Page 53 of Born of Blood and Ash

“It does when I have no problem with it,” he remarked. “AndI also know that when it’s something you think I may not agree with, you willconsult with me first.”

He was right, but still. My eyes narrowed on him. “Are youbeing so understanding because I should be dead instead of alive and standingbefore you, making reckless oaths?”

“Making exquisitely reckless oaths,” he corrected,brushing strands of hair back from his face. “And perhaps that has played arole in my understanding.”

I huffed out a short laugh as I turned back to the Rise. Oneof the guards shouted to another, reminding me of what had just occurred. “Bythe way, something different happened a couple of moments ago. You see thatguard there?” I straightened, pointing at Eamon. “I looked at him and knew hisname—knew more than that. Like I knew his life.” My head swung back to Ash.“His soul.”

“Godsdamn,” Ash murmured, his jawloosening. “My father could do that, even after Kolis took the embers. It wasthe only ability of the true Primal of Life that remained.”

“I think it’s a part of the vadentiagrowing stronger.” At least, that’s what I thought based on what Nektas had shared with me. “I’m kind of surprised it’shappening already.”

“I’m not.” Ash picked up a strand of my hair, eyeing itquite seriously in the sunlight. “Is that what you were thinking about when Iarrived? I could sense your unease.”

I tensed. You’re safe, now and always. I sucked ina short breath at the memory of the nightmare. My gaze flew to his. I’d dreamedof hearing his voice last night. Hadn’t I? It hadn’t been real. At least, Iprayed it wasn’t and that I hadn’t woken him.

I cleared my throat. “I’m really getting annoyed with thattalent of yours.”

“I know.”

That was all he said. He waited, and I had a pretty goodidea what he was talking about.

It wasn’t nothing.

Feeling my stomach twist sharply, I looked away, searchingmy mind for a reason. My gaze landed on the crimson leaves of the Red Woods.Seizing on that, I said, “No. Something else happened,” I lied far toosmoothly. “I was looking at the Red Woods and thinking about the entombed gods.That intuition thing kicked in,” I told him, sharing what I’d felt. “I wasseconds from waking them and…”

His fingers slid down the strand of hair. “And what?”

“And killing them before Kolis could, like…summon them,” Iadmitted.

“Why didn’t you?”

My head cut toward him. “Is that a serious question?”

He raised a brow. “It is. As the true Primal of Life, youcould’ve done it. And you would be within your rights to do so, whether any ofthose gods have changed or not.”

I gaped at him. “If I’d done that, it would’ve been anentirely different kind of recklessness.”

“Not to sound repetitive, but whether or not it was recklesswouldn’t matter. You are the Queen. If you wish to wake all the entombed gods,that is your prerogative.”

“Just as whatever Kolis decided to do was his?” I countered.“He was within his rights to do a lot of shitty things just because he wasKing.”

Ash curled my hair around his finger as he said, “Andbecause he was King, did it make what he did right?”

“Obviously not.”

He stared at me, waiting…

“What? Why are you—?” Then it hit me. Rolling my eyes, Isighed. Considering what I’d gone through with the riders, I should’ve figuredit out a lot sooner. “I didn’t do it because I knew it wasn’t right, eventhough it really felt like it was.”

“Glad you figured that out.” He tugged on the strand. “I wasstarting to get worried.”

“Shut up.” My glare dipped to Reaver as he made a lowhuffing sound. “Your laughter only encourages his nonsense.”

Reaver plopped his head against my leg.

“I get the point you were making,” I said. “But I think youalso keep forgetting something.”

An eyebrow rose. “Is that so?”

---