

“You do not seem to like the idea of compelling someone.” Nektas picked up on that. “If you like, I can scare them asAsh did.”

I snorted. “I don’t know if we should do that.” I squinted.“I guess I could just compel them not to see us. I mean, that’s not like makingthem do anything, right?”

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