Page 92 of Born of Blood and Ash

“Yes, you were minding your own business walking aroundnaked.” He opened the door as he looked over his shoulder at me. A lock of hairfell across his face. “While being as wet as sin.”

My mouth dropped open.

“What else was I to do?” he questioned, one side of his lipscurving up.

I snapped my mouth shut as my eyes narrowed. He chuckled,turning away. “You know,” I said, “it’s inappropriate to point out things likethat.”

“One would also think having such a hungry pussy is alsoinappropriate,” he replied.

A shocked giggle burst from my lips. “Naughty Ash.”

“Naughty pussy, more like.”

“Oh, my gods.” I smacked my hands over my face. “I think wecan stop saying pussy now.”

Ash chuckled. “I’ll be waiting for you.”

I shook my head as he closed the door, even though Iabsolutely loved this dirty side of him. I thought back to what we’d just done.I really loved the dirtier side of him.

Figuring it would be best if I stopped thinking about thatbefore I found myself once more in Ash’s arms, I bent over the vanity andsplashed cool water on my way-too-hot face. I plucked up the nearest cleantowel to dry myself as my gaze drifted to the mirror.

Even in the dim glow of the lamplight, seeing my eyes stillcame as a shock, despite looking like my freckled self.

Well, not completely like myself. There was aslight golden glow to my skin that hadn’t been there before I rose as a Primal.I lifted my upper lip until the tips of the two small fangs appeared.

What would Ezra think upon seeing them? Gods, she would haveso many questions, and I…I wanted to answer them. My eyes closed as a pang ofyearning ran through me. I wanted to see her and Marisol. Perhaps even mymother—

The sudden sensation of pins and needles erupted as the eather pulsed in the center of my chest and formed whatfelt like a cord. A connection. That link surged through me, pullingtaut as it stretched beyond the palace and the Shadowlands. Essence swelled,flooding my veins. Behind my closed eyelids, I saw gold and silver. Theintensity snagged the breath I took. I pressed my hand to my stomach as therise of power crested and then steadied, leveling out.

It balanced.

Black washed over the silver-laced gold light. Blackstreaked with crimson.

Sucking in a sharp breath, my eyes flew open—

My heart lurched.

What I saw was brief and only lasted a heartbeat, if that,but I saw.

And it wasn’t my eyes that met mine. It wasn’t my reflectionthat stared back at me.

It was silver eyes streaked with red. It was the face I sawin my nightmares.

Kolis.

Ash once more shadowstepped intothe bathing chamber. “What’s wrong?”

I staggered forward, my mouth dry. What I saw now was myreflection. The same as before, except the freckles stood out more starkly. ButI had seen him.

“Sera?” Ash was at my side, placing a hand on my lower back.“Talk to me.”

“I’m okay,” I said hoarsely. My heart pounded as I grippedthe vanity, willing myself to calm. “I…I just need a moment.”

He ran his hand up and down my back. “Take as many as youneed.”

The calming sweep of his palm helped push away the panic andconfusion, clearing my thoughts enough for me to focus on what’d just happened.I knew Kolis hadn’t really been here, but I also knew what that cord-likesensation meant. What it was telling me. It was either the vadentiaor all the information I’d gained during the Ascension.

That link—that connection—had always existedbetween the true Primal of Life and the true Primal of Death. After all, Lifecould not exist without Death. They walked the realms side by side, and allthat link meant was that Death had awakened. Had become conscious. Aware. Thatwas why I hadn’t felt it before, and I would also bet that it was the source ofwhat had awakened me and left me feeling nauseous. Shockingly, Kolis had stillbeen in stasis up until this very moment.

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