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)
“He was right. That is how a Primal can be killed,” I said. “Did you speak to him?”
“A few times.” She swallowed. “He told me the Rot had lifted because you’d succeeded.”
“What?” I exclaimed at the same time Ezra did.
“You never told me that.” Ezra pitched forward to look around her wife.
“You already assumed she was dead,” my mother replied, the corners of her mouth tightening. “But I knew you harbored some hope that she still lived. I didn’t want to take that from you.” She looked at me then. “He spoke the truth about that.”
Confused, I rose from the chair. “He did. And that makes utterly no sense.”
“Did he tell you she killed Nyktos?” Nektas asked.
My mother shook her head. “No. I asked.” She glanced between the two of us. “But he said he could not tell me how. I thought—well, you know what I thought.”
What in the world was Callum up to? Part of me wanted to leave right then and beat him until he returned to life and answered my questions.
I began to pace. “What else did he say?”
“He talked about nothing of importance. He mostly seemed content with company, even if it was quiet,” she said. “But when he wasn’t here, he spent his time at the Cliffs of Sorrow.”
Of course, he would spend time there, where his sister had died. “Gods,” I murmured, hating the pang in my chest. I didn’t want to feel empathy for him. Especially now. Not when I knew that fucker had a reason to be here. Still, I couldn’t stop myself.
“You said he wasn’t a god.” Ezra spoke. “Then what is he?”
“An atrocity,” I said, pulling my gaze from my mother’s elegant profile. “The dead reanimated.”
Marisol sat back. “You’re saying Callum is that?”
Callum was different, but I didn’t see the point in getting into that when it would likely only confuse them further. “They are neither god nor mortal, created to serve only Kolis. And as you saw, they are very hard to kill.”
“What if he comes back here?” Ezra asked.
“Summon—shit.” My pace picked up as Ezra and Marisol tracked my movements. “I haven’t felt any summonses yet, and Kolis is likely still sending gods loyal to him to the Temples.” Frustration rose. “There has to be another way…” I stopped, closing my eyes as I concentrated. There was another way.
“Sera?” Nektas called.
“I’m okay. I’m just thinking.” I knew the answer was in all the information I’d received during my Ascension. I knew it was—I spun back toward my mother, startling her. “Call my name.”
“Excuse me?” Her eyes lifted to mine.
“If you need me, all you have to do is call my name, and I will hear you.” Eather hummed throughout my body. “No matter what.”
“That’s all?” Doubt colored Ezra’s tone. “She just shouts your name, and you’ll come?”
“I don’t think you need to shout it, but yes.” Glancing at my mother, I exhaled slowly. “It’s because we share blood.”
“That makes sense,” Nektas remarked.
“It does?” Ezra questioned wryly, and then her gaze sharpened on the draken. I had a feeling I knew what she would ask next.
I jumped in. “Promise me you will call for me if Callum shows again.”
My mother nodded after a moment. “I promise.”
A little relieved, I nodded.
“May we back up a moment? To Callum? I don’t understand. I mean, I do on a basic level that I will likely be thoroughly confused about later when I think about it more…” Ezra said, and a small grin appeared on Marisol’s face. “But if Callum serves Kolis, why would he tell anyone how to kill a Primal?”
“Trust me, I have the same question. And I plan to get the answer from him.” That and the reason he was here just hanging out.
“That’s not the only thing I’m confused about,” Marisol said. “You said that gods loyal to Kolis were still answering the Temple summonses, but you’re the true Primal of Life—” She laughed nervously. “And even as bizarre as that sounds, I don’t feel all that surprised by it.” She shook her head as Ezra and I shared a quick glance. “Anyway, I’m guessing Kolis won’t remain the false King?”
“He won’t. And that is why I’m here.” I moved to a chair and sat. “I haven’t gone into much detail about the horrors Kolis has committed, but when I say he has little respect for mortal life, I am not exaggerating. He cannot be allowed to rule.” I was very careful about what I said next. “Nyktos and I are doing all we can to prevent a major conflict in Iliseeum.”
Ezra went still. “By conflict, do you mean a war?”
“Yes.” I leaned forward. “But no matter what, there will be a fight, and it will be felt in the mortal realm. You have likely already felt it.”
Marisol frowned. “There was a very bad storm a bit ago. I’d never seen anything like it. We lost a few ships.”