Page 386 of Born of Blood and Ash

“That would be a safe assumption.”

Ash’s chuckle brought a wide smile to my lips. I loved thatsound.

Tugging on the braid, he guided me back so there was somespace between our bodies. “Are you nervous about facing Kolis?”

“I’m surprised you haven’t sensed my anxiety.”

“You must be getting better at shielding,” he said. “I guessthat’s a yes?”

I nodded, biting my lip. His cool fingers grazed my breasts.

One side of his lips curled up as he tugged the nightgown’sbodice into place. “It’s okay to be nervous.”

“I know.”

His gaze met mine when he pulled the two halves of the robetogether. “And scared.”

“I’m not scared. I mean, I’m not scared of seeing Kolis. Idon’t fear him anymore,” I said, holding still as he buttoned the robe. “I fearlosing people we care about. I…I fear failing.”

“I wish I could promise that we won’t lose anyone else, butI can’t.” Eather pierced his eyes. “I can promise we will not fail. We willtrap and entomb that bastard. We will give Sotoriaher choice. We will ensure that Iliseeum and themortal realm are taken care of.” Dipping his head, he pressed a kiss to mytemple. “And we will have a near eternity of moments like this. You and me. Ourchildren chasing each other around the throne room. We will get to watch themgrow and find love. We will become grandparents, and then we will watch themgrow.” He cupped my cheek. “All the while, Kolis will be where we put him, andhe will stay there.”

I fought back tears. “That sounds…beautiful and perfect.”

“It will be a beautiful and perfect reality, liessa.”

But would it be a reality?

My heart skipped, but I shut those thoughts down and tippedforward, kissing Ash. We would make this our reality.

We had to.

CHAPTER SIXTY

Holland arrived as dawn painted a canvas ofwispy pink and orange that blended into the blue expanse. He did not linger atall this time.

He took my hand before he left but didn’t say anything; justheld my gaze silently. I knew him well enough to recognize that the creasebetween his brows was one of concern, and his faint smile before it disappearedwas full of conviction.

He was worried.

But he also had faith in me—in Ash and the others. And Ichose to keep reminding everybody of that as we gathered in the war room.

The Ancient had faith in us, and that had to mean something.

Kolis had agreed to meet us in the Bonelandstomorrow when the sun was at its peak over the ruins of a Sun Temple. While Ihad no idea which one he spoke of, having only seen the bare bones of oneduring my brief time in the Shadowlands, Ash knew exactly which one.

“Kolis will not honor his word to come alone,” Ash stated.“We know he will bring his forces.”

“Good thing we don’t plan to honor that either,” Bele saidfrom where she sat cross-legged at the other end of the table.

Ash’s smile was frigid. “Sera and I will be near the Templebut not in it. That thing is barely standing, and I don’t want either of us init if it goes off the cliff.”

“I support that statement,” I said, earning a snort from Thierran, who sat by Penellaphe,the cowl of his hood up. “Where is this Temple, by the way?” I asked.

“It’s by the southern cove.” Standing, Theon pointed at amap of the Bonelands he’d drawn. It was spread acrossthe table and pinned down by a dagger. “The Temple Kolis is talking about ishere.” He dragged his finger up. “It sits on the bluffs overlooking the shoreand faces the bay, but you will not have a clear view of the water from therewith all the trees that have grown along the cliffs. The bay is the safest andquickest way to make landfall.”

Attes’s eyes narrowed on the map.“That shoreline is still rocky outside the bay, and the waters are rough.”

“That won’t stop the ceeren fromcoming ashore,” Saion stated. “They’ll have no problems traveling in thatwater. And once it gets shallow enough, they’ll shift forms.”

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