Page 46 of Born of Blood and Ash

Aios cleared her throat. “Kyn mayhave been following orders to attack the Shadowlands, but he enjoyed it. Helikes the pain and fear he inflicts.”

Anger rushed to the surface, and I was suddenly standingbefore I even realized it. The corners of my vision turned a silvery white.“Tell me I can’t go to Vathi and rip out Kyn’s innards.”

“You probably shouldn’t do that.”

Energy throbbed through me, charging the air. My skinheated. The chandelier began to swing as eathercrackled along my skin. “Probably?” That one word dropped from my lips like aclap of thunder, causing Aios to jolt.

“Okay.” She drew out the word. “You definitely shouldn’t.”

“I shouldn’t,” I hissed. My hands closed into fists as Iclosed my eyes, counting just as I had in the gilded cage while I sat in thatbath. Just as I had when I drove the Ancient bone into Kolis. And as I counted,I willed the essence to calm. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. I opened myeyes. The chandelier no longer swayed. “It would be very un-Primal of Life-likebehavior if I did.”

“Uh-huh.” Aios watched me sit backdown. “By the way, your eyes sort of changed color there for a few moments.”

“Really?”

She nodded. “The green turned gold. Your eyes were gold andsilver.”

I opened my mouth, but all I could say was, “Oh.”

“They’re back to green and silver now.” Aiospaused. “Your voice also did something different. You spoke out loud, but itwas a breathy, hot sound. I know that sounds weird, but that’s how it felt. AndI also—”

“There’s more?”

She nodded tentatively. “I heard your voice inside my head.”

My chest clenched. “I don’t know how or why that happened.”

“I think you might’ve been going full Primal of Life.”

“Did I physically change in appearance?” I asked, thinkingabout how Ash looked when he did. Then I thought about Kolis in his full Primalform. “Please, tell me I didn’t turn into a skeleton.”

“What?” Her brows snapped together. “No, your appearancedidn’t really change.”

“Oh, thank the gods—wait.” I twisted toward her. “What doyou mean by really change?”

“Your skin sort of took on a golden hue,” she said. “It wasactually very pretty.”

I stared at her.

“Truly.” Aios smiled so widely itlooked painful. “But that was all.”

That was all? I almost laughed as I sat back, now wonderingwhat I would look like when I did go full Primal. I’d only seen Ashand Kolis do that.

Giving a shake of my head, I looked at Aios.“I hope I didn’t scare you.”

“You didn’t,” she quickly assured.

“Okay. Good.” I placed my hands on my legs. “I hate that youhad to experience any of what you did, that pain and fear were your lastthoughts. That it could’ve been the last thing Ector or any of the others felt.I’m sorry.”

“I know,” she whispered.

“And I will make sure Kyn pays for what he did,” I promised.“No matter what happens from here with Kolis, Kyn will be punished.”Energy hummed through me as I held her gaze, and as I spoke, the words becamean oath inked into my very bones. “That, I swear to you, Aios.”

Eather pulsed in her eyes, and they widened. She stiffened.“Sera, you made an oath—”

“I know.” I exhaled, lifting my chin. “And I also know thatan oath made by a Primal cannot be broken. He will pay, Aios.”

A fierceness I’d never seen before settled into herfeatures. The corners of her lips tightened, and her eyes, normally so full ofwarmth, filled with the icy flames of vengeance. “I accept your oath.”

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