Page 245 of Born of Blood and Ash

Ash slammed his booted foot down on Callum’s hand. The crackof several bones made me wince as the Revenant shouted. “For each question yourefuse, another bone gets broken.” A lock of hair fell against his cheek.“Understand?”

Callum clamped his mouth shut.

Ash tsked softly under his breath. “Let me ask you again.”He ground his boot down. Blood drained from Callum’s face. “Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Callum rasped.

“Thank you.” Ash lifted his boot, and his eyes met mine. “Goahead.”

“Why do I find you so…hot right now?” I asked.

“Fucking Fates,” Rhain muttered from the hall.

Ash winked, and that didn’t really help me behaveappropriately.

I shook my head as he began circling Callum’s body. “Whywere you there?”

“I wanted to visit your mother,” he said. “I find her quiteinteresting.”

My head tilted to the side. “Come on, now.”

The sharp crack of bone drew a shout from Callum. Ash hadstomped his foot. “I…I answered her question.”

“You’re spewing bullshit.” Slowly, Ash lifted his boot.“That’s not going to fly either. Keep it up, and the femur bone will be next.That’s the most painful one to break.” Edges of his hair slid across his jaw.“It’s my favorite.”

Callum’s lifeless blue eyes darted between Ash and me. “Youtwo…are perfect for each other.”

My smile was more genuine. “Aren’t we, though?”

Sweat beaded Callum’s upper lip as he shuddered. “I visit Carsodonia whenever I…I can.” His stare fixed on theceiling. “It’s where I’m from.”

“I know where you’re from, jackass.” I sat beside him. “Thatdoesn’t explain why you were at Wayfair.”

Callum’s gaze darted to where Ash had stopped. He stood byhis hip and thigh. “Kolis didn’t…ask me to go.”

“Okay…” I waited for more of an answer.

“You’d better keep talking,” Attesadvised. “Nyktos is eyeing that bone of yours.”

“You’re a traitor.” Callum lifted his head. “A fucking—”

I snapped my fingers in Callum’s face. “Focus.”

“I already told you the truth,” he spat. “The former Queenmakes for an enjoyable companion.”

Ash lifted his boot.

“She does! She requires no idle chit-chat when with her,” hesaid in a rush. “I can just walk the gardens or sit with her in fuckingsilence.”

I held up a hand, stopping Ash. “You could do that byyourself.”

“And where would I stay? It’s not like there are many placesthere with spare rooms, and your inns are shit.” The faint glow of eather pulsed behind his pupils. “They were shit when Ilived there.” His upper lip curled. “Besides, I wanted to see her once more.”

I lowered my hand as the sensation of cold fingers tiptoeddown my spine. “Once more? What does that mean?”

His stare held mine for a moment and then flicked away. “Ifigured I wouldn’t be making many trips to the mortal realm for the foreseeablefuture.” He closed his eyes, his features tensing. “And your mother? Sherespects me.”

“Because she thought you were a god.”

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