Page 269 of Born of Blood and Ash

“Typically.” He stopped halfway, dark brows furrowing.“Though I’m not sure I would find this one all that peaceful. There’s a…sadnessto it.”

Once again, a wave of surprise rippled through me. “Thereis.”

“My awareness of such has caught you off guard.”

“It has.” I quickly racked my brain for what knowledge itcontained on the oneirou as he began walkingagain.

“All oneirou—whatis left of us, that is—are sensitive to…impressions left behind. Emotions leavean imprint,” he shared, his attention shifting to the candlelit portraits.“Especially extreme ones.”

My gaze followed his to the painting of Mycella.Ash’s mother and Aios were cousins, so either heraunt or uncle was from Kithreia. I knew Mycella wasn’t from there, though.

“Mycella was from Lotho,” I said.

Thierran nodded.

“Many who live near Mount Lothoare gifted with unique talents. Walking in dreams. Prophesizing.” He glancedover his shoulder. “Sensing emotion.”

“And manipulating it?”

“That, too.” He turned back to the paintings. “Mycella’s father was an oneirou,one of the oldest. From what I knew of her, she could not enter other’s dreams,but she could read emotions and control them if she so wished.” He paused. “Shepassed down half of those abilities to her son.”

“She did.”

“The oneirou blood isstrong, though. Known to skip a generation, only to reappear again,” he said.“If you and Nyktos were to have a child, it’s quitepossible they would have the same abilities as Nyktos,or even those of his mother’s father.”

My heart skipped a beat as his words tugged at a memory.Something I should have remembered—

“But that’s neither here nor there.” Thierranfaced me. “When we first met, you tried to read me.”

Tension crept into my neck. “I did.”

One side of his lips turned up, pulling the scar on his leftcheek taut. “You failed.”

“Correct.” My shoulders squared. “I didn’t try it onpurpose. It sort of just happened. However, I didn’t exactly attempt to stopmyself from doing it either.”

He stared at me for what felt like an entire minute. “Yourhonesty is refreshing. Besides your husband, who is still very young…” It wasodd hearing him say that, considering he looked the same age as Ash. “Most Primals tend to be untruthful, even when it is notnecessary. Which is amusing since the Ancients could not lie.” His head cocked.“Did Nyktos tell you how I was scarred?”

“He did not.” The swift change of subject left me a littleunsettled. His unflinching stare was far more unnerving, though. “But I figuredKolis was responsible.”

“He was.”

I waited for him to continue. He didn’t. “Are you going toshare why?”

“No.”

“All right, then.” I was too tired and stressed to playpolite Queen and hostess. “You’re more than welcome to linger here for as longas you’d like, but please close the doors when you leave.” I started to turn.

“I was actually looking for you.”

I stopped. “For what? To complain about your lack of sleep?”

His chuckle was low and velvety. “I was.”

My already non-existent patience thinned. “I’m not sure whatyou expect me to do about that.”

“Deal with whatever troubles you.”

I drew back. “Excuse me?”

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