Page 320 of Born of Blood and Ash

I glanced over my shoulder at Ash. He eyed Attes closely. “And you’re suggesting Lailah because youtruly believe this,” he asked. “Or because you want her?”

I raised my brows at Ash’s bluntness.

Attes huffed out a low laugh. “Herbeing a goddess hasn’t stopped me from wanting her, has it?”

Oh, my.

Ash made a sound that might’ve been a laugh. Or maybe agrowl. I couldn’t be sure.

“Besides,” Attes went on, “I aimto rest after this.”

Heart dropping, I stiffened.

“I don’t plan to enter Arcadia,” he said, seeing myreaction. “Not yet, at least. Nor will I go to ground immediately afterward.You will need my aid in the transition. But I will need to rest.” His gazeflickered away. “I need that time.”

“I understand,” Ash said, and so did I, even though it mademy heart ache.

“I will assign Theon to oversee things in my place duringthat time,” Attes added, surprising me once again.“He will do well just to prove he is better than me, and I will be able to restpeacefully.”

I smiled at that. “That’s not the only reason I wanted tospeak to you.”

“Is that so?” He lifted a cup of likely cold coffee anddrank. “Hopefully, it is a less depressing conversation.”

“It is,” I said. “We will not be using Sotoria’ssoul.”

His head swung toward me so fast he probably gave himselfwhiplash. “What?”

“I can’t do it. I can’t force Sotoriato be reborn and used.” As I told him what I’d said to Ash earlier, it was likewitnessing a man finding a small slice of peace as disbelief gave way torelief. Attes’s left hand dropped to his lap, and hisright followed as I promised him that Sotoria wouldnot be forced to live yet another life she didn’t choose for herself. Tensioneased out of his neck and shoulders when he understood that she would findrest. He slouched a little in his chair as I told him that Kolis would neversee Sotoria again.

“He will remain entombed, and we will do everything to makesure of that. And Sotoria will have a choice.”

“That is…” Attes’s eyes closed ashe tipped his head back, raising his arms. He dragged his palms down his face,then up and through his hair. Turning his head toward us, tears glimmered inhis eyes. His voice was rough and thick when he spoke just three words. “Thatis everything.”

I inhaled swiftly, fighting back a rush of my own freakingtears. Ash folded an arm around my waist from behind. He hauled me out of thechair and into his lap as he said, “You do love her.”

Attes’s laugh was shaky as heshook his head. “Sotoria could’ve killed two Primals if she had the chance.”

Gods…

I squeezed Ash’s arm, biting my lip.

“I’ve always known she would never be mine. I was okay withthat. I could live with it. All I’ve ever wanted was for her to have peace.”Clearing his throat, he smiled a little. “I guess that’s the purest kind oflove.”

“Yeah,” I whispered, blinking rapidly. “I believe so.”

His eyes met mine and then Ash’s. “Thank you.”

“There is no need for thanks,” Ash said. “None at all.”

I swallowed the knot in my throat. “I was thinking it wouldbe best to wait to release her until after Kolis is entombed.”

“Agreed.” He rubbed his palm over his chest. “I want to bethere when we do it.”

“Of course. You would be there even if you didn’t have TheStar,” I told him.

He nodded again and cleared his throat once more, appearingto rein in his feelings. “You said something earlier, Sera. About the plansbeing brutal. You’re wrong.”

“I am?”

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