Page 97 of Born of Blood and Ash

There was no hesitation. Not even a second. “I’ll wait inthe hall.” Reaver pivoted and disappeared in a heartbeat.

“Wow,” I murmured. “I didn’t think it would be thateffective.”

“Well, I, for one, am not disturbed by the idea of morekissing.”

“I hate to disappoint you,” I said, “because Reaver wasright. It’s something I didn’t want him to hear.”

“What is it?”

“Something I realized this morning,” I said. “I think Ifigured out what woke Kolis—no, I know. It was me.”

Ash’s eyes searched mine. “I’m sure you had nothing—”

“I didn’t do it on purpose,” I cut in. “It’s what I did lastnight when I brought the river back and, well, everything else. That power? Itwas a lot.”

“Yeah,” he said, straightening the collar of my tunic. “Itwas.”

“And I’m sure it was felt all across Iliseeum.That’s what woke him from stasis. He felt it.”

Ash appeared to think about that for a moment. “If that isthe case, do you regret what you did?”

“No,” I said without hesitation.

“Then it is what it is,” he said softly. “It’s not yourfault he woke.”

“I don’t…” I fell silent upon his knowing look. “I don’tregret it, but I do feel a tiny bit responsible.”

“I get it,” he said. “But you know he would’ve wokeneventually.”

“Would’ve been nice if he still remained in stasis, though.”

“Maybe.” He tucked a curl back behind my ear. “But Ipersonally enjoy knowing that it was you being a powerful Primal that possiblywoke him sooner than he would’ve naturally.”

My brows lifted. “I hadn’t thought of it that way.”

“Now, you have,” He dipped his head and kissed me.

“We should join Reaver before he becomes traumatized bysomething we’re not even doing.”

That brought a faint grin to his lips, and by the time wejoined the youngling, he appeared calmer.

“How are you feeling about the speech?” Ash asked as weentered the hall with Reaver several feet in front of us.

“I’m good.” I paused and then admitted, “And a littlenervous.”

“You’ll do perfectly,” Ash assured, dipping down to press akiss to the top of my head.

“That’s what I told her,” Reaver called from the top of thestaircase, where he waited.

“She should start listening to you, then,” Ash responded andthen glanced down at me. “You look beautiful, by the way.”

“Thank you.” I smiled up at him. “You don’t look too badyourself.”

Ash chuckled. “I believe you’re underplaying howextraordinarily handsome you find me right now.”

“Perhaps.”

I could see Rhain waiting for us beneath the crystalchandelier as we reached the second floor of the grand staircase, and thenReaver shocked the hell out of me by doing the most childlike thing I’d everseen him do. He hopped from the next to last step to the floor. When wefollowed suit, minus the hopping, I caught sight of Rhaharwaiting near the vacant marble pedestal with Kars.

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