Page 406 of Born of Blood and Ash

I opened my mouth.

“Do you have The Star?” Ash jumped in before I could saysomething way ruder.

The Ancient glanced at Ash. “Do I have The Star? As in, isit in my possession?”

A low growl rumbled from my chest.

Brown hair fell against his sculpted cheek when Aydun turnedhis head toward me. “I see you’re going to be the reckless one this time,” henoted. “Your anger is misplaced, Seraphena. It wasnot I who took The Star.”

My hands fisted at my sides. “I don’t care which of you tookit. I want it back.”

“It’s too late for that.”

I inhaled sharply. “No, it is not.”

Aydun held my stare. “Yes, it is, and you know it. A part ofyou has always known that,” he said, and my heart skipped. His voice lowered.“Fate always finds a way, Seraphena.”

A harsh, biting laugh escaped me. “Yeah, because fate keepsfucking things up.”

Aydun arched a brow.

“Okay. I’m missing some vital information,” Attes began. “And honestly, I don’t give a fuck at thispoint. Eythos had his plans. They didn’t turn outexactly as he’d planned, but Kolis was entombed. He has been dealt with. Sotoria is Sotoria. Sera is Sera.That is old news, and all I want is for Sotoria to befree.” His voice cracked a little on the last word. “For her to either choosepeace or live a normal life.” He moved toward the Ancient. “And don’t you darefucking deny her that.”

“A normal life?” Aydun repeated. “Sotoriahas never lived a normal life.”

“Yeah, thanks to Kolis,” I snapped. “And you all messingwith her life.”

“You misunderstand, Seraphena.” Heeyed me curiously. “Have you never wondered why Sotoria?”

“Of course, I’ve wondered that,” I said, struggling to keepthe essence down.

“There was a reason Kolis was so drawn to her. Her bloodlineis old and managed to carry just enough essence no matter how many generationspassed.” Aydun gave Attes a tight smile. “It’s thesame reason you found yourself drawn to her.”

“What the fuck?” rasped Attes.

“Sotoria is a direct descendant ofthe first mortal created by the blood of Eythos andthe first draken,” Aydun said. “And I don’t mean inthe way all mortals are descended from the first. Eythoscreated more than one mortal.”

“Obviously,” Ash drawled.

“He created several, but she descended from the first,who also happened to give birth to the first mortal children—a son, a daughter,and then a second.”

I tensed.

“Sotoria descends directly fromthat second daughter, born in a shroud. Chosen even before Kolis first saw herpicking flowers for her sister’s wedding, just like every single seconddaughter of her bloodline afterward.” Aydun cocked his head. “Until you.”

My mouth dropped open, and Ash’s head jerked toward me. “Youcannot be saying what I think you are.”

“That you and Sotoria are of thesame bloodline? Yes. That is what I’m saying. Sotoriawas never randomly reborn into anyone. She was always reborn in the Mierel bloodline,” he told us as if it was something weshould’ve always known.

And granted, now hearing it, it was something weshould’ve figured out, especially after Keella toldme that Eythos answering Roderick Mierel’ssummons was no random opportunity.

“And that is where your father”—he paused to look atAsh—“made his mistake.”

“He asked for the first daughter,” Ash murmured, his armsunfolding and falling to his sides.

“Eythos was brilliant. He knewwhat Sotoria descended from. He’d figured out whatshe would one day become, but for some absolutely mind-numbing reason, he and Keella believed that having her soul reborn in a firstdaughter was the key to everything.” Aydun rolled his eyes, and, oh boy, thatwas a weird sight to witness, given those kaleidoscope eyes. “That was why shewas not reborn. To be honest, I’m surprised Eythosdidn’t damn the realms with that one act of stupidity. You were a firstdaughter, never meant to carry much essence in you, let alone embers of life.You should’ve died.”

A growl ripped out of Ash’s throat. “What did you just say?”

---