Page 334 of Born of Blood and Ash

My lips twitched as another wave of energy whipped theflames about, and I once more felt that strange sensation in my chest. “Thankyou, Bele.”

“No need to thank me.” She lifted her head. “But can I risenow?”

“Yes,” I said, wanting to laugh, but my throat felt toothick to allow it.

Penellaphe followed suit,summoning her sword of eather and speaking her vows.We thanked her, and then the beautiful Primal Goddess of Love, Beauty, andFertility cleared her throat.

“I have stood aside for too long and for too many reasons.”Her sandy-blond hair slipped over her shoulders as she knelt. “I will no longerdo so.”

A sword of eather took shape, itslight glittering off her smooth, yellowish-brown cheeks. “I swear to you, theOne who is born of Blood and Ash, the Light and the Fire, and theBrightest Moon, the true Primal of Life and the Queen of theGods and Common Man.” As the sensation of Penellaphe’soath faded, I felt a part of Maia take root in my chest. Her gaze shifted toAsh. “And I swear to you, the Asher, the One who is Blessed, the Guardian ofSouls and the Primal God of Common Men and Endings, to honor your command withthe full might of Kithreia.” The candles’ flames roseseveral inches as Maia bowed her head.

I thanked her. Ash told her we were honored, and when sherose, I saw determination etched into her features.

As she moved back, the Primal Goddess of Rebirth steppedfrom behind the group. Rich brown hair slipped over her shoulders as she tiltedher head back to stare up at Ash and me.

Eather streaked across her eyes, filling them until theyturned the shade of a polished diamond. “I think both of you know that Ibelieve in you,” she said, her lips curving into a smile, but there wassomething off about it. “But I cannot swear an oath to you—to eitherof you.”

Shock whipped through me, and the entire chamber wentsilent. Clearly, no one else had been expecting that response either.

“Why?” Ash asked.

“When I assisted Eythos with Sotoria’s soul, I upset the balance. My involvement shiftedthe future of the realms. Without it, Sotoriawould’ve passed into the Vale,” she said, and I saw Penellaphefold a hand over her mouth. “And when the balance is unequal, it must befixed.”

“Kolis would’ve found her and brought her back.” Anger wasquickly replacing my shock. “How is that not an upset to the balance?”

“It is. And based on how things have turned out for Kolis, Ibelieve he has paid that price, just as I have had to.”

“What?” Ash demanded roughly. “What price were you forced topay?”

Her chest rose with a weighted breath. “To right thebalance, the Fates decided that I must swear a blood oath to Kolis, one thatprevents me from ever using my Court against him.”

My mouth dropped open.

“What the fuck?” Bele exploded. “How is that a suitable fix?”

“I cannot answer that,” Keellastated. “But I can only assume that, in their minds, it ensures that I cannotbe persuaded in—as the Fates presented it to me—‘affairs that do not involveme.’”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Which Fate made youdo this?”

Penellaphe’s head jerked in mydirection.

“Kyros,” she said.

Thank the gods it wasn’t Holland because there was a goodchance I would lose my shit.

“I know that one.” Nektas’s lipcurled. “Never liked him.”

“I wasn’t too fond of him myself.” The wan smile appearedonce more on Keella’s lips. “But it is not the Fateswho decide such things. It is the essence of the realms.”

Once more, I wasn’t sure how much I believed that. Hollandhad intervened, as had Aydun in a way. I had a feeling that even this Kyroswalked that fine line.

“You never should have been dragged into this,” Ash spoke,the sorrow clear in his tone. “I am sorry that you were.”

“I’m not. I don’t regret my actions. Nor do I regret whatmust be done next.” Her chin lifted. “The oath I made is between Kolis and me,not my Court.”

“No,” Ash gasped, sending a sense of dread through me.

“It’s okay.” Keella’s smiledeepened, and this time, it reached her eyes. “I am very old, Nyktos. Not much younger than Kolis. And with each passingyear, it becomes harder to remember the small pleasantries in life and forthose we should protect.”

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