Page 359 of Born of Blood and Ash

“Sorry,” Ione was quick to say. “I meant I was honored tofuck with Kolis on your behalf.”

“Happier wasn’t the word I had a problem with,” murmured Keella.

A small grin appeared on Ione’s face, and I had a feeling Iwas going to get along quite well with her. “You are still owed my thanks,” Iinsisted. “You saved my life and did so at great risk to yours.”

Ash spoke then. “You did. And you will forever have mygratitude.”

Ione’s gaze moved between us, and then she nodded. “Isuppose I will graciously accept this unnecessary but understandablegratitude.”

My lips twitched as I met her eyes. “Is this what you wantfor yourself?”

“Want is a strange word.” The narrow bridge of hernose scrunched. “Feels kind of selfish to want this, but it is what Ihave been preparing for.”

I nodded, turning back to Keellaand Ash. I saw the Primal look at the goddess before saying, “I would like todo this on the veranda, under the skies.”

“We can do this wherever you’d like,” Ash assured her.

She smiled at him and came forward. “Come.” She looped herarm around mine as Ione passed us. “Walk outside with me.”

I went along, glancing back at Ash to see that Ione hadstopped him with a question about what Keella hadshared with her regarding our plans in dealing with Kolis. Nektashad come to the opening but did not follow Keella andme outside, giving us space while he kept a watchful eye.

Arching a brow, I said nothing until we were under thepurple and violet clouds of the Thyia Plains. “I’mguessing you wanted to speak to me in private?”

“Whatever could have given you that impression?” she saidwith a laugh far lighter than someone who had come to the end of their…journey.“There is something I wanted to tell you that I wasn’t sure if I could orshould the last time we spoke.”

“I think I know what it is.” I followed her to the divanthat I may have once laid upon, having a feeling I did know what shewas about to mention. The lives I carried within me. After all, she was thePrimal Goddess of Rebirth. “You know about my…?” What had Ash called it? “Mycondition?”

“If by condition, you mean that you’re with child—two ofthem?” Keella laughed. “Yes, I know. Congratulationsare in order. This is such a blessing,” she said sincerely. “I didn’t sayanything before since I wasn’t sure you were aware, but that’s not what Iwanted to discuss.”

“Did you know when I was brought here before?” I asked, eventhough I was curious about what else she had to say.

“That’s a complicated question to answer.” She gazed up atthe clouds. “Sensing the souls of unborn babes is not always easy and it variesfrom soul to soul, but with you, you were carrying Sotoria’ssoul. That acted almost as a shield. And afterward, well, there wasn’t muchtime.”

“No, there wasn’t.” I looked over at her. “I’m not going tomake Sotoria be reborn again. Once Kolis is entombed,we want to give Sotoria a choice. Either to be rebornor to cross into the Vale. I’m hoping that will be something Ione will be ableto assist us with.”

“She will be able to.” Keella wasstill looking at the sky. “I’m not surprised to hear you say that. I didn’tthink the idea of forcing her to be reborn with the sole purpose of destroyingKolis would sit well with you.”

I nodded. “So, what was it you wanted to discuss?”

Her gaze lowered to mine. “It is SotoriaI actually wanted to speak with you about—her and the prophecy.” She glancedback at the chamber. “It’s something I didn’t say when you two were herelast—something Eythos told me, and my…my impressionsof what he planned.”

Curiosity rose. “What is it?”

Keella was silent for severalmoments. “Eythos spent a long time trying to decipherthe prophecy and its true meaning. He even managed to speak to Delfai. I imagine the God of Divination didn’t share thatwith you and Nyktos.”

“No,” I stated. “He did not.”

A wry grin appeared. “When Eythosspoke with Delfai, it was when Etris Balfour—the lastoracle—was still alive.”

My brows shot up. I wasn’t expecting her to say that.

“I don’t know exactly what Etris or Delfaisaid to Eythos, but whatever was shared led Eythos to place the embers and Sotoria’ssoul into your bloodline. That was no random chance of opportunity.”

I frowned. “But Roderick Mierelsummoned him to save his people.”

Keella nodded. “And Eythos was waiting for that moment. He knew Roderick woulddo so. You see, this prophecy had begun to fulfill itself before Sotoria was born. It started with the Silver Knight.”

“The warrior Queen,” I said, immediately thinking about whatWard had told me. “I’m named after her. Ward—the first viktor—savedwho turned out to be my ancestor.”

---