Page 319 of Born of Blood and Ash

The draken narrowed his eyes.

“I will take the younglings to Mount Rhee before themeeting,” Nektas said, propping a bare foot up on theedge of the desk.

I didn’t think I’d ever seen Nektasin shoes.

“I doubt anything will happen,” Ash said, adjusting thelittle draken in his arms. Jadis was already asleep.“But I don’t want you near the throne room, Aios.”

Aios frowned. “I am not happy withthat.”

“I am.” Bele smiled at her, and the look she gave the Primalimmediately erased the smile. “We done here for now?”

Ash nodded. “Stay close.”

“Will do.” She rose and took Aios’shand. “Let’s go so you can yell at me in private.”

Attes actually chuckled at that ashe started to stand.

“Attes,” I said. “Can you stay fora few moments?”

“Of course.” He settled back.

“Come, Reaver.” Nektas stood,taking his sleeping daughter from Ash’s arms. “We need to go.”

The draken hesitated, his ceruleangaze darting between Nektas and me. I don’t wantto leave you.

Even his voice in my mind was filled with dread. “It’ll beokay.” Bending at the waist, I cupped Reaver’s jaw and kissed the top of hiswarm head between the horns that would soon grow. “Go with Nektas.”

His heavy sigh echoed in my thoughts, bringing a grin to mylips. He rocked back, extending his wings and taking to the air.

Once it was just the three of us, I got up. As I passed Ash,I briefly stopped to kiss his cheek. His gaze tracked me when I sat in thechair Nektas had occupied.

Attes’s wary gaze slid to mine.“Don’t look at me like that.”

I arched a brow. “Like what?”

“Like you’re worried about me,” he replied. “It makes meuncomfortable.”

“It shouldn’t, considering you saw me having a completebreakdown.”

“Are you going to say that doesn’t make you uncomfortable?”

“It does,” I admitted and felt Ash’s hand on my lower back.“But I am worried about you.”

A ghost of a smile appeared. “There is no need, Sera. I knowwhy you wanted to speak with me in private, and while I appreciate thethoughtfulness, I’ve known this day was coming, even when I didn’t want toknow.” He inhaled deeply. “Kyn will not survive this.”

I wanted to look away, but it felt wrong. Weak in a way Icouldn’t be.

“No,” Ash said from behind me. “He will not.”

Attes nodded, his lashes lowering.“He…he truly wasn’t always like this,” he said roughly before clearing histhroat. “He once lived for times of peace. He had a heart. He laughed andloved. He lusted for life and not cruelty.” His gaze turned distant as if hewere seeing far into the past. “His care for the younglings remained throughthe centuries, the only thing that reminded me of who he used to be. The onlyhope I had that he could still be saved. Kolis took that when he had you killThad,” he said, and my eyes closed. “When I could finally tell him that hisyoungling draken still lived, it was too late. Mybrother was gone.”

“I’m sorry,” I said. When I felt his hand on mine, I openedmy eyes.

He lowered his head so we were at eye level. “As am I.” Hesqueezed my hand and then straightened. “But it is what it is.”

Ash’s hand moved in slow circles on my back. “We will needto Ascend someone to take his place.”

“Lailah,” Attes said withouthesitation. “She has the temperament, and she’s ready.”

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