Page 328 of Born of Blood and Ash

“If you interrupt my wife again,” Ash said, his voice afrigid warning that sent the flames above the candles flickering, “You willfind yourself without the ability to do so.”

Veses’ mouth snapped shut. Ididn’t think it was only anger that stained her cheeks. Ash’s threat had hurther feelings, which was entirely fucked up.

But Veses was a mess.

I smiled at her. “I was saying that I have thought Ishouldn’t be wearing the crown. Not because I was born mortal or because therehas never been a Queen of the Gods.”

“Or because the essence inside you comes from Eythos,” Maia spoke up, her husky voice flat as she noddedin Ash’s direction. “And from him?”

“Not even because of that,” I said, keeping my hands at mysides and open. “However, I’m going to say what many have already thought,including me. Nyktos should be the true Primal ofLife.”

A gasp of surprise came from someone on the floor as I feltAsh move, stepping closer to me. Phanos’s featuressharpened, and his upper body leaned forward.

“Not because of who his father was or because of somebirthright. As someone born mortal, I, more than most, know that birth doesn’tmake you worthy of loyalty. Nor does gender,” I said, catching Phanos’ stare. “Nyktos has earnedany loyalty you may have felt toward him. He did so through blood andsacrifice. You know him. He’s worthy of your loyalty whether you wish to admitit or not.”

Candlelight glinted off the pearl crown as Maia tilted herhead. “He has.”

“But he is not the true Primal of Life,” I said, holding hergaze for a moment. “And neither is Kolis.” I took a small breath. “But you allalready know that. Just like you know Kolis earned your loyalty throughmanipulation and fear. You all know him. And you know he is not worthy of yourloyalty.”

“That is blasphemous,” Phanosstated blandly. “As is what you’ve done today.”

“You think this is blasphemous?” We needed to lure Phanos to our side, but disbelief and anger seized mytongue. “Did you not think it was that when Kolis killed Eythos’swife simply because his brother refused to bring a mortal back to life forhim?”

“A mortal he loved,” he argued. “Sotoria—”

“Do not speak of Sotoria.” Eatherthrummed through me, and the corners of my vision turned silver-tinged goldonce more. “You know nothing of her. And do not even dare defend his actions tome. What he feels for her is not love. It is a sick, twisted obsession.”

From the sky above, the deep, rumbling call of a draken could be heard.

I exhaled slowly, pushing the anger back down. “Was it notblasphemous when Kolis struck out against others in his anger, killing womenand men? Children?” I waited for anyone to answer. “No? How about when he stolethe embers from your King and installed himself as such?” My gaze swept overthose below. “Was it not blasphemous when he snapped the necks of my family forno reason other than to lash out?”

“How about when you killed Embris?”Veses challenged.

My back stiffened. “I shouldn’t have done that. I lostcontrol.”

The throne room went completely silent. No one, not evenKyn, had expected me to say that.

“And I will forever bear the shame of my actions. Notbecause I killed him. I cannot bring myself to care about him,” I said. “But Iregret the consequences of my actions that were paid by the innocent.”

A muscle ticked in Kyn’s jaw when he folded his arms acrosshis chest.

“I was told that Embris was atraditionalist,” I continued. “He did not care about tradition when Kolis stolethe embers or when he lashed out at the mortal realm.”

“He did.” Phanos’s deep voicecarried through the chamber. “But he was afraid.”

“As if you weren’t,” Kyn mocked.

The Primal of Sky, Sea, Earth, and Wind ignored him. “Atthat time, Kolis had taken the embers, and he would have been able to Ascendanother Primal in place of any he struck down. We all knew that.”

I glanced at Attes. None of ushas had much of a choice. That was what he’d said when it came to servingKolis.

But once the embers faded in Kolis, the threat of death hadpassed for them, but not for the gods in their Courts, their draken, or anyone they may have cared for.

“Each of you did what was necessary to survive Kolis’sreign. You did what was necessary,” I repeated. The next words tasted ofbrimstone on my tongue. “I understand.”

“Just as you did whatever was necessary tosurvive?” Veses asked, her silver eyes pulsing.

My skin prickled all over. Breathe in. The curve ofKyn’s lips didn’t help. “I did what I could to survive him. Just as far toomany before me were made to do,” I said, noticing Maia look at the floor. “AndI hope each of you remembers all who didn’t survive him, though I fear most ofyou don’t.”

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