Page 249 of Born of Blood and Ash

I immediately thought about the Shades gathering at theedges of the Dying Woods.

“That alone will cause things to escalate,” he continued.“But it’s more than that. You’re already worried about not being able to stopyourself from bringing someone back. And remember what I said about my fatherstruggling against his instinct to intervene when near the Pillars and how muchit saddened him? Being there could be overwhelming for you.”

I clamped my jaw shut, causing my fangs to scrape theinsides of my mouth. “Ouch,” I muttered, touching my lip. “These godsdamn fangs.”

“Careful with them. I like the way they feel.” Ash cupped mycheek, tilting my head back. “I need to go.”

The rational side of me knew he was right. My presence wouldmake things worse, and my already tenuous restraint on my ability to restorelife would be tested. Then again, I wasn’t sure I’d be all that inclined tobring those in the Abyss back to life.

And that part of me also knew I was wasting time. I exhaledroughly. “I hate the idea of you going out there and facing who knows what whenI can’t be there with you.”

“I know.” He dipped his head and captured my lips with his.The kiss was fierce and hard, igniting a throbbing ache I probably should’vebeen a little ashamed of but wasn’t. “Just as I hated it when you entered themortal realm without me.”

“But I had Nektas with me.”

“And I will have Crolee and manyguards.”

Closing my eyes, I grasped the front of his tunic. “Becareful.”

“Always.” His mouth found mine once more.

I forced myself to let go of his tunic. Sitting on the edgeof the bed, I watched him step back. Wisps of shadows seeped from him, swirlingaround his legs.

Then he was gone, shadowsteppingfrom the chamber.

I threw myself back until I was flat on my back. Prone, Istared at the glossy ceiling.

“Ash will be okay,” I reminded myself. Problems at thePillars of Asphodel were common, and he said it was the same at the Abyss.There was no reason for me to be so anxious.

Knowing there was no way I would be able to go back tosleep, I rose again. Worry gnawed at me, coating my skin like thick oil. Thiswasn’t as bad as being stuck in the cage and unable to do anything, but thewaiting and not knowing what was happening was just as stifling.

I plucked up the pale, silky nightgown from the floor andslipped it on. My gaze went to the balcony doors, and then I made my way overto the wardrobe. Two robes hung there, one the dark gray robe made of crushedvelvet I’d already worn. The other was a shade of deep violet. A pattern of ivyhad been stitched in black along the lower portion of the robe and the chest,framing the delicate pearl-capped buttons on both. The amount of time it musthave taken for Erlina to create something like this on a piece of clothing oneusually only wore in their bedchamber had to be staggering.

I reached for the pretty garment and then froze. Tiny bumpsrose all over my body. Slowly, I turned to the balcony doors once more and heldstill. The palace was completely silent. Whatever was occurring in the Abysshad no effect here.

But…

I grabbed the dark gray robe and shoved my arms into thesleeves. As I buttoned it, I crossed the chamber. Pushing the drapes aside, Iopened the doors and stepped out. My fingers tingled strangely as I looked up.The night sky was as black as shadowstone, but it wasblanketed by brilliant stars that cast silvery light over the courtyard and theRise. Breathing in the rich scent of soil and a faint trace of woodsmoke, Iwalked to the railing. I could make out the forms of a dozen or so guardspatrolling the wall.

The feeling of unnaturalness thickened, causingmore tiny bumps to spread across my skin. Eather stirred, almost like awarning. Adrenaline flooded my body as I scanned the courtyard and then theRise, finding a handful of guards along the northwestern portion of the wall,an area that bordered the Red Woods and the road to the Pillars of Asphodel.There were also several farther south.

But something was wrong.

Something was wrong here.

My skin continued to prickle as I looked at the sky oncemore. Stars winked in and out, momentarily obscured by…

Leaning forward, I squinted. More stars flickered. Thesensation of wrongness coated my skin now, igniting the most primitiveinstincts. My lips parted as I stared, making out shapes in the sky.Fast-moving shapes with wings—

A shocking sound shattered the silence, a shriek so chillingI thought it would freeze the very air. I jerked back from the railing. Shrill,piercing screams followed in a macabre chorus as the guards along the Rise spuntoward the road leading to the Pillars.

A jolt of surprise rippled through me. I’d heard thoseshrieks before. When I came out of the cavernous tunnel along the outskirts ofthe Abyss. There had been flames, and these creatures were flying above them.

I stiffened as one of the shapes flew closer, moving as fastas a draken. I caught a glimpse of a wingspan largerthan Reaver’s. “What in the—?”

In the blink of an eye, something came at the guardclosest to the road. There was a blur of talons, dark-feathered legs, long,straggly hair, and…a vaguely mortal-like body. The creature dug its talons intothe man’s back. The guard let out a pained, wet sound as he was liftedinto the air and flown out over the courtyard, thrashing and screaming thewhole time.

The thing dropped the guard.

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