Page 181 of Born of Blood and Ash

A muscle ticked in Attes’s jaw.“When we spoke while you were still in Dalos, I toldyou I wanted to prevent the kind of war Kolis would wage.”

I felt Ash’s attention turn to me as I nodded. “I remember.”

“That is partly why. So, I agree with doing whatever we canto lessen the bloodshed. But then what?” Attespressed. “What if Kolis refuses your offer? Because what Nyktoswas able to tell me didn’t go past meeting with the other Primals,”he finished.

“The plan is to force him to accept a version of the deal Ioffered. One in which we keep him alive until we can take the embers from himand place them in Nyktos.”

Understanding dawned. “The Star.” His jaw hardened. “Butthat’s currently in use.”

“I know,” I said, once more uncomfortable with the idea of Sotoria being trapped in The Star. It bothered me as muchas forcing her to be reborn did. “That leaves us with only one option. Justlike the Ancients, Kolis needs to be subdued.”

“And you think he will willingly allow that?” Attes asked, glancing at Ash.

“No,” Ash answered, and the other Primal’sgaze returned to me.

“I don’t either. I know there will be a fight, but I wantthat to be a decision the Primals who support us areinvolved in,” I said. “And I want them all to agree that we cannot allow thisto extend into the mortal realm. Whatever war we fight, we do among us.”

“I see what you’re attempting.” Attespursed his lips. “You want some level of accord while knowing there will alsobe some level of war. That’s not impossible, but it is extremely difficult toachieve.” His stare rose. “And there’s still much to be decided.”

There was.

“I’m also about to give you another thing to consider,” Attes said. “As highly unlikely as it is, what if Kolisaccepts the deal you offered? That is much like an oath, Seraphena.Breaking it would have consequences.”

“I know.” I took another deeper breath, knowing I had to ownup to what I’d done. “It wouldn’t be what any of us wants, but I had to offersomething. And if he does accept it? I will…” Bile gathered in the back of mythroat. “I will honor it because my hatred of him and my need for vengeancecannot be greater than the lives of countless others. None of our anger can begreater than peace.”

A wistfulness filled Attes’s gaze.“You sounded so much like Eythos just then.” He shookhis head. “When the Ancients created the Primals,they did so to protect the collective—all living beings—from themselves. Thatwas our role. We were to be protectors. Guardians of men, gods, and all that isin between. And we were, for a time.” Attes’s gazereturned to the blue skies above. “I do not believe it was all emotions thatchanged it—changed us. I believe it was hatred, jealousy, and apathy.”His gaze lifted to mine. “Vengeance and retribution.”

“And that started with Kolis,” Ash stated.

Attes nodded. “And it’s a damnshame. Like my brother, he wasn’t always like this. I know it’s hard tobelieve, but neither he nor Kolis were like this before.”

“I believe you,” I said, feeling Ash’s stare. “I sawglimpses of who he was.”

Attes nodded slowly. “Your fatherbelieved Kolis could be saved.”

“And look what that got him.” Ash’s fingers stilled.

“I know,” Attes replied. “You’renot your father. Neither are you,” he said to me. “If Kolis accepts the dealand then breaks it, neither of you will give him another chance—or keep givinghim chances. You will not falter like Eythos did.” Hesighed. “Either way, I do not believe that any of the Primalswho will potentially ally with us would fault you for attempting to make peace.Sacrifices should always be made for that. Our emotions and lives should neverbe greater than the collective.”

Some of the tension eased from my muscles. “That is arelief.”

Attes gave me a faint smile thatdidn’t reveal a dimple. “As I said, I doubt Kolis will accept the deal, but itdoes change things.”

I tensed. “Like what?”

“He didn’t accept or reject the deal, right? Neither didyou?”

“Correct.” Ash frowned. “We have a little less than a monthto make a decision.”

“That’s what I was afraid of.” Attesthrust a hand through his sandy hair. “We’ve now entered an eirini.”

“Fuck,” Ash spat, turning sideways.

Rhain leaned forward. “We haven’t entered into a truce, sohow can there be an eirini?”

“But you did when neither deal was rejected or accepted,” Attes explained, tension bracketing the corners of hismouth. “I assume the Fate who oversaw the meeting didn’t remind you of the eirini?”

“No, he did not.” My fingers moved fast around the tail ofmy braid.

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