Page 354 of Born of Blood and Ash

After Kye said his goodbyes, Nektasstepped inside. “Everything okay?”

“For now.” Ash reached over and tucked back a stray curlthat had slipped free of the hair he’d braided this morning. “However, I dobelieve Sera is a bit irritated with me.”

Nektas raised his brows.

“He kept growling and snarling at Kye,” I explained, and Nektas grinned. “Which means the next several months aregoing to be real fun.”

“Most definitely,” remarked Nektas.

Ash frowned. “I just didn’t like him touching you.”

I looked at him.

“What?” he asked, sending a narrow-eyed look at the draken.

Nektas chuckled. “Nothing.”

“Anyway.” I drew out the word. “We should probably get amove on. We have things to do today—one I’m really not looking forward to. Butthe other?” I clapped my hands together. “I cannot wait.”

Ash didn’t stand when I did. He remained sitting, and I knewdeep in my bones what was coming.

“Nektas,” I said, realizing why hehad asked if plans were still a go for today. “You should probably give us acouple of minutes.”

He glanced between us. “I will wait for you bothdownstairs,” he said, turning to the door.

“There is no need to wait for us.” Ash leaned back on oneelbow. To some, he was the picture of lazy indifference, but I could see thetension coiling inside him. “Plans have changed.”

My mouth dropped open.

Nektas stopped.

“Since when have they changed?” I demanded.

His gaze flicked to where I stood. “Since roughly twelvehours ago.”

I crossed my arms. “In other words, since you learned I waspregnant. And what exactly has changed?”

“Everything,” he stated in a tone that wouldtypically brook no argument.

CHAPTERFIFTY-FOUR

I took a deep breath. “Ash,” I began as, outof the corner of my eye, I saw Nektas quietlycreeping toward the doors. “Me being pregnant cannot change what we’veplanned—what we’ve already discussed with the others. Everything is already inmotion.”

A muscle began ticking in his jaw as he stared up at me.

“Nor does it change that Kolis needs to be dealt with,” Icontinued. “And we have very limited time before he comes out of stasis, whichcould happen at any minute. And the last thing we need is Kolis finding out…”

Gods, I couldn’t finish that thought.

All the flesh visible on Ash’s body briefly turned tomidnight. “That will never happen,” he snarled. “But you’re right.Kolis still needs to be dealt with, and he will be. However, that doesn’t andwon’t involve you.”

I bristled. “Excuse me?”

“The last thing you need to be involved in, in your currentcondition—”

“My condition?” I interrupted softly.

“Oh, dear,” murmured Nektas.

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