Page 29 of Born of Blood and Ash

I grinned sheepishly. “I didn’t realize the glass would movethat fast.”

Dabbing at the table, he arched a brow. “Perhaps you shouldpractice with something you don’t need to eat or are trying to consume.”

“Good idea.” I took a careful sip of water.

Ash tossed the napkin aside. “Anyway, about the vadentia. It reminds me of how the Arae can’t seethe fate of risen Primals.”

“Seems rather convenient,” I muttered.

“And unhelpful.”

My grin faded as my mind raced back to what he’d said aboutHanan. Something about that nagged at me as I poked at what was left on myplate. Ash had said his anger and Hanan being out of practice had helped himdefeat the other Primal, but…

“By the way, when you spoke about the Ancients Awakening?”Ash said, drawing me from my thoughts. “You sounded like the true Primal ofLife.”

Curiosity rose as I sat back. “How does the true Primal ofLife sound?”

“Powerful.”

The corners of my lips turned up. I liked that. Probably toomuch. “And how do I normally sound?”

“Beautiful.”

Rolling my eyes, I laughed. “I know I normally sound like arambling, half-intoxicated mess.”

“I like the way you sound—how you normally talk.” His headkicked back as he eyed me. “I wouldn’t describe it as sounding like ahalf-intoxicated mess, though.”

“But you would describe it as being rambling?”

A half-grin appeared. “I would say entertaining.”

“Uh-huh.” I smiled at his chuckle. “By the way, have youseen Nektas since you threatened his life, and didyou apologize?”

A faint flush stained Ash’s cheeks, bringing a grin to myface. “Actually, I did.” He cleared his throat. “He let me know that thingswere quiet.”

“That’s good.”

“It is.”

Thoughts dwelling on why things were quiet, I ate apiece of chicken. If we were lucky, Kolis was still in stasis, but that seemeddoubtful. “It won’t stay that way for long.”

“No, it won’t.” He paused. “Soon, there will be a city fullof people wanting to see you.”

My chest spasmed as I lowered the fork. “Who and why?”

“Some will be from Lethe,” he said, speaking of the citywithin the Shadowlands. “Others will be from other Courts, coming to pay homageto their new Queen.”

My stomach plopped to the general vicinity of the floor.“They don’t need to do that.”

His lopsided grin returned. “They do it because they wantto, liessa. Not because they have to.”

My throat constricted. “Is there a way to make them, I don’tknow, not want to?”

“It’s been centuries since there has been a true Primal ofLife, Sera.” His silvery gaze met mine. “I imagine they are excited and hopefulfor stability and safety.”

My panic receded for a moment as I was struck silent by thedeep warmth in his eyes and voice. Love. I’d seen it before when hisfeatures softened as he looked or talked to me, but I just hadn’t recognized itfor what it was. How could I when it should be impossible? But I saw and felthis love, and that mattered so damn much. My very being swelled with so muchjoy I felt as if I could float right to the ceiling.

His head tilted, sending one of those stray locks of hairagainst his jaw. “What are you thinking about?”

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