Page 299 of Born of Blood and Ash

“I’m already on it,” Attes assuredme. “Aurelia will send Elias and several of my most trusted guards.”

“Sera.” Saion moved into my line of sight. “What are theorders if we see ships entering the Lassa Sea?”

I met his stare, but all I saw were the people of Lotho leaping to their deaths. “If they do not swearallegiance to the true Queen and King, destroy them.”

“Are you sure?” Attes asked.

“I think she was pretty clear,” Bele growled, eather pooling in her eyes.

Rhain turned to me. “There will be no turning back if thatis what we do.”

“We are already past that point, and that was before Kolishad my family slaughtered,” I hissed, and Bele gasped. The shock radiatingthrough each of their faces told me they hadn’t learned about that yet. Energyramped up inside me. “We were already past that point. I just didn’t see ituntil now.”

“Fates,” Rhain rasped.

Attes hung his head in shame thatdidn’t belong to him.

“I will no longer risk the lives of those I care for,” Itold them. “If any forces are perceived as a threat, destroy them.”

Saion nodded, anger mixing with the disbelief in hisexpression. “Understood and agreed.”

Lailah joined him, thumping her fist off her chest. “We willgladly follow those orders.”

I inhaled through the burning in my throat and eyes.

“Bele,” Attes said. “You need toprotect your Court’s boundaries.”

Bele’s nostrils flared. “I need to protect my Queen—”

“You will be doing just that by making sure your Courtdoesn’t fall into Kolis’s hands,” I said.

Bele’s jaw flexed, but she nodded. “I promise that will nothappen.”

“I know.” I forced a swallow. “Kolis is wounded. He will beout, but I don’t know for how long. And I assume Kyn isn’t in much bettershape.”

“He’s not,” Attes confirmed.

“But we should plan for either of them to make a move at anypoint,” I continued, glancing at Rhain. “We need to send forces to Sirta toback up Bele.”

There were several nods.

“I will also send a division.” Attestugged on my waist. “Come.”

Kars moved away from the pedestal and stopped in front ofus. He lowered himself to one knee and bowed his head. “I am sorry for yourloss,” he said, his voice thick. “May your family be welcomed into the arms ofthose waiting for them in the Vale.”

Tears clogged my throat and stung my eyes. I felt myselfbegin to shake and crack further. “Thank you.”

I had no idea how I ended up in my bedchambers, whether Ihad walked or Attes had shadowsteppedus—for all I knew, he could’ve carried me. But we were there.

I looked around the space. Everything looked different now.

Attes stood in front of me andtook my left hand in his. “Sera—”

Closing my eyes, I immediately regretted doing so. All I sawwas the fear on the Chosen’s faces. The bodies of my family, strangers, andgods—bodies I had left in my wake.

I sucked in a short breath, stumbling back a step as I freedmy hand from his grasp. “Dametria,” I gasped.

Attes frowned. “What?”

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