Page 366 of Born of Blood and Ash

The way she went completely still beneath me said we wereboth correct. Her next words further confirmed it. “You’re not going to killme,” she said, her lips twisted in a smug smile. “You had your chance beforeand you didn’t. And you won’t after what happened to Embris.”She let her head fall back. “You haven’t Ascended anyone to take my place. Iwould’ve felt it. I know you won’t allow what happened after Embris to repeat.”

I lowered my head until we were inches apart. “I didn’tAscend another to take your place because I will.”

The smile slowly slipped from her face.

“I’m going to kill you, Veses.”

Her lips parted. “No.”

“No?”

“You wouldn’t.” Her gaze darted to Ash. “She won’t.”

Ash smiled. “She is.”

Her wide gaze fixed on me. “Then I was wrong. You’re nobetter. You’re not just or fair—”

“Clearly, you have no idea who you’re speaking to. He’s theinherently just and fair one.” I nodded in Ash’s direction. “I’m the one whohas to work at it.”

“Work at it?”

“Yes. But you?” I tapped my fingers off her cheek as essenceswelled in me—in her. “You’re not worth the effort.”

Pure, stark terror bled from her and choked the air.

I leaned in, my lips brushing the curve of her ear. “Thereis no room for forgiveness and fairness. I’m the reaction to your past actions.I am the consequence.” Tendrils of eather rose fromthe floor. Strands of pure energy swirled around us. “You should be grateful, Veses.”

“Really?” she gasped.

“A part of me wanted to make your death last for years—forthe length of the deal you made with my husband. I wanted you to feel everypainful, choking second of desperation and humiliation. I wanted to witnessyour pleas turning to silent screams of hopelessness. And gods…” I laughedagain, the sound throaty and twisted. “That does sound like a goodidea.”

“Liessa,” came the softwarning.

“But I am not cruel,” I said. “That is the differencebetween you and me. I don’t want to find pleasure in another’s suffering.”

She cried out as the eather lashedover her leg, stinging her skin.

“Okay. I lied. I do find a little bit of pleasure in yoursuffering,” I said, tilting my head. “But I will not extend it. Because forwhatever fucked-up reason, you did try to warn us. For that, I will not drawthis out.”

She inhaled sharply.

“I will take your Court, Veses,and I will make sure all knowledge and memory of you is stripped away. Nogeneration going forward will know of you. You will not be forgotten, Veses. You will be unknown.” The eather lashed out again, taking a strip of flesh. “You willdie today.”

Veses tensed, and I felt hersummoning eather. It was too late for that. Jerkingher head back, I struck, sinking my fangs into her throat. I drank deeply andhard, not allowing myself to taste her almost too-sweet blood.

She broke my hold on her arms, but Ash was there. He wouldtouch her to protect me. He caught her wrists, holding them down as I pulledmore and more of her life force into me. She bucked under me as another draken crashed into the palace. I drank and drank until Ifelt her heart stutter. I released my fangs then.

I lifted my head and, guided by instinct, placed my hand onher chest. Strangely, I didn’t look her in the eye. I didn’t want to as Iwilled the essence from her body. Her back bowed, lifting clear off the floor.I drew my hand back. Thin filaments of eatherstretched from her chest to my palm. The essence soaked through my flesh,causing my breath to catch. Her eather pulsed andflowed, making light dance across the broken mirrors and walls. It poured outof her, and the floor began to tremble, the walls shuddering.

I didn’t want to look at her.

But I did.

I made myself meet her gaze.

“Sera,” Ash whispered. “Look at me.”

I couldn’t.

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