Page 44 of Born of Blood and Ash

I yanked the door open, half-surprised that I didn’t tear itright off its hinges. Whatever I had been about to say vanished as I cameface-to-face with the fiery, red-haired goddess. For a moment, I was struckspeechless. The last time I’d seen her, she’d been so terribly wounded,drenched in blood, dead. And then…not dead. I knew she lived, but seeing herstanding here, healthy and whole, sent a shudder of relief through me.

“Your eyes,” Aios rasped, heronce-citrine and now pearly silver eyes widening as she stared at me. A handflew to her throat—to the delicate silver chain Rhain had returned to her.

Swallowing, I tore my gaze from the necklace beforeeverything that involved the piece of jewelry took center stage. “I assumethey’re still silver and green?”

Aios blinked. “They…mostdefinitely are.” Her stare lingered on mine for a fraction longer, and then shecrossed the threshold, throwing her arms around me.

Unused to such a physical expression from anyone outside ofAsh, I returned the embrace with stiff, awkward arms.

Gods, why did I have to be so damn weird?

“I’m sorry,” she said, her arms tightening around me. “Iknow I should greet you a certain way now, and I have this impression thatyou’re as fond of hugs as Bele, but I couldn’t help myself.”

“I can’t picture Bele hugging anything.” Inhaling thevanilla scent clinging to Aios’s hair, my armsfinally relaxed. “Not even a cute, cuddly kitten.”

Her laugh was shaky as I closed my eyes and let myself soakin her embrace. Besides Nektas—and gods, Ector—Aios had been one of the few to warm up to me when I firstarrived in the Shadowlands. I’d thought we might actually become friends, butwhen she learned that I’d originally believed I had to kill Ash to save mykingdom, she hadn’t been angry. No, it was worse. She had been saddened anddisappointed. And, gods, I’d rather be on the receiving end of her anger thanthat. Her disappointment cut far deeper. So, this hug? It made all theawkwardness more than worth it.

“You saved my life,” Aioswhispered hoarsely. “I wish there was something better than these two words,but…thank you.”

“Those two words aren’t even necessary.” My throat thickenedas I thought about what I’d done. “I should be apologizing—”

“What?” Aios drew back, slidingher hands to mine. “Why would you think that?”

“When I brought you back, I did it without consideringwhether you wanted that. I don’t regret doing it,” I quickly added. “But Ishould’ve stopped and thought about it.”

“You did the right thing. Just like you did for Bele.”

“That was different. She died right before our eyes.” Notthat Aios needed the reminder. “But you were…” Itrailed off. I had no idea how much time had passed for Aiosby the time I brought her back, and the idea that I could’ve ripped her awayfrom peace had haunted the back of my mind ever since. “I didn’t know if yoursoul had passed on or not.”

“If it did, I don’t remember it,” she said. “And thatdoesn’t matter. I wasn’t ready to die. And I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t foryou, so yes, you did the right thing. And a thank you is necessary.”She squeezed my hands before letting go. “Okay?”

I couldn’t shake the feeling that her soul had crossed overto Arcadia, a realm of peace very much like the Vale, or had been in theprocess of doing so. But hearing her say what she had lessened that concern forme. Letting out a ragged breath, I nodded.

“Good.” Her glistening lashes fluttered as she cleared herthroat. “I ran into Nyktos downstairs. He gotsidetracked by Theon. He just returned from the Bonelands.”

The Bonelands was a stretch ofuninhabited land between the mountainous Carcers andthe Skotos Mountains where the mortals had foughtalongside the gods and Primals against the Ancients.The draken believed it was sacred given the bones ofthe fallen that remained unseen but were still there. Theon had been stationedthere with several ships and soldiers.

“Is everything okay?” I asked.

“Yes. Theon is only updating Nyktos.He’d been waiting, wanting to give you two some space and time,” she explained,clasping her hands at the waist of her deep forest-green gown. “I told Nyktos I would let you know, and he asked me to tell you hewould be in his office for a bit.”

He was likely writing the names of the recently deceased—inblood—in the Book of the Dead.

And yeah, that still creeped me out.

“Are you up for company until he returns?” Aios asked.

“Of course. I’m glad you came by,” I said, and Aios’s smile widened. “I’ve been so worried about everyone.How you were after what happened, and with…” My breath caught, causing theessence to hum through me. “And with Orphine andEctor.”

“You’d think one would become used to such deaths after awhile, especially being where we are.” Aios sat onthe edge of the couch. “But it doesn’t get easier. Not even when we know,without a doubt, that it’s not like they cease to exist. We know they are atpeace.”

“You’re right. It doesn’t make it easier.” Walking to thecouch, I sat beside her. “I wish I could’ve gotten to Ector sooner and beenthere for Orphine, but…”

Aios’s heart-shaped face tilted tothe side as she eyed me. “But what?”

But the list of those I’d brought back to life was addingup, starting with Marisol and ending with Aios. Therewas even a draken on that list.

Should I have brought any of them back?

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