Page 317 of Born of Blood and Ash

I didn’t let hope spark. “But?”

“But the prophecy, Sera. By choosing not to end him, we arefulfilling that part of the prophecy.”

“I know, but we’re going into it knowing there’s a chance hecould reawaken,” I argued, even as I felt a tiny kernel of doubt. “We simplyhave to prevent that from happening, which isn’t impossible. Not when theAncients have been entombed for so long.”

His gaze came back to me. “The only thing is, we would haveto be okay with him still being alive.”

The thought of Kolis still being alive, even if entombed,made me want to scream, but… “But if I have to choose between Sotoria and him, I can deal with him being alive. I candeal with the possibility that he could somehow awaken in a thousand years.Because you know what? We will be ready for him when he does. We won’t let himusher in the end.”

“I get what you’re saying. But, Sera—Fates, the only thing Iwant is for there to be a future where you never have to think about thatbastard again,” he said, cupping my cheek. “Where he is no longer a threat, noteven a distant one.”

“And I want that for Sotoria. Iwant her to have a choice—to find peace or live a life without the threat ofKolis.”

Ash inhaled deeply, the muscle in his temple ticking.

“I know she is only one girl. In the grand scheme of things,she’s just one life. But she has suffered over countless lives because of him.She has suffered to the point where the last time Kolis had her, she asked yourfather to end her life,” I said, and Ash’s eyes widened. “Kolis told me that. Ididn’t want to believe it, but Attes confirmed it.And, Ash, I know what it feels like to get to that point. Yet I still don’tknow how bad it got for her. I’ve never been okay with using Sotoria. Never,” I told him. “She doesn’t deserve this.”

His head fell back, and he exhaled heavily. “No, she doesn’tdeserve this.”

I let the spark of hope grow a little. “Will you be able tolive with this?”

“I can live with whatever brings you happiness.”

“Ash, I’m being serious.”

“So am I.” His chin lowered. “You’re the most importantthing to me. Your happiness is everything, and if that means keeping thatfucker alive but entombed and us doing everything to keep him that way for younot to carry the guilt of forcing Sotoria to bereborn, then I can easily deal.”

My breath snagged. “Truly?”

He smoothed his thumb over my bottom lip. “Truly.”

“I think I’m going to cry.”

“Please, don’t.” He pressed his forehead to mine. “I want toburn things when you cry.”

“But they’re happy tears.”

“Tears are tears.”

I laughed shakily. “Okay. I won’t cry.” I cradled hischeeks. “I love you.”

He kissed me softly, so tenderly my chest swelled. “Isuggest we not leave this open for debate,” he said, leaning back. “Most of thePrimals don’t even know about her. We should keep itthat way.”

I nodded. “I want to tell Attes,though. He will support this.”

“I don’t doubt it.” He slipped his hand from my cheek andmoved it to the nape of my neck. “We need to run this past the others.”

My stomach dropped a little. “Okay,” I said, and his eyesnarrowed immediately. I sighed. “You’re reading me.”

He didn’t even deny it. “What about meeting with the othersmade you anxious when summoning the Primals didn’t?”

“I…” I pressed my lips together to give myself a moment.“What if they think of me differently because of what I did? What if they’rescared of me?” I tensed. “That…that would hurt because they…they are the onlyfamily I have now.”

“Oh, liessa, they’vealways known who you are at your core.” His gaze met mine. “While it may havebeen rough in the beginning…”

I snorted.

A grin appeared. “They accepted you. Just like I did. Theywill not think of you differently because they know you.”

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