Page 290 of Born of Blood and Ash

The Primal shook his head and swallowed thickly. “Thatdoesn’t matter right now.”

How could he say that? My gaze drifted behind him to thecrimson leaves.

“Look at me.” He caught my chin, forcing my gaze back tohis. “I need you to focus on me and listen. If you don’t, there will be moredeath and destruction. Lotho needs a Primal, and onlyyou can Ascend one. If you don’t do it and do it now, the essence will circleback, and there will be even more damage. You must stop this.”

The screams…

Those lost when Embris’s essencewas released. I flinched, and Attes cursed. Theirblood was on my hands.

“Sera,” Attes pleaded.

“I know,” I croaked.

Relief poured into his features, and he helped me stand. Asthe blood leaves swayed in the wind, we shadowsteppedto Mount Lotho.

CHAPTERFORTY-THREE

At any other time, I would’ve marveled at thebeauty of the Athanien Palace. The sweeping structurehad been built into the side of Mount Lotho andconsisted of far too many floors to even count, connected by spiraling outdoorstaircases that looked like death traps to me.

The palace wasn’t the only building that climbed to theheights of the mountain. Tall towers lined Mount Lothoand disappeared into the clouds. I knew that was where the Fates resided.

But there was nothing beautiful about the Court now. It wasstorming violently. Lightning continuously pierced the dark violet and charcoalclouds, revealing glimpses of the pitched roofs and rain-soaked marble streetsof the cities sprawling along the hills and the steep inclines of Mount Lotho.

Draken swarmed the palace, their staggering calls those ofrestlessness, confusion, and anger. There was also concern.

So much rain had fallen that the gods clustered outside thedoors feared mudslides would soon follow. Several were out there now, usingessence to hold back the unstable ground. I closed my eyes. It reminded me of Phanos fighting the tidal wave my actions had caused.

“Sera,” Attes called softly.

I turned from the window to see him entering the atrium withPenellaphe.

The goddess’s light brown skin had taken on an ashen hue.“Sera,” she whispered, crossing the distance between us. “Fates, are you all—?”

“There isn’t time for that,” I cut her off. What I saidwasn’t a lie, but I also didn’t want her concern. “Are you willing to acceptthe position of Primal of this Court?”

She stopped short, her fingers curling into the lace on thecollar of her blouse. “I am, but there are other gods older than me—moredeserving.”

“I don’t know them. I know you.”

Penellaphe took a deep breath.“Then I accept.”

Attes led us to a nearby chair.I’d been relieved when I realized the crimson now dried in streaks over hisface and matting his hair was from the blood rain and not something else. Ithadn’t just fallen throughout the mortal realm. It also drenched the Courts of Iliseeum. “Do you know how to do this?”

I nodded. “Your wrist?”

Penellaphe extended her arm, and Attes’s worried gaze lingered on me. I took the goddess’shand. The sight of my blood-and-dirt-smeared fingers against her clean,unblemished skin caused me to flinch. Whose blood was that? Mine? Embris’s? The unknown gods I’d killed?

“Sera?” Attes said quietly.

I shook myself free of those thoughts. The wind and rainlashed the walls. Lifting her wrist, I didn’t waste any time. I bit into hervein. Her sharp inhale reminded me to release my fangs. I hadn’t done that whenI’d torn into Embris’s throat. The taste of Penellaphe’s blood reminded me of cherries as I drankdeeply and as quickly as I could, hoping I wasn’t causing her pain. I’d alreadybrought about enough of that to last a lifetime. At some point, Penellaphe sat, or Attes guidedher to do so. I wasn’t sure which. Soon, I became aware of the pulse beneath myfingertips and its echo in her blood. When it slowed, I closed the wound andthen bit into my wrist. Red-hot pain radiated up and down my left arm, and Attes winced. I hadn’t been as clean with myself as with Penellaphe. It wasn’t on purpose. At least, I didn’t thinkso.

Blood welled and ran down my arm. I lifted my wrist.“Drink.”

Her hands shook when she grasped my arm. Rain-slicked hairfell forward. She sealed her mouth to the wound and drank as I stood there. Ididn’t really feel it or know how long it took, but Penellaphesuddenly released my arm and jerked her head back. Warmth had returned to herskin.

“Rise,” I said, guided by the instincts of a Primal of Life.“Rise as the Primal Goddess of Wisdom, Loyalty, and Duty.”

Ruby-red stained her lips, and her eyes widened. She presseda hand to her chest, the veins along the top lit with a golden glow. “Oh…”

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