Page 62 of Born of Blood and Ash

Lailah nodded, her features drawn. “Unfortunately.”

I leaned back, thinking that over. What she said made sense,but… “I think you’re right, but he’ll be careful about who he decides to makean example of.”

“Careful?” Ash raised a brow. “I think we have two differentunderstandings of the word.”

“He’s not some chaotic villain with no control over hisactions,” I countered. “Well, most of the time, he’s not. He’s far morecalculated.” My thoughts flashed to when Kolis had discussed the Shadowlands’forces possibly invading Dalos. “And I think he’saware of just how tenuous his hold on the realm is.”

“Why would you believe that?” Ash asked.

It was hard to answer that when I wasn’t even sure what Ibelieved when it came to Kolis. “The Kolis I met when I was first brought to Dalos was almost completely different than who he wasafter. Even before he believed I was Sotoria. He wentfrom wanting to see all the Primals burn to claimingthat he didn’t want war among them.”

Ash picked up the pitcher, topping off my glass. “I can tellyou what claim I believe.”

“You believe he’s the burn-it-all-down version.”

Ash arched a brow as he picked up his glass and sat back.“Exactly.”

“I think we can all agree with Nyktos,”Rhahar commented. “We’ve all seen that side of Kolismore times than we care to think about.”

There were murmurs of agreement from all except Rhain, whothen spoke up. “But what do you think, Seraphena?”

I ran my thumb along the delicate rim of the glass as thebob of Jadis’s head slowed, and the time between each blink grew longer. “Ithink…I think he’s both. He wanted the embers so he could Ascend as the Primalof Life and Death.”

Someone cursed.

“And that is when he spoke of killing all those who wouldn’tbow to him, correct?” Ash stated, and I nodded. “Then he changed his mind whenhe believed you were Sotoria. Because he knew that,no matter what, removing those embers from you and then Ascending you wouldcome at a risk. This other side of him only showed itself when he believed youwere Sotoria.”

“He did things that didn’t align with his seeing-all-the-Primals-burn ideology before he was convinced I was Sotoria,” I insisted.

Ash eyed me over the rim of his glass. “For example?”

“For example, he stated clearly that he didn’t want a war.That was why he didn’t attack the Shadowlands’ forces. He knew that doing sowould escalate the situation.”

“And you believed him?” Saion demanded, all amusement gonefrom his tone.

“I didn’t. Not at first. But when Kyn wanted to level theShadowlands to make an example out of this Court, Kolis denied him.” I lookedaround the table. “And again, that was before he believed I was Sotoria. He had no reason not to allow Kyn to do as hepleased other than knowing what would come of it.”

“And he had no reason not to kill me, let alone release me,”Rhain stated, and my heart felt like it hit the floor. “But she was able toconvince him that killing me—someone loyal to the Primal they served—wouldn’tinspire loyalty to him in others. It was a straw-man argument, but one Koliswas willing to accept.”

I relaxed. A little.

“I’m still not over the fact that Kolis released you.” Saionlooked at Rhain. “Don’t get me wrong, we all thought you were gone, and we’refucking ecstatic that we were wrong, but none of us expected that.”

Rhahar nodded. “I have to hearthis straw-man argument of yours.”

My relief vanished as Ash’s jaw flexed. His stare was on theopen doors as he took a drink, his lips peeling back.

Did he…did he know? About the deal? What Kolis had askedfor? If so, he would think it meant more—

I couldn’t think about that right now. Drawing my gaze fromAsh, I cleared my throat. “I don’t think it was such a straw-man argument. Heagreed because he knew killing Rhain would further escalate tensions,” I liedsmoothly. “And when I challenged him about what he said before regardingkilling the other Primals, Kolis admitted that hewouldn’t start a war he couldn’t win or one that would leave the realms a mess.But he still planned to rise as the Primal of Life and Death. Who would reallyrefuse to bow to him then? His rising to such a powerful being would prevent awar.” I met Ash’s stare as his attention returned to me. “And here’s the thing.He’s not going to get his hands on me again.”

“No,” Ash growled, streaks of eatherpiercing his eyes. “He will not.”

“And that means he’s not going to Ascend to that.”

“I see what you’re saying about Kolis,” Ash said, “but Ithink we see different end results.”

“How so?”

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