Page 68 of Born of Blood and Ash

Bele’s lip curled up on one side. “Thank the Fates, I feellike something very illogical is about to occur—”

“Something illogical always occurs around you, Bele.” Nektas entered through the balcony doors, his long hairresting against his bare shoulders.

Huh.

I had been right about it being him. Had I actually sensedit, or was his presence just a logical conclusion? No. Instinct told me I hadsensed it was Nektas.

Eyes that shimmered with ethereal brilliance swept acrossthe table, finding mine. His broad jaw softened with a smile. Stopping behindTheon and Lailah, Nektas placed a fist over his chestand bowed his head and upper body. He spoke in that raspy voice of his. “Meyaah Liessa.”

“She doesn’t like to be called that,” Saion advised.

“I know, but she will allow it of me.” Nektasstraightened.

“I will.”

Bele’s lips pursed. “Rude.”

Nektas inclined his head towardAsh and strode around the table. His steps slowed as he spotted his daughterasleep half on top of Reaver. “I hope Jadis hasn’t been too much of a handful?”

I took a drink, raising my brows as several others avertedtheir gazes. Images of Jadis tearing at Ash’s hair and tugging on Lailah’sbraids danced in my mind.

“Oh, yeah. She’s been a real peach.” Bele’s tone was as dryas the desert lands near Massene.

“Of course, she has,” Nektasreplied with all the confidence of a parent whose child was the apple of theireye. He reached down and scooped up his daughter. She let out a little murmurand wiggled before flopping over his shoulder. He gave her scaled back a tenderpat and said, “I feel like I may have walked into the middle of an argument.”

“I would say it’s more of a…heated exchange,” Saion replied.

Raising a brow, Nektas sat onAsh’s other side and leaned back, propping one foot on the table. “About?”

“Sera and I,” Ash said, lifting an arm. A second later, asmall ivory blanket shot between Rhain and Saion, coming from somewhere in thechamber. It landed in his hand. “Are not in agreement.”

“As unsurprising as that is,” Nektasbegan, taking the blanket from Ash and laying it over Jadis, gently tucking itaround her wings, “whose side am I supposed to be on?”

“Mine,” Ash and I answered at the same time.

Nektas smirked.

“Ash has suggested using Attes toissue the summons and thinks it’s appropriate for him to speak with Attes, even though he wants to rearrange the Primal’s internal organs,” I explained. “Meanwhile, hethinks I should remain at the palace, polishing the swords or something.”

Rhahar coughed and then took along swallow of his drink.

“That is not what I expect you to do.” Ash dragged his teethover his lower lip, sending me a sidelong glance. “I feel rather confidentassuming the only thing you would do with a sword is use it.”

“Want to find out?” I suggested with syrupy sweetness.

“Later, when younglings aren’t present,” he replied with asmoky, midnight smile. “I’d love to.”

“Oh, dear,” murmured Bele.

I shot Ash a glare.

He winked.

He actually winked at me before turning hisattention back to Nektas. “But I haven’t gotten tothe point yet where I explain why it would be wise for her to remain behind.”

“Because she’s newly awakened,” Nektassuggested, jerking his head to the side as Jadis worked a wing free. “And themoment she enters Vathi, her presence would be sensed.”

I opened my mouth.

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