Page 59 of Born of Blood and Ash

Tightly braided hair fell back as Lailah lifted her head.Grinning, she rose as I remembered the somewhat flirty argument I’d witnessedbetween her and Attes. I so badly wanted to ask herwhat was up between them, but it was likely none of my business and not reallyimportant at the moment. Still, I was nosy. “Your command is our will,” shesaid.

“Meyaah Liessa,” Bele tacked on.

“Now you’re just trying to annoy me.” I folded my arms.

Adjusting the sheaths on her forearms, Bele lifted her head.“I would never—holy shit, your eyes.”

“Are beautiful,” Ash said—or warned—from where he waspouring whiskey into two short glasses, his voice lowering the temperature inthe chamber by several degrees.

Essence throbbed throughout my body. “If that was supposedto be a compliment,” I told him, “it sounded more like a threat.”

“Yeah, it did.” Bele leaned against the table.

Ash arched a brow, not denying it.

“But they are really…” Bele trailed off as Ash’s icy stareshifted to her. “Amazing. They are so amazing.”

I stared at her.

Saion approached, brows pinching with curiosity as Reaverwatched with keen alertness. “I’ve never seen eyes like that.” He glanced atRhain. “Have you?”

The auburn-haired god shook his head. “I have not.”

Everyone was staring at me, and I, well, felt like throwingmyself onto the floor and pretending I was still in stasis. “Ash thinks it’sbecause I was mortal. But yes, they are super unique and weird—”

“And beautiful,” Ash repeated.

“And,” I stressed, “we are going to stop talking about myeyes now.”

Saion opened his mouth as he lifted a hand. Rhahar dropped coins into his palm. “Never mind.” Grinning,Saion tucked the coins into the inside of his tunic. “In all seriousness, weare so damn glad to be getting on your nerves.”

“And you have no idea how happy I am to be making really badbets,” Rhahar added.

I laughed. “I’m only partly sorry to be the cause of youlosing money.”

“I’m not at all,” Saion called as he moved to stand behind achair.

Rhahar flipped him off.

“We are glad you have returned to us,” Theon said, and thenhis gaze darted to Ash. “And to him.”

My breath snagged, and all I could do was nod.

“Not to sound repetitive,” Lailah said, “but I, too, am gladyou returned to us.”

I smiled and felt a knot of emotion clogging my throat asAsh watched quietly from where he stood a few feet back, not interrupting butalso not straying too far. “Thank you.”

“I’m glad you’re alive and shit,” Bele shared. “Just thoughtI’d say that since everyone else is.”

I gave her a thumbs-up as Lailah stepped onto the dais. Thegoddess paused to give Jadis a quick pet where the drakenstill watched from behind the back of the chair. “Where is Aios?”

“She planned to be here, but Kye, the Healer, asked that shejoin him in Lethe,” Bele answered. “He wanted her to assist with a birth.”

Concern rose. “Is there something wrong?”

“Other than how disturbing it is that one is expected topush a nine-pound-plus babe out of an area nowhere—”

“Please, don’t go into any more detail.” Theon held up ahand, and Rhain grimaced.

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