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)
“What about it?” His fingers danced over the lace.
“Just that it was too risky and…” A taut, hot shiver curled deep inside me.
His lashes shielded his gaze again, but I felt the intensity of his stare upon my breasts and his hand between my thighs. “And?”
Throat dry, I struggled to remember exactly what had been said. “That none of it worked out as he planned. They agreed.”
“Who wouldn’t?” Ash questioned. “My father’s plan wasn’t well-thought-out. Clearly.”
“But what if it was, and we were wrong about what he planned?”
Ash’s exploring fingers stilled, and his lashes lifted.
“What if this—or at least some of this—is what he planned? For me to become the true Primal of Life.”
Ash didn’t speak for a long moment. “If he believed you would be Sotoria reborn, it would make sense. You would be a true weapon and able to fully stand against Kolis.”
“Ward thought there was a chance Eythos wanted you to become the true Primal of Death. That it would be possible by using The Star,” I told him, watching a crease form between his brows. “But that’s the part that didn’t go as planned. I’m not Sotoria, and The Star…”
“Is already in use,” he finished.
My gaze searched his features as seedlings of concern rooted themselves. “How does that make you feel? The possibility that he might not have intended for you to be the true Primal of Life.”
The skin between his brows smoothed. “I feel nothing.”
Doubt crept into my tone. “Nothing?”
“Nothing,” Ash confirmed, and the furrow returned. He studied me. “Did you think I would be disappointed to learn that?”
“I don’t know. Maybe? It should—”
“You’re no longer allowed to say that.” Essence streaked through his eyes.
I snapped my mouth shut, mostly out of surprise.
“And I mean that as respectfully as possible,” he tacked on. “It never mattered to me if it was my birthright. What did was stopping Kolis. That was all that mattered to me.”
“Mattered? As in past tense?”
“Yes, liessa, as in past tense. Because you are the true Primal of Life, and stopping Kolis is no longer all that matters to me,” he said. “You do.”
My lips parted on a soft inhale as I stared up at him.
“And I do mean that, Sera. Everything else is now a byproduct of that. Not a single part of me gives a fuck if that’s wrong. Besides, it sounds to me like we need to transfer his embers to me. With the exception of those embers being death instead of life, that’s what I planned. Yeah, it’s complicated since The Star is in use, but it was complicated before.”
True.
“We need to entomb Kolis until Sotoria is reborn. Then we’ll take the embers.”
My heart sped up. “So, that’s the plan?” It was the most sensible one. But releasing Sotoria’s soul to be reborn meant she wouldn’t have control over her future. Just like before. Just like me. I exhaled slowly. “Then you will be the true Primal of Death. And I, the true Primal of Life.”
Ash nodded. “Yes.”
We were in agreement, but I didn’t want that for Sotoria.
“Glad it’s decided,” he said, his voice lowering as he ran a long, cool finger along the edge of my undergarment. “What I don’t understand is how this led you to Vathi.”
It took me a moment to think past how that featherlight touch sent pleasure dancing up and down my spine. When I did, the passion cooled in the rise of unease. “You’re a Primal of no Court.”
His exploration ceased, and his gaze lifted to mine. “Liessa…”
A knot lodged in my chest. “You know what that means. You’ve always known what that would mean.”
“Sera,” he began.
I gripped his shirt again. “Kolis knows we have The Star, Ash. And he also knows what can be done with it.”
“That doesn’t matter.”
“Yes, it does. Kolis is clever enough to expect us to use The Star in the same way he did. And he has to know that you could take the true embers of death. That makes you a target.” My heart felt like it had stopped—just like when I realized it before. “You can be killed without any huge impact on the mortal realm, and I know you realized that. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Why would I make you worry?” His eyes searched mine. “Over nothing.”
“Nothing?” I nearly screeched the word. “Confidence is sexy, Ash, but not when it becomes idiotic. You’re a target. That’s when I got the feeling that something bad was about to happen. And I was right. What just happened with the Dogs of War is evidence of that. If not Kolis, then another Primal will come for you.”
A lock of hair fell against his cheek. “I’ve always been a target.”
“But this is different—”
“You’re right. It is different now,” he cut in. “Because of you. Because of us.” He cupped my cheek. “Do you really think I would allow anyone to take me out when I have you to fight and survive for? That I would allow anything or anyone to steal our future? That’s never going to happen, Sera. Never.” Strands of eather spun as he held my stare. “I am a Primal of Death. You are the fucking true Primal of Life. No two beings in any realm are safer than we are. Because I also know that you won’t allow that to happen. Or am I wrong?”