Page 31 of Born of Blood and Ash

“What?” coughed Ash, swallowing.

“Callum.” I pitched forward, rattling the table.“The blond-haired Revenant who is always with Kolis.”

Ash reached for his glass. “What about him?”

“You know how Kolis favors Callum?” When he nodded, Icontinued. “I couldn’t figure it out at first—why Callum was the only one whowas allowed to be alone with me or how he clearly had more leeway with Kolisthan anyone else. There were times he would actually disagree with Kolis.”

Ash halted. “If you’re about to tell me that Callum isKolis’s child…”

“Uh, no.” My lip curled when I thought about how Kolishadn’t been with anyone since he’d held Sotoriacaptive. It wasn’t his celibacy that disgusted me. It was the reason behind it.“Callum never believed I was Sotoria. He was adamantthat I wasn’t, even after Kolis summoned a goddess from the ThyiaPlains,” I said, referencing the Primal Goddess of Rebirth’s Court. “He wantedher to confirm whether what I claimed about being Sotoriawas true. She can read memories like Taric could. Her name is Ione. Do you knowher?”

The skin between his brows creased. “I know of her.She often accompanies Keella. I didn’t know she hadthe ability to scour the mind.” His jaw clenched. “Did she look into yours?”

“She did, but she made it as painless as possible,” Iquickly told him. “And she lied for me, Ash. She saw the truth and lied.” Worryfor the goddess surfaced. “Kolis has to know that now. I hope she’s okay.”

“If she lied to Kolis, she knew what she was doing, and shewill likely be smart enough to make herself scarce,” Ash stated. “Callum didn’tbelieve you were Sotoria, even after that?”

“No, and the reason he didn’t is the same as why he’s soclose to Kolis,” I told him. “Callum is Sotoria’sbrother.”

Ash choked on his water. “You have got to be joking.”

“I wish I were.” Gods, did I ever. “If you thought thingswere messed up before? Wait until you hear this.”

“Great,” Ash muttered.

“The day Kolis saw Sotoria on thecliffs and scared her? She was picking flowers for her sister, Anthea. Callumwas supposed to be with her but was messing around with someone instead. Hefelt responsible for her death.” I held up a hand. “Look, I don’t like Callumat all, but he wasn’t responsible for his sister’s death. Kolis was.”

“Agreed.”

“So, Kolis, being possibly the least self-aware being in allthe realms, went to Sotoria’s parents to let themknow that he’d petitioned Eythos to restore Sotoria’s life.” I watched as Ash captured my hand andbrought it to his lips. He pressed a kiss to my palm, then lowered it to my lapas I told him how Callum had asked to be taken to Sotoriaso he could apologize, and how that had ended for him when Kolis explained thathe couldn’t. “Callum slit his own throat.”

“Fuck.” He exhaled roughly.

“Yeah, and Kolis…” I shook my head. “Gods, I could hear theanguish in his voice when he spoke of holding Sotoriaas she died and then did the same with her brother.”

“You sound bothered by that.”

“I was. I am,” I admitted. “What happened to Sotoria and Callum is a tragedy. And back then, Koliswasn’t who we know today. I’m not saying he was good then,” I tacked on.“Clearly, he had obsessive tendencies and really poor peopling skills.” Mycheeks puffed with the breath I blew out. “But I don’t think he was pure evil.”

Ash said nothing to that.

It was understandable. Ash would never see Kolis as anythingbut who he knew. “Kolis couldn’t allow Callum to die, and he knew Eythos wouldn’t intervene. So, he did what was forbidden.”

Ash inhaled sharply. “He gave life?”

“He used his blood to Ascend Callum, but he’s not a demis,” I said, speaking of the Ascended mortals who don’tcarry enough eather in their blood—not like the thirdsons and daughters. “And he’s not one of the Ascended. He’s not even like theother Revenants. He’s who he was before his death. But the other Revenants?They have no desires—not for blood, food, sleep, or companionship. They aredriven only by the need to serve their creator. Kolis. And that is all.”

“That is why death cannot give life. Doing so is a mockeryof such—just soulless, reanimated flesh and bone.” Anger tightened the cornersof his mouth. “These Revenants sound like a type of Gyrm,”he said, and my lip curled at the mention of the once-mortals who had eitherwillingly entered into eternal servitude upon death to atone for past sins orhad given their souls to a god or Primal upon death in exchange for a favor.“But a more improved version.”

“Yeah, I don’t think they’re filled with serpents,” Imurmured, shuddering. “Anyway, Kolis sees nothing wrong with it. He thinksbeing incapable of wanting or feeling anything is freeing.” I turned my head toAsh. “If I hadn’t had embers of life in me, could that have happened when youAscended me?”

“No. I am a Primal of Death, but I am not true Death. Myblood likely would’ve done the same as any other Primal’s,”he said. I didn’t know why that relieved me because it was moot at this point.“Did Kolis ever explain why Callum is different?”

“He said that Eythos once told himthat whatever the creator felt at the time shaped the creation.” I rubbed theskin behind my ear. “And he was right. It’s what the creator truly feels—whatis real and cannot be forced. And everything Kolis felt when bringing Callumback to life was real—desperation and bitterness.”

My stomach soured. “He even felt joy. But he only felt dutywith the others. The only magic involved was that Callum retained somethingakin to a soul.” My brows knitted. “But creation is a reflection of who andwhat we are. A mirror of all our best and worst traits. Callum is an echo ofwho he and Kolis once were. But the other Revenants?”

“They’re an echo of who Kolis is today,” Ash surmised, amuscle along his jaw ticking. “And basically indestructible. But what aboutCallum? Shouldn’t he be easier to kill if he has something akin to a soul?”

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