Page 128 of Born of Blood and Ash

Until I could return his smile. “You look like shit,” Isaid. “I’m guessing I woke you too early from stasis.” My smile, just asskilled and fake as his, grew. “My apologies.”

Behind me, the Ancient cursed under his breath, and theatrium went utterly silent.

Kolis’s smile faltered. “And yet, you look extraordinarilywell.” His gaze moved to those kneeling. “Leave.”

The Ascended and the various gods hurried from the space.The guards in the atrium and the hall, the draken,and Callum remained.

“You, too,” Kolis said to the guards, then the draken. “Go.”

Diaval grumbled as he rose. “Andhere I thought I would have some entertainment today.”

As the heavy curtains along the back wall behind the daisswung shut, Sax followed the alabaster draken, hisgaze briefly meeting mine before he quietly left. Then, it was just Callum, theAncient, this fucker, and me.

Kolis turned his back on me, though. He slowly walked to thethrone and lowered himself into the seat, his hands settling on the arms of thechair.

Silence stretched as the seconds ticked by, and for somedamn reason, an image of him flashed in my mind when he lay sprawled on thefloor with a look of…relief in his features.

Remembering that caused my stomach to clench and mynon-existent patience to rear its head. “You wanted to talk,” I said. “I’mhere. So, talk.”

Callum hissed. “Do not speak to the King—”

Kolis raised his hand, silencing the Revenant in an instant.And, gods, I wished I had that ability when it came to Callum.

“I did summon you here.” Strands of blond hair fell againsthis jaw as he tilted his head. I didn’t think the Primal had blinked once sincehe’d walked in. “You shouldn’t have Ascended.”

I said nothing.

“Which means you lied about Nyktos’skardia.”

“I told the truth about his kardia,”I said.

“And you continue to lie even now?” A half-grin appeared. Itlacked the effort of making it look even somewhat real. “He risked dooming therealms to Ascend you. Only one in love would do such a thing, and one cannot bein love without a kardia, unless…” His chestrose with a sharp breath as his regard shifted to the Ancient. “Mates of theheart. Interesting.”

Pettiness was the next to rear its head. I wanted to throwit in his face but speaking about something so beautiful and using it againstsomeone like Kolis felt wrong. As if it would taint Ash and me. “I don’t thinkthat’s what you wanted to discuss.”

“No. It isn’t.” His fingers tightened around the arm of thethrone as his focus returned to me. He fell silent again.

My hands fisted at my sides. “I assume you summoned me hereso you can demand that I denounce any claim to the Throne of the Gods andpledge allegiance to you.”

Kolis chuckled softly, the sound making my skin crawl. “Iimagined you would demand something similar of me, except asking for me toreturn to my rightful place in the Shadowlands.”

I said nothing because we did not even remotely plan toallow that.

“I have no intention of doing that,” Kolis continued.

Catching the smile on Callum’s face, I said, “Not a part ofme is surprised to hear that.”

“Then where does that leave us, Seraphena?”Kolis asked. “At war?”

My heart kicked against my chest as the Ancient stiffenedbeside me. “You don’t want war.”

Kolis was quiet yet again. Too quiet.

My heart started pounding faster. “Because you know what canhappen if it comes to that.” I jerked my chin at Aydun. “There will be nowinners.”

“Not necessarily true,” he replied. “As long as the embersof life and death remain, there will be balance.”

“But a war will disturb those who have gone to ground.” Ilooked at Aydun for him to back me up, but the Ancient was frustratingly quiet.

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