Page 351 of Born of Blood and Ash

“What she did to Taliaya and herunborn youngling haunted her. Stayed with her up until her death. The manynights that I held her as our daughter grew inside her and even after, tellingher that she was worthy of our gift, were innumerable.”

My heart was heavy. “Did she…?”

“Did she ever come to believe that?” he finished what Icould not ask. “Halayna learned to separate the two. It wasn’t easy, but shedid come to realize that what she had done had nothing to do with our child,and I’m so…”

Hearing the rawness in his voice, I reached over and placedmy hand on his arm.

“I’m so damn grateful she did.” His eyes were likeglittering blue diamonds. “Because she was able to enjoy what time she had withher daughter, and because of that, it has allowed me to do the same—to remainwho I was, even after I lost her.”

I leaned over, resting my head on his shoulder. “Is that whyDavon was such an asshole?”

He chuckled roughly. “Davon was always one, but he worsenedafter his mate’s death. Whatever good he had in him was gone.”

I sat there for a few moments. “Was that really why Halaynawas targeted by Kolis?”

“It was.” He reached over with his other hand and cupped theback of my head. “Reaver doesn’t know any of this.”

I squeezed his arm. “He never needs to know.”

“Halayna never stopped thinking about what she did. I’m sureit lessened as time passed, but it was with her every day. She still hungeredfor life and joy, and in the short time she had with Jadis, she was an amazingmother,” he said quietly. “Just as you will be, Sera.”

I pressed my lips together to stop their trembling.

“You will be as fierce and protective as she was,” he said,his voice unwavering. “It doesn’t matter what you have gone through in yourpast, nor does anything you have done to others or yourself. You will do justas my Halayna did. You will ensure you will be a good mother because youhave control over that. Because you will love them that fiercely.” He tipped myhead back, and his eyes locked with mine. “And you will have both Ash and me tomake sure you never forget that.”

Kye, the Healer, was nervous when he first arrived,and I felt so incredibly bad for him as he went through a cursory exam.

Some of it was because he was handling the well-being of thetrue Primal of Life and the health of the children of a Primal of Death, butthat wasn’t the only reason.

There was also the oldest draken,who lingered on the balcony outside the bedchamber, a silent and watchfulguardian who held the Healer’s stare as he left the chamber. And then there wasmy husband, who for some reason, returned to the bedchamber as a man whoreally, really had a problem with another male being within two feetof me.

I was lying on my back, my hands resting on the bed besideme, my fingers thrumming idly. My vest had been removed, and my shirt wasfolded up to allow the Healer to push lightly on my lower stomach.

Ash watched the Healer’s fingers as if he expected them toturn into daggers.

“I’m just checking the positioning of the uterus,” Kyeexplained, his voice steady as he pressed around my pelvic bone. “Usually, thisis done along with an internal exam—”

Ash’s eyes narrowed, and a blast of cold air radiated offhim. I scowled at him as Kye’s light, yellowish-brown fingers trembledslightly.

“But that seems unnecessary at the moment,” Kye said, hisgaze moving to mine as he unfolded my shirt. “Let’s talk about your breasts—”

A low growl came from where Ash stood to our left.

“Nyktos,” I hissed.

“It’s okay.” Kye patted my hand and looked over his shoulderat Ash. “He’s just being protective.”

“More like a jerk,” I muttered.

Ash raised a brow at me.

Kye chuckled. “I have read that when a Primal is expecting,it can stir their nota and cause, well, a primal response.”

“To a Healer simply trying to do an exam to ensure thateverything is fine?” I challenged, eyeing Ash.

“To anyone and anything that could be even remotelyperceived as a threat, especially other males,” Kye clarified, and I rolled myeyes. “The draken are the same, as are the ceeren. It is, one would say, a primitive instinct that isdifficult to control.”

“Perhaps you should go stand on the balcony with Nektas since you can’t control your primitiveinstinct, then,” I suggested.

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