Page 230 of Born of Blood and Ash

“It annoys me.” I entered a narrow hall where the walls hadbeen painted white and were lit by gas lamps. “Because it makes it feel likethings are predestined. I guess that’s sometimes not bad, right? If you likethe outcome. But other times, it is bad. Either way, it makes you wonder whatthe point is if what’s to come will happen one way or another.”

“Nothing is written in stone.”

“Yeah, everyone keeps saying that.” The corridor curved, andat the end of the absurdly long hall, the doors bearing the crest came intoview. “But it sure as fuck doesn’t feel…”

A prickly sensation erupted all over me. The cause wasn’tbecause nobody was guarding the door. That wasn’t all that surprising. Ezrawouldn’t demand guards stand outside each and every chamber she occupied, and Igot that. I was of like mind. But she was mortal, and Lasaniawas not without enemies, especially the Vodina IslesLords—thanks to me following through on my mother’s orders. But it wasn’t that.

“Ash put wards up when he first brought me into theShadowlands,” I said. “Ones meant to keep my family safe.” Foresight told me Iknew the answer, but I needed to hear it. “They would still be working, right?”

“They may have weakened a little while Ash was in stasis,but they will remain as long as he lives.”

I nodded but picked up my pace because those wards protectedmy family against gods who sought to harm them.

Not anything that wasn’t a god.

Not Primals.

Essence throbbed hotly in my chest as I breathed deeply.There was a smell in the air—one that shouldn’t be here. Not anymore.

Stale lilacs.

I broke into a run, my hair streaming out behind me. Ididn’t slow down as the stench of death increased. I willed the doors open.They swung apart, slamming into the stone walls on either side, causing thosein the long, rectangular chamber situated in the center of the sunken space togasp.

A chair fell over as my gaze swept past the familiar faces—

All I saw was gold.

Gold hair.

Gold tunic.

Gold-painted wings.

Eyes a shade of blue so pale they would’ve bordered onlifeless if not for the spark of eather behind thepupils as they locked with mine.

Callum sat at the dinner table with my family and smiled.

“Seraphena,” he drawled, pluckingthe napkin from his lap and dropping the mauve cloth onto the table. “What alovely surprise to see you here.”

Eather swelled with my rage, rushing to the surface of myskin. As silvery-gold light filled the corners of my vision, I saw Ezra skirtthe table’s edge and stand behind my stunned mother. Marisol started to movetoward the male I recognized as her father, her dark gaze darting nervouslybetween Callum and…not me. She was looking behind me.

A low growl rumbled from Nektas.

“Wait. You two know each other?” Ezra asked, her voice calmlike usual. It was as if she wasn’t even surprised to see me barge into thedining hall. “I thought you only saw one another in passing.”

“Oh, we are well acquainted,” Callum drawled, winking.

The bastard actually winked.

Heat poured into my veins. The part of my brain that stilloperated as a mortal shut off. I shadowstepped fromthe top of the rounded steps to the side of the table. Lady Faber let out alittle shriek of surprise and bounced against the table. Wine glasses toppled,splashing red liquid over the white cloth.

Callum started to rise, but I was faster.

Gripping the back of his chair, I ripped it out from underhim and threw it across the chamber. It smashed into the wall, shattering intopieces as he hit the floor on his ass.

“Seraphena!” My mother found hervoice then, clutching the ruby at her throat. “What are—?” She jerked back inher chair as my head cut toward her. The blood drained from her face. “Mygods.”

Callum chuckled from the floor. “Well, not quite.”

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