Page 271 of Born of Blood and Ash

A mixture of anticipation and nervousness swelled inside me,and I wanted to run toward the doors at the same time I wanted to hide. What Idid was stand there, hands clasped. I saw the moment Thierranfelt him. The oneirou stepped back, and hisgaze went to the doors.

The stagnant air of the library shifted ahead of Ash, comingalive in the seconds before he appeared in the doorway.

My breath caught at the sight of him. I was immediatelyreminded of the night of my coronation. The curve of his hard jaw was the same.The lines of his features just as striking. His hair was free, brushing hisdark gray tunic. Silver scrollwork lined the collar and cut diagonally acrosshis broad chest. Leather pants the same hue as the tunic molded to his body.The cuff on his upper arm glinted despite the dim lighting.

Ash nodded in Thierran’sdirection. “I would like to speak with my wife,” he said, and my heart did ahundred different silly things, including plummeting to my toes when he added,“Alone.”

Thierran skedaddled right out ofthe library without another word. He clearly sensed the tension, which meantthere was definitely tension.

My legs felt numb as the doors swung shut behind Thierran, closing quietly.

“I’m surprised to find you in here,” he said, his attentionfastened on the portraits. “With Thierran.”

“You and me both.” I smoothed my hands over my hips. “He waswalking by and saw me in here. Apparently, he was curious about what thischamber was.”

Ash stopped beside me, his hands clasped behind his back. “Ican only imagine what kind of conversation took place.”

I really hoped he couldn’t, at least when it came to what Thierran said before Ash arrived. “We actually talked aboutyour mother. I didn’t know she was oneirou.”

“Half oneirou,” hecorrected.

“It surprised me initially, but it makes sense—yourabilities and all.” I looked up at her painting. “He said your mother wasn’tsomeone to mess with.”

“She could affect other’s emotions,” he confirmed. “Thoughmy father said it was rare that she did so. She felt the same way about it asyou do with compulsion.” He was quiet for a moment. “What drew you to thelibrary? This space is usually empty.”

Everyone seemed to avoid this room, likely due to thesadness Thierran had spoken of. Except for today.“It’s quiet.”

“That it is.”

I stared up at his unreadable profile. There wasn’t anycoldness to his voice, but his tone was nearly the same as it had been after Ifound Veses feeding on him and demanded to be setfree once Kolis was taken care of. He sounded…closed off. Like a wall had beenerected.

My stomach hollowed, and I quickly looked away from him. Orwas it my imagination? My fears that, despite what he’d said to me in the earlymorning hours, he wouldn’t look at me the same. My gaze inched back to him. Butthat didn’t make sense. Ash had known. He’d always known. And I’d just beenover here pretending he didn’t.

But I hadn’t seen him all afternoon or evening, and thatwasn’t like him. Not anymore. And I…

I wanted to ask if he was upset, but the words wouldn’t cometo my tongue. I just wanted him to look at me.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

“A little sore. I mean, my muscles,” I quickly amended, theback of my throat burning. “From all the running.” I took a shallow breath asmy gaze dropped to my hands. “I don’t think I’ve ever run that much in my life.And I hate running.”

“Your nota appears to love doing so,” he remarked.

I nodded, staring at the golden swirl on the top of my hand.“Will it always be like that? Running for hours?”

“Likely not. The first time is always intense and driven byanimal instinct.”

“I didn’t realize running aimlessly was a part of a cavecat’s instinct.” I ran a finger over the swirl. “Would’ve thought hunting wouldbe the first item on the list.”

“I suppose we should be glad it wasn’t.”

My lips quirked at that. “Yeah. That could’ve been aproblem.”

There was a beat of silence. “I didn’t think you’d be ableto shift so soon,” he said. “Either way, I wish your first time in your notaform was different. I wanted it to be a good experience for you.”

“It was.” I looked up. Silvery eyes locked with mine, and myheart started pounding. “I mean, it wasn’t bad. It was kind of freeing. Eventhe running. I wasn’t thinking…”

Wisps of eather appeared in hiseyes. “About?”

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