Total pages in book: 362
Estimated words: 347293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1736(@200wpm)___ 1389(@250wpm)___ 1158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 347293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1736(@200wpm)___ 1389(@250wpm)___ 1158(@300wpm)
I stiffened. “But he didn’t.”
“He could have.”
“He did what he did because he loves me,” I insisted, anger rising once more.
“Selfishly,” the Ancient tacked on. “He loves you selfishly, therefore risking the lives of nearly all who walk these realms.” Stars burned in his eyes. “We got to where we are today because of another who loved so selfishly.”
I stepped toward the Ancient without thinking. “Do not ever compare him to Kolis.”
“I am not comparing them,” he replied, utterly unbothered by my fury. “I’m pointing out what that kind of love is capable of.”
“How…how can someone so old be so wrong?” I said, shaking my head. “What you’re trying to compare? What Ash and I feel for one another and what Kolis felt for Sotoria? They are two very different things.”
Aydun frowned, his head cocking. “How so?”
“What Kolis feels for Sotoria is an obsession.”
“And there is a difference?” Curiosity filled his tone.
I stared at him, my mouth slightly agape. “How am I once again explaining what love is to a man who is fucking old enough to know better?”
Aydun looked even more confused.
“My gods,” I muttered, searching for the kind of patience Ash had. “The difference is that I feel the same way for Nyktos as he does for me. Yeah, maybe he’s obsessed with me, but I am also obsessed with him. It’s consensual. Mutual. What that is?” I jabbed a finger in the direction of the golden curtains. “Is one-sided and twisted. Rot not much different than what affected my homeland. It’s ugly. What Kolis feels is selfish, and I know firsthand just how wrong what he feels is.” I stepped back, my throat thickening. “What Nyktos feels for me? It’s beautiful. A miracle. It’s…it’s hope.” I blinked tears from my eyes. “And I’m truly sorry that there are people, be them Ancients, gods, or mortals, who don’t know there is a difference.”
Aydun stared at me as I had done with him seconds ago, looking completely flummoxed.
And I didn’t have the time or the desire to explain further.
Checking my emotions, I turned and entered the hall, glancing at one of the alcoves. No soft moans or deep groans came from them today, but a low hum of conversation drifted out from the chamber ahead, as did the sounds I expected to hear from the alcoves. My jaw clenched as my attention shifted there when the thud of awareness in my chest increased. The shadowstone dagger I’d helped myself to provided more comfort than the Primal essence did. Right or wrong, I was far more used to wielding a blade than eather. Maybe that would change someday, but for now, the feeling of the hilt digging into my back gave me strength as I pushed the curtains aside and stepped inside the wide, circular chamber. I came to a complete stop. It wasn’t the Primal present that halted me, even though I should be focused on him.
It was the source of the raspy moans and groans.
My skin prickled as my gaze swept over the gold-painted ceiling, past the armored guards lining the walls, to the deep couches and settees sitting in front of the curtained windows of the atrium. They were mostly empty, except for a handful near the raised, columned dais framed by two closed archways. There weren’t just gods on those couches with their faces buried in necks or between thighs.
My eyes locked with ones that had been warm brown but were now pitch-black with only a flicker of light deep within them. Gods, I recognized the fine features forever frozen in youth.
It was the Chosen I’d seen Kolis turn. Jove.
Aydun nearly walked into me as he entered the chamber, but I couldn’t pull my eyes from Jove as my heart thumped.
What had Gemma said about the Chosen who disappeared? Some returned as something else—a cold creature never seen in the daylight.
The Ancient had said the Ascended had souls, but the eyes latched onto mine appeared vacant of such.
Jove’s eyes closed as he drank deeply from a god’s throat. The god’s head fell back with a heavy, guttural moan echoed by another—a female goddess half-sprawled on the couch beside them, her golden gown hiked up to her waist. A pale head was nestled between her thighs.
I couldn’t believe Jove was here. Not much time had passed since he’d been turned, and Kolis had made it sound like it could possibly take months for the Ascended to learn how to control their bloodlust and be trusted.
But maybe that wasn’t the same for all of them, especially if they did have souls. That meant some small part of who they were before remained inside them. Perhaps how strong that part was determined how long it took them to control themselves.
“Meyaah por-na,” rumbled a deep voice.
Violent energy pulsed within me as I pulled my gaze from the feeding and found the Primal of Peace and Vengeance. I understood what the bastard had said.