Page 47 of Born of Blood and Ash

I smiled. I probably shouldn’t have, but I did. “Good.”

Aios sat back, running her fingersover the necklace. She cleared her throat, then went on like my first act asQueen wasn’t to make an oath to take out another Primal. “Do you think that anatural death versus one that isn’t makes a difference? When it comes tomortals, at least?”

“I…I don’t know.” No feelings or certain knowledge came, butit made me wonder if it did matter. Was there another way to restore thebalance? I blew out a breath. “Even if it did, I feel like I’d probably betraveling down the same path Eythos did.”

“True.” Her lashes lowered, then swept up. “Attes told us about Sotoria andhow her soul was in you but you weren’t her,” she shared. “You were right whenyou insisted that you weren’t the same person.”

I shifted, so damn uncomfortable whenever I thought about Sotoria’s soul now stuck in a damn diamond. At least I knewAttes would keep her safe.

“Anyway, you’re fine, right?” she asked. “The only thingthat has changed is your eyes?”

“I was tired upon waking. Slept a lot like Bele did,” Ishared. “But I feel as I did before.”

Something else popped into my head then, bringing a smile tomy lips. “So.” I drew out the word. “Bele?”

Her forehead creased. “Yes?”

“And you? Together?”

A pretty pink flush stained her cheeks. “We are.”

The curve of my lips spread as I pictured them. There likelycouldn’t be a more beautiful couple. “Is it new, or…?”

“Yes, and no.” Her blush deepened as she laughed. “We’vebeen friends for many years, and we were together once before, about—oh, let’ssee…” The groove between her brows deepened. “Eighteen years ago? Almostnineteen.”

I choked on my breath. “I’m sorry. You two were togetheralmost two decades ago?”

“Yes.” A small grin appeared. “Why do you look soconfounded?”

“Because you speak of two decades like it’s two months,” Isputtered.

“Compared to the span of a mortal life, it feels like anequivalent comparison.” The glow of eather pulsedbehind her pupils. “Eventually, two decades will feel like two months to you,too.”

Once more, my heart leapt. “I can’t even imagine that,” Iadmitted. “Feeling that way. Looking as I do today, two decades or centuriesfrom now. Like…my mind cannot process that.”

“It will likely take nearly that length of time for you todo so.”

“Probably.” A breeze drifted into the chamber, stirring thecurtains. “By the way, have you heard from Maia?” I asked. The Primal Goddessof Love, Beauty, and Fertility would’ve felt Aios’sAscension. “Or do you have any idea how she’s handling this?”

“I haven’t heard anything, and she hasn’t summoned me,” sheanswered. “But we’ve always been on good terms.”

“So, you don’t expect her to handle this like Hanan did?”Fearing that Bele would challenge his position after she Ascended, the formerPrimal God of the Hunt and Divine Justice had put a bounty out on her head.

Aios laughed softly. “No. WhileMaia may enjoy witnessing conflict and drama from time to time, she does sofrom afar. She doesn’t like to be involved in it herself.” She brushed a lockof thick, red hair back. “Maia also knows that I have no interest in ruling Kithreia. She won’t be threatened by me.”

I hoped it remained that way. I knew very little about Maia,having not met her outside of my coronation, but Ash must’ve felt some level oftrust to go to her to have his kardiaremoved.

Aios tipped her knees toward me.“By the way, how are you handling everything?”

“Other than not coming to terms with what I am?”

Aios laughed lightly. “Yes. Otherthan that.”

“I’m fine. Perfect, really.” I dropped my hand to the arm ofthe couch. “And regarding the whole Ascending-as-the-true-Primal-of-Life part,I really haven’t had much time to think about that. But I’m good.”

“I’m relieved to hear that.” She drew her lower lip betweenher teeth. “I didn’t expect you to Ascend as the true Primal of Life.”

“Yeah, well, neither did I since it should have beenimpossible.”

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