Page 56 of Born of Blood and Ash

“You know,” I said, opening my eyes, “for a Primal of Death,you’re really good at getting the knots out of my hair.”

“It’s another of my hidden talents.” Tossing the comb ontothe table, he divided the strands into sections and quickly braided the length,tying it off with one of the remaining hair bands. “As is braiding hair.”

“I like your diverse skill set.”

Chuckling, he pulled on the braid, tugging my head back,then bent to drop a kiss on my lips. “Ready?”

I stood, glancing in the direction of the adjoining chamber.Tiny balls of anxiety started bouncing in my stomach, but I squashed thembefore Ash absolutely refused to hold the meeting.

Reaver sank back onto his haunches and then pushed into theair, rapidly moving his wings until he rose and was at my shoulder. It stillblew my mind how the draken switched forms, changingtheir entire body shape. What did it feel like when Ash shifted into the silverwolf? I hadn’t asked him—

I jerked to a stop. “Cave cat.”

“What?” Ash halted in the arched doorway, turning to faceme.

“I had a dream while in stasis.” I pressed a hand to mychest as I stared up at him. “It was right before I woke up. I was at my lake,and I saw a cave cat standing on the shore—a silver cave cat.” I’d seensomething else but couldn’t focus on the memory long enough to remember what.My heart thundered. “All Primals have…what is itcalled? A nota? An animal they can transform into. Right?”

Ash squinted. “Yes.”

“Okay, so when I saw the cave cat, she felt like me,”I told him. “Like I was looking at myself. Could that mean I can…?” It wasalmost too impossible to say. “Can I shift into a cave cat?”

“I don’t remember seeing anything like that during stasis,but it could mean that,” he said. “It usually takes time for a Primal’s first shift into their nota. Took meabout a year or so before I could. You will likely be different, though.”

So many things ran through my mind as Reaver circled me, andI blurted out what had to be the weirdest and possibly the most idiotic one,“Hopefully, we’ll still get along in our nota forms.”

His dark brows pulled together as Reaver’s head swung towardme. “Come again?”

“I mean, with you being a wolf and me being a very largecave cat,” I explained. “It’s like cats and dogs, right? And I know a wolfisn’t a dog, but still.”

Ash’s lips parted into a faint grin as his silver gazegleamed. “The things that go through your mind must be a constant source ofentertainment.”

My eyes became thin slits as I fixed a piercing stare onhim. “Then I assume I’ll be just as irritated with you in that form as I am inthis one.”

That grin kicked up a notch, revealing a hint of fang.“Yes.”

“Whatever,” I muttered as that low chuffing sound came fromReaver again. “How do I shift?”

“You just will it to happen and—” Ash shot forward, cuppingthe nape of my neck. “Fates, Sera, do not will it to happen right now. For onething, I don’t know if you’ll be able to, but on the off chance you can, itwouldn’t be wise for you to do so now if you plan to meet with the others.”

My lips pursed. “I wasn’t going to will it to happen.”

Ash arched a brow. “Liessa…”

“Okay.” I sighed, rolling my eyes. “Maybe I was going to. Iwould’ve switched right back, though.”

“Yeah, it doesn’t always work that way the first time.” Heswiped his thumb across my bottom lip, sending a charge of energy through me.“The transformation can be…overpowering.”

“And exactly what does that mean?” I asked. “Does it hurt?”

“The first time your body changes shape and form can beuncomfortable.”

My heart tripped over itself. “Well, that’s the first thingI’ve heard about shifting forms that actually makes sense.”

“That’s not all,” he said softly. “The nota isstrong, and it will want to take over. When you first do it, it can bedifficult to pull yourself out of it.”

I swallowed. “That sounds ominous.”

“It’s really not. You won’t get stuck in that form,” heassured me, dropping his hand, “you just need time to go through the motions.”

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