Page 335 of Born of Blood and Ash

I sucked in a too-short breath as understanding flooded me.I pressed a hand to my chest when Maia’s eyes closed.

Keella’s gaze shifted to me. “Westood against the Ancients in defense of the mortals, each of us knowing theday would come when it would be us who lost the ability to care for them. Tocontinue to see their beauty and appreciate them, flaws and all. I have passedthat time.”

“I don’t believe that. You are not cold and cruel,” Iinsisted.

“That is only because I still care enough to force myself tobe warm and kind.” She took another breath, then looked at Maia and Attes. “You two understand.”

“I don’t want to,” Maia whispered. “But I do.”

Attes nodded when Keella met his stare, his jaw clenched.

I racked my brain for an answer that didn’t involve this.“Can’t you go into stasis? Wouldn’t that help?”

“It would if I’d been able to do so many years ago. Andperhaps if Kolis hadn’t done what he did, weakening all of us, infecting eachand every one of us in some way. If so, sleep would help now. But even if Iwent into stasis, the Thyia Plains would still be myCourt.”

“Then we will fight without your Court,” I decided. “We—”

“I am ready. I’ve been ready,” Keellainterrupted. “It’s okay.”

“No.” Emotion thickened my voice. I didn’t know Keella all that well, but I liked her, and this wasn’tfair. “It’s not okay.”

“There is so much mortal left in you, Seraphena.I hope that does not fade,” she said. Ash placed his hand against my lowerback. “But you are thinking of me as if I am mortal and on the verge of death.I am not dying. I will pass on to Arcadia, transformed.”

I had no idea what she meant by transformed, and myintuition was silent on that. It was not for those outside of Arcadia to fullyunderstand, but what she spoke of was like death. And it would feel like thatto those of us who remained.

“You understand, don’t you, Nyktos?”she asked.

His hand moved in soothing circles on my back as he said, “Ido.”

Keella smiled. “I’ve spent thelast couple of years preparing Ione for what I knew would come. She will beloyal to both of you and do all she can to stop Kolis.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. Drawing in a shallow breath, Ipulled myself together. Just as Ash and the others had done. I would have tomourn the loss of Keella. My lashes felt damp when Iopened my eyes.

Ash’s exhale was heavy. “When will this happen?”

“I must attend to some affairs first,” Keellasaid. “But we will not want to wait long. Ione will need time to go through theAscension.”

“Okay,” I said, my throat stinging. “When you’re ready, Iwill do what needs to be done.”

Tables and chairs had been brought into the throneroom, along with drinks, as a good part of the evening was spent discussing ourplans with our allies.

It felt strange to continue discussing plans after what Keella had shared, but here we were.

Moving on.

Maia had paled a little but said it needed to be done. Penellaphe had agreed, willing to do whatever was necessaryto prevent further harm to the mortal realm.

Not gaining Phanos’s support was adisappointment. If he attempted to protect Kolis from us, he had the soldiersand the ceeren to fight on land and at sea. Maia hadsuggested that it was possible he could change his mind. Neither Saion nor Rhahar was convinced of such. I allowed a little bit ofhope to spark, but he still had a choice to make.

Each Primal knew that what we planned would come fast andhard. One would think the knowledge would’ve left a somber pall over the group,but there were smiles and warmth. Perhaps they were used to this.

I wasn’t sure. But once we’d finished strategizing and Penellaphe shared that she had located Embris’sstash of bones—it wasn’t much, but it would help—what I hadpotentially discovered before the meeting surged to the surface.

My gaze fell on Maia. There was no way I was asking her.

I quietly excused myself. Ash wanted to step away with me,but I assured him that everything was fine, and I would return.

I made my way through the war room to the hall. I’d onlygone a few steps before I heard Penellaphe calling myname. I turned, tangles twisting in my already knotted stomach. When I’d seenher last… I looked away, the back of my throat scalding with shame.

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