Page 405 of Born of Blood and Ash

I walked beside Ash, my hand held tightly in his while hecontinuously smoothed his thumb over the top of it. The whole time, I kepttelling myself we still had a chance to truly stop the prophecy from comingtrue. We’d entombed Kolis. All we needed to do now was release Sotoria. If so, Kolis would remain where we’d put him, theAncients would stay in the ground, and Sotoria wouldbe given a choice—something she hadn’t had in far too many years.

Then everything would be perfect. We could relax. Iliseeum would change. So would the mortal realm. Ash and Icould have the future he’d spoken of the night in the throne room.

Attes stopped before a door carvedfrom a smooth, glossy shadowstone slab. He placed hishand on the surface, and the door swung open in a silent glide across thefloor. Candles along the walls lit the small, circular chamber, casting a soft,flickering glow over jeweled chests of various sizes.

Attes entered first, but he’d onlytaken two steps before jerking to a stop. The sudden rush of eather inside him charged the air. “No.”

Upon hearing that single word, my skin flashed hot and thencold. And I knew. I fucking knew.

“What?” Ash asked.

“The Star…” Attes staggered pastthe chests toward a pedestal surrounded by thick candles raised in ironcandelabras.

A pedestal as bare as the one in the House of Haides.

“It’s gone.” He threw out an arm in an angry sweep, sendingseveral chests slamming against the walls. “It was here this morning. I checkit every day, in the morning and at night. This is impossible.”

Ash’s hand slipped free of mine as he scanned the chamber.“I doubt this is something you would’ve misplaced. So, who else knows aboutthis room?”

“No one,” Attes gritted out,thrusting his hand through his hair. He tugged at the strands. “Absolutelyfucking no one. That is why I kept it here.”

“That’s not true,” I said, and they both turned to me. “TheFates know. They see all. It wouldn’t matter where you hid The Star. They wouldalways be able to find it.”

Attes’s eyes widened. “Sure, butwhy would they take it?”

“Remember what Holland said about some of the Fates wantingto wake the Ancients in a way they believed could be controlled?” I said. “Theywould need her soul to do that.”

Ash’s gaze swung back to mine, and he cursed.

“Why would they need her soul for that?” Attesdemanded, chest rising and falling rapidly as his eatherbegan churning along the flesh of his throat. He stepped toward me, his tonehardening. “What do you know that you haven’t told me?”

Ash was immediately in front of me. “Speak to my wife inthat tone again, and you will find yourself unable to speak another word.”

“It’s okay.” I touched Ash’s back. “He’s not angry with me.”

“I don’t give a fuck who he’s angry at,” Ash growled,glaring at Attes. “You’re telling me that you knewjust about every damn thing my father was planning, but you didn’t know theactual reason he put Sotoria’s soul into herbloodline?”

Attes’s gaze was locked on thePrimal before him. “He put her soul there so she could stop Kolis once and forall.”

“It was never just about him,” I said. “It’s the prophecy. Eythos was trying to circumvent it, hoping Sotoria would be reborn now and marry his son long beforethe time period Penellaphe saw in her vision.”

“Yeah, I’m really confused since that is what Eythos planned.” Attes took astep back, drawing in a deep breath. “Didn’t work out that way.”

“No shit,” Ash bit out.

Attes ignored him. “You know what?It doesn’t matter.” Jaw flexing, he looked between us. “We need to get thatdiamond back.”

“And I have a good idea who has it.” Fury rose swiftly inme, and I latched onto it. Essence throbbed heavily in me. “I want a Fate hereright now,” I demanded, the power in my voice causing the chests to tremble andthe candles to flicker as my will filled the chamber. “I don’t care which ofyou answers, but you’d better answer right now.”

Shockingly, they answered at once. The air around us filledwith energy, causing the flames on the candles to shoot toward the ceiling.Before the empty pedestal, the air distorted.

Just as I had seen it do in the old Temple.

A tear in the realm appeared, and none other than thenipple-pierced Aydun stepped out, his swirling eyes landing directly on me.“You’re summons was grossly impolite. You’re lucky it was I—”

“I don’t give a fuck about how impolite it was,” I hissed,and Ash shifted so he stood in front of me once more. I sidestepped him. “Giveme The Star. Now.”

Aydun’s brows rose, and the colors of his eyes stilled, thestars brightening until they cast a silvery glow over his cheeks. “I see thatyou’re in a highly emotional state. Therefore, I will forgive your impudencethis time.”

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