Page 329 of Born of Blood and Ash

Maia’s eyes closed.

“Only because they have chosen to forget them,” Bele stated.

“Not all of us,” Maia whispered, lifting her head. Her eyesopened and glimmered. “Not all of us have forgotten. We couldn’t…” She shookher head, then lifted her chin. “You are right. Our loyalty was one born offear, first for ourselves and then for those we cared about.” Her gaze movedfrom Ash to me. “That is not an excuse. It is just a truth. One that is thesame for all of us.”

“You do not speak for me, Maia,” Vesessnapped.

Maia’s laugh was dry, and one side of her lips curled up.“Ah, yes, you have never experienced pain or fear at Kolis’s hands.”

“Would you like to experience that right now?” Veses asked, moving toward the other Primal goddess.

Ash stepped forward and looked at her. That was all he hadto do. Veses halted.

“You say Kolis hasn’t earned our loyalty,” Phanos said. “But neither have you.”

“You’re right. I haven’t.” I turned at the waist to Ash.“But I have earned his loyalty. I did so through blood and sacrifice. He knowsme. I am worthy of his loyalty.” My gaze shifted to Rhain. His eyes were open. Breatheout. “I have earned the loyalty of those who’ve served him.”

Rhain smiled slightly. “Seraphenahas.” He turned to the others. “She’s earned it through blood and sacrifice.”Rhain stomped his right boot.

I blinked, not expecting the clap of his heel against stone.

“We know her,” Saion spoke from where he stood to our left,slamming his booted foot down.

“Seraphena is worthy of ourloyalty,” Rhahar said, ending with a stomp, and athunderous sound of boots against stone echoed from the guards standing at thewalls.

“Seraphena earned my loyalty,” Nektas stated, and Phanos lookedat him and listened. “She has earned the loyalty of my brethren. Shehas done so through blood and ash. She is worthy.”

Emotion thickened my voice as my gaze moved to Maia, Keella, and then Phanos. “And Iwant to earn your loyalty.”

“Sorry.” Veses smiled. “But you’renot my type.”

I got what she was saying. I’d earned Ash’s loyalty—and whoknew who else—on my back.

And so had Ash.

His flesh thinned, and tendrils of dark Primal mist swirledaround his legs.

“It’s okay,” I said, holding up a hand. “I find her attemptsto insult me amusing. Soon, she’ll call me freckled and fat, and everyone willbe so impressed by her wittiness.”

Phanos snorted, and Veses’ head spun toward him. “What?” He shrugged. “You havealways been terrible at insults.”

Her red lips thinned as she shook her head. “Whatever.”

“How will you earn the loyalty of those who may be indoubt?” Keella asked.

“All I have right now is my word that I will be a betterchoice, but I know that means little, if anything, to some of you.” Breathein. “But what you all need to know is that I don’t want your fear. To behonest, I don’t even want loyalty from some of you.”

Veses stiffened. Out of the cornerof my eye, I saw Elias elbow Thierran.

“Well, this has been an inspiring message,” Kyn remarked,“but—”

“I wasn’t done,” I said.

“Of course, not,” Veses muttered,widening her eyes at her blood-hued fingernails.

I took a breath and counted. “I can assure each of you thatI do not plan to do what Kolis is planning.” I looked at Phanosand then Maia. “Before Kolis believed me to be Sotoria,he only knew that the embers of life were in me. He planned to take them, andhe would’ve. Do you know what would’ve happened if he had? He would’ve Ascendedas the Primal of Life and Death.”

Phanos cursed, and Maia pressedher hand to her chest, turning to Keella. Besides thePrimal Goddess of Rebirth, Attes, and Bele, the onlyother two who didn’t look surprised were Veses andKyn.

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