Page 241 of Born of Blood and Ash

My grin turned a lot larger then. “How many questions didshe manage to ask?”

The cool breeze lifted the long strands of his hair, tossingthem across his face and chest. “Far more than a mortal should’ve been capableof doing in such a short period of time.”

I laughed. “Sorry about that.”

A dark brow rose. “No need to apologize. The Queenis…amusing. And her wife is extraordinarily polite.” He offered his hands.“They both handled the news of who you are fairly well.”

“Ezra’s known about my ability to restore life for a while,and she’s always been very…pragmatic,” I explained, taking his warm hands inmine. “And her wife? She was the first person I brought back to life. That wasbefore I knew that restoring a mortal’s life meant another paid the price. Shedoesn’t know. And I don’t want her ever finding out.”

“Understandable.” His fingers curled around mine.

“But I think she…kind of senses something. I don’t knowwhat, but maybe she knows on some kind of unconscious level,” I said, glancingback at the castle’s lit windows.

For the first time since…well, forever, I didn’t feel anoverwhelming sense of anger, inadequacy, or hurt. All of that was still there.One decent conversation with my mother wouldn’t erase all of it, but it wasmuted by something new. Hope.

I pulled my gaze from Wayfair. “Ready?”

Nektas nodded.

I had originally hoped to visit CauldraManor—the ancestral Balfour home in Massene—to see ifDelfai was still there. Him knowing how the Ancientshad been entombed was a long shot, but it was the best we had. However, thatwas before I’d found Callum having supper with my family. Discoveringwhat the fuck he was up to was the priority now.

Clearing my mind, I pictured the damn empty pedestal in thefoyer as eather swelled. Tendrils of gold-streakedsilver essence rose from the ground beneath us. The mist thickened and swirled,spinning up our legs. The vanilla scent of the purplish-blue flowers faded aswe shadowstepped into the House of Haides.

The throbbing sensation of another Primal echoed in my chestbefore the mist evaporated. The feeling felt…familiar as I let go of Nektas’s hands and turned, glancing at the closed maindoors past the pointed archways.

“A Primal is here,” I announced as I started down the hall,heading for the underground level.

“There is.” Nektas brushedred-and-black strands back over his shoulder. “It’s Attes.”

Well, that kind of explained why the awareness feltfamiliar. I had totally forgotten that Ash had said he would ask Attes to be here.

As we entered the left hall, I spotted Rhaharand Kars at the end, guarding the door near the back stairwell. Rhain stoodwith them.

The auburn-haired god turned as we passed Ash’s office. Hewaited until we were almost upon them to ask, “How did things go?”

“Other than finding an unexpected visitor with them? Good.My step—my sister is going to alert the other kingdoms of possible impact.” Istopped before them. “Do you know if the Revenant has come to?”

“I’m not sure, but we’re about to find out,” Rhain answeredas Rhahar opened the door. “After we’re finished downhere, there’s something I need to show you and Nyktos.”

I nodded as I entered the narrow, torchlit stairwell. Themusty scent of the underground lair surrounded me as I thought about theunderground pool and wished that was the source of my visit to the dank spaceas goldish-red flames danced off the damp walls.

That prickly sensation of unnaturalness returned as Ifollowed the curve in the stairwell, our boots thudding softly off the stone.Remembering the steepness of the last step, I managed not to trip and fall flaton my face as my gaze flickered over the rows of bleached, twisted…bone.

The bones weren’t gold nor carved from those of an Ancient,but my stomach still roiled upon seeing them. I dragged in a breath, forcing mygaze forward.

Ash drew his booted foot off one of the bars and rose fromthe wooden chair he’d been seated in as Attes turned.

Ash was before me in an instant, his arms around me and hismouth cool and firm against mine. He kissed me as he had before. Fierce.Hungry.

A throat cleared, but Ash was in no rush. I gripped thefront of his shirt as he slowly ended the kiss, drawing my bottom lip betweenhis. “How did things go?” he asked, resting his forehead against mine.

I closed my eyes, soaking in the feel of him. “Okay.”

“Don’t mind any of us,” Attesdrawled. “Take your time. We’ll just stand here and wait.”

“Shut your damn mouth,” Ash said, and I grinned. His handsslid over my cheeks and into my hair. “I’m going to need more details when wehave time.” He tilted his head and kissed me once more. “I hope you’re not tooangry with me over my interference with your mother.”

I may have been a little irritated by his unexpectedpresence, but the moment he’d said why he had come? How could I be upset withhim? He’d felt that deep, cutting pain and defended me. I couldn’t love him morefor that. “I’m not angry with you.”

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