Page 236 of Born of Blood and Ash

Which meant…

I twisted in my seat. “He is the one who told you how aPrimal can be killed.”

My mother nodded curtly. “He arrived a few years after youwere born and claimed he wanted to help us,” she said, staring at the gold andmauve wallpaper. “He knew about the deal, so I…I believed him.”

“He was right. That is how a Primal can be killed,”I said. “Did you speak to him?”

“A few times.” She swallowed. “He told me the Rot had liftedbecause you’d succeeded.”

“What?” I exclaimed at the same time Ezra did.

“You never told me that.” Ezra pitched forward to lookaround her wife.

“You already assumed she was dead,” my mother replied, thecorners of her mouth tightening. “But I knew you harbored some hope that shestill lived. I didn’t want to take that from you.” She looked at me then. “Hespoke the truth about that.”

Confused, I rose from the chair. “He did. And that makesutterly no sense.”

“Did he tell you she killed Nyktos?”Nektas asked.

My mother shook her head. “No. I asked.” She glanced betweenthe two of us. “But he said he could not tell me how. I thought—well, you knowwhat I thought.”

What in the world was Callum up to? Part of me wanted toleave right then and beat him until he returned to life and answered myquestions.

I began to pace. “What else did he say?”

“He talked about nothing of importance. He mostly seemedcontent with company, even if it was quiet,” she said. “But when he wasn’there, he spent his time at the Cliffs of Sorrow.”

Of course, he would spend time there, where his sister haddied. “Gods,” I murmured, hating the pang in my chest. I didn’t want to feelempathy for him. Especially now. Not when I knew that fucker had a reason to behere. Still, I couldn’t stop myself.

“You said he wasn’t a god.” Ezra spoke. “Then what is he?”

“An atrocity,” I said, pulling my gaze from my mother’selegant profile. “The dead reanimated.”

Marisol sat back. “You’re saying Callum is that?”

Callum was different, but I didn’t see the point in gettinginto that when it would likely only confuse them further. “They are neither godnor mortal, created to serve only Kolis. And as you saw, they are very hard tokill.”

“What if he comes back here?” Ezra asked.

“Summon—shit.” My pace picked up as Ezra and Marisol trackedmy movements. “I haven’t felt any summonses yet, and Kolis is likely stillsending gods loyal to him to the Temples.” Frustration rose. “There has to beanother way…” I stopped, closing my eyes as I concentrated. There wasanother way.

“Sera?” Nektas called.

“I’m okay. I’m just thinking.” I knew the answer was in allthe information I’d received during my Ascension. I knew it was—I spun backtoward my mother, startling her. “Call my name.”

“Excuse me?” Her eyes lifted to mine.

“If you need me, all you have to do is call my name, and Iwill hear you.” Eather hummed throughout my body. “No matter what.”

“That’s all?” Doubt colored Ezra’s tone. “She just shoutsyour name, and you’ll come?”

“I don’t think you need to shout it, but yes.” Glancing atmy mother, I exhaled slowly. “It’s because we share blood.”

“That makes sense,” Nektasremarked.

“It does?” Ezra questioned wryly, and then her gazesharpened on the draken. I had a feeling I knew whatshe would ask next.

I jumped in. “Promise me you will call for me if Callumshows again.”

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