Page 377 of Born of Blood and Ash

I rolled my eyes, sitting down on a settee.

“I haven’t seen you go full Primal yet,” he noted, taking asip. “You were close to doing so when we were in the CallastaIsles.”

I thought about that. “I think I may have done it when I wasin Lasania.” My gaze fell to the violet-hued berriesfloating in my water. I cleared my throat. “But I really don’t know what Ilooked like besides my skin kind of turning gold.”

“I’m sure you were beautiful.”

I smiled at that. Shortly after, Rhain, the cousins, andfinally Attes joined us. There was no Fate amongthem, but the latter entered with wet hair and his features drawn into tight,somber lines. He dropped onto the settee across from me with a nod. I startedto ask how he was but stopped myself as Rhain busied himself pouring drinks foreveryone. I knew that I didn’t like to be asked about my feelings, especiallythese kinds, particularly not in front of others.

I glanced around the office, growing impatient. Where wasthe Fate I’d summoned? Were they just taking their sweet time or ignoring me? Iknew I hadn’t done it wrong. Anxiety buzzed through me as I moved to the veryedge of the settee.

“I think Aios will wake soon,”Rhain stated as Ash moved to stand closer to me, picking up two of threeglasses and handing them off to Saion and Rhaharbefore grabbing the third. “She was starting to move a little before I left.”

“That’s good,” I said.

Ash nodded, his gaze straying to Attes.“Do you have any updates on the remainder of Kyn’s army?”

He nodded, staring at the glass Rhain had given him. “When Iwent back early this morning, I was informed that about ten thousandsurrendered,” he shared stoically. “But their newfound loyalty to me isn’tsomething I’m willing to trust in battle yet.”

I hadn’t known Attes had returnedto Vathi. I must’ve been asleep when he left and returned.

“Understandable,” Ash remarked.

“I assume we had defectors?” I said.

Attes nodded. “From what mygenerals could estimate, about ten thousand fell in battle.”

“Good gods,” I said.

His silvery gaze lifted to mine. “Yeah.” His throat workedon a swallow. “That means roughly twenty thousand are likely fleeing towherever Kolis is.”

“That’s disappointing to…” I stiffened, eatherthrobbing acutely in my chest. Awareness pressed down on me, alerting me tosomeone powerful.

Someone Ancient.

“What is it?” Ash asked.

“I think the Fate is here.” I set the glass on the end tableas everyone in the room went still. I rose, expecting a portal to rip open.When it didn’t, my frown increased. “But I don’t know where they are.”

A second later, a knock sounded on the office doors. Sixheads turned in that direction.

“Well, we know it’s not Aydun since they actually knocked,”I murmured.

Ash snickered at that, putting his glass on the table behindhim. “Come in.”

The door opened, and my mouth dropped open at who walked in.I almost couldn’t believe that he had answered.

Holland stood near the pillars as the door swung closedbehind him, dressed in white. We were all staring at him, but it was my gaze heheld with those eyes full of stars and churning colors. I was in shock, unableto move or speak. He was the very last Fate I’d expected to show. Even though Ihad Ascended Penellaphe, something he had clearlyappreciated, I figured I would likely never see him again. That he wouldn’twant to see me again.

A fond, almost fatherly smile broke out across his handsomefeatures, creating fine creases in his rich brown skin at the corners of hiseyes. “Sera.”

The sound of his deep voice—the familiarity of it and thekindness in that single word—did something to me.

Ash tensed as I jerked forward, almost as if he wished tostop me, but held himself back. I crossed the antechamber but stopped in frontof Holland, a lump forming in my throat as we continued to stare at each other.

Without saying a word, Holland lifted his arms, and Imight’ve thrown myself at him. A soft grunt turned into a surprised laugh ashis strong arms wrapped around me, one hand folding over the back of my head.

A shudder went through me as I buried my face against hischest, my eyes squeezed shut.

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