Page 362 of Born of Blood and Ash

Out of the corner of my eye, a wave of shimmery silver lightswept over Nektas as he shifted. The sound ofpounding boots echoed through the courtyard as Nektas’sclaws dug into the stone. His head snapped out, massive jaws opening. He caughtthe closest guard around the chest, his sharp teeth piercing armor and bone ashe shook his head, tearing the guard in two.

My lip curled as my palms warmed. “Was that necessary?”

No. Nektas drew hishorned head back. Blood seeped down his scales. But it was fun.

“Our ideas of fun couldn’t be more different.” I turned tothe doors, willing them to open.

Metal ground together, then snapped as the locks broke. Ashwhirled, his sword clashing with another as the heavy shadowstonedoors swung open. He planted a boot in the guard’s chest, caving in the bone ashe threw out his left hand. Strands of shadowy eatherlaced with silver funneled from his palm, striking another guard. Thickertendrils of essence snaked out, streaking through the trees. Warm pulses ofdeath followed the cries of pain.

The urge to do something about that—to steal them fromdeath’s grip—was there, but I was able to fight the pull.

My gaze flickered over the interior of the palace, and Inearly tripped as I stalked toward the steps. I couldn’t be seeing what Ithought I was. I squinted, my upper lip curling as I stared at the watercolorpaintings adorning the ceiling of the grand entryway.

They were paintings of Veses.

Naked Veses.

“What the fuck?” I muttered.

“I guess you’re seeing her artwork,” Ash said, snapping aguard’s neck. “Interesting choice, eh?”

I snorted. “Interesting, indeed.” Shaking my head, I stalkedtoward the wide steps just as guards rushed from the trees and poured out ofthe halls inside the palace.

“I would not run in this direction if I were you,” I said asI started up the stairs.

They didn’t.

One of Nektas’s wings swept overmy head as he swung around, slamming his tail into the guards. Several of themhit the trees with bone-sickening crunches. A few went through them.

Nektas stretched his neck out, adeep growl vibrating the frills around his neck. Smoke wafted from his nostrilsas his jaws stretched open.

The air crackled as a funnel of silvery fire flowed into theopening, the flames hungry as they surged forward, rippling over the foyer’swalls. Gauzy curtains ignited as the guards scattered. Even with their speed,they weren’t fast enough. Their screams ended abruptly, their shadowstone armor melting, and their skin and bone turningto ash.

As the flames receded, the once-red-washed walls werepainted with sooty fingers. I glanced up, smirking when I saw that the ceilingwas a charred mess.

“Nice work,” I told Nektas,stepping over the smoldering remnants of swords and shields.

Nektas made a low, chuffing sound,but a sudden roar of anger ended his amusement. I looked back to see himretreating from the entryway, his onyx and gray scales shimmering under thesunlight. A flash of gold scales blotted out the sun.

“Ash!” I shouted.

He whipped around, looking to the sky as shadowy tendrilsswirled around him. A sudden burst of intense silvery fire poured from the sky,devouring the trees and guards belonging to the draken’sown Court.

Moving with lightning speed, Ash crossed the distancebetween us as Nektas reared back, snarling. Thegolden draken descended through the smoke with theswiftness of a thunderclap. Nektas’s massive bodytook to the air in a powerful leap. The two crashed above, a maelstrom of clawsand silver fire.

Ash had started past me, but I hesitated, my eyes glued tothe two draken. Nektascaught the other draken with claws as sharp asswords.

“He’ll be okay,” Ash assured me, touching my lower back. “Ipromise you.”

His confidence calmed enough of my concern that I could turnaway. My gaze briefly met his. His eyes were pools of resolve, mirroring what Ifelt inside.

“She could be anywhere,” he said as we walked through thewhirling smoke.

We didn’t have time to search the whole damn palace. Iclosed my eyes for a fraction of a heartbeat. Where is Veses?The skin behind my left ear tingled as I saw… “A room of mirrors and glass.”

“Her bedchamber,” he growled.

My narrowed gaze cut to him. “I’m going to save my rage overyou knowing what her bedchamber looks like so I can take it out on her.”

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