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)
That got everyone’s attention.
Veses lowered her hand. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I will not be the only one making decisions, deciding the future of the realms and the lives of everyone within them.” My heart skipped a beat. “I will not rule with a Consort at my side. I will rule with a King at my side.”
Phanos’s arms unfolded, and Maia’s mouth dropped open.
My eyes met Ash’s. “We will rule together as King and Queen.”
“Wow,” Veses exclaimed, clapping her hands. “What a novel approach. So groundbreaking.”
I tried counting again. I didn’t even make it past one. “I swear to the Fates, Veses, I am doing everything in my power not to slam you face-first through a wall, but you are really testing me.”
Veses’ red-painted lips parted.
“I strongly advise you to rethink whatever is about to drip from your tongue.” Shadows rose along Ash’s legs as he stared down at Veses. “Seraphena likes you even less than I do. You piss her off, and I will not stop her until she nearly destroys you.”
It took every ounce of maturity I had not to smile as Veses shut her wretched mouth.
“You say you’re trying to be a better person,” Phanos cut in. “Combined with what you’ve already done, that threat doesn’t sound like you really mean it.”
“Seraphena said she was trying to be a better person,” Ash replied coolly. “I did not.”
Phanos stiffened. “Then let me rephrase my question. How would ruling as a King or Queen be any different if only one of you shows restraint?”
“Both would show restraint if you all would shut the fuck up for five seconds,” Attes retorted.
Kyn’s head jerked in his brother’s direction.
“However, unlike them, I have no need for restraint.” Attes looked over his shoulder. “Think about that before you say something to me.”
Kyn’s jaw jutted, and he faced forward, crossing his arms.
Attes smirked.
Keella cleared her throat. “So, you two would rule equally?”
Taking a step back, Ash lifted my hand to his mouth. He pressed a kiss to the top as his eyes met mine. “Yes and no,” he said, lowering my hand and letting go. My heart practically melted. “We would rule equally with the other Primals.”
A hushed sound went through the throne room, and not a single Primal before me didn’t look shocked. They hadn’t been expecting that, and their stunned silence had to be a good thing. It had to be.
Phanos recovered first. “What exactly are you saying?”
“I don’t think any one person should rule all, nor do I believe that two people should control everything,” I said, keeping my hope in check. “There needs to be a…balance. And all of us need to have a vested interest and shared responsibility in all decisions. There needs to be fairness, and I think this is the only way.”
“That is not the way the Courts were established.” Phanos sounded incredulous.
“So?” I said. “Just because it hasn’t been done doesn’t mean it can’t be.”
“But it does,” he insisted. “That’s not what the Ancients intended.”
“I hate to sound repetitive, but…so?” I replied. “There is no law prohibiting such a thing.”
Phanos’s eyes widened as if I had suggested we set fire to all the Temples in the mortal realm.
“Do any of you think Kolis would offer to share power with you?” Ash asked. “True power that comes without conditions?”
“Does serving you come without conditions?” Phanos asked.
I opened my mouth but stopped, shaking my head. “Siding with us isn’t exactly free of conditions, but we would never ask you to sacrifice your people. And I”—I swallowed hard—“I am truly sorry for what you had to give.”
Phanos lowered his gaze, his jaw hardening.
“Nyktos and I are not perfect. I have already made grave mistakes, and I am sure we will make more, but we will never ask you to kill someone who displeased us or punish someone you care for because we’re unhappy with you,” I continued. “We will not slaughter innocents to prove some irrelevant point or assuage some perceived insult. We will not strike out against you because of a difference of opinion.” I glanced at Veses. “We will not seek to humiliate you to assert power or for amusement.”
Veses’ features sharpened until I saw shades of gray beneath her flesh.
“We will not imprison people for our twisted pleasure, and we will not play you against one another.” My chin lifted. “We don’t want a war that will spill over into the mortal realm. We don’t want to leave Iliseeum soaked in the blood of gods and draken. All we ask is that you stand with us against Kolis.”
Silence greeted my words.
“There is just one more thing each of you needs to be aware of before you choose,” Ash said. “Two of you will not get the opportunity to make that choice.”
“Oh, I wonder who those two are.” Kyn barked out a laugh and moved forward a few feet. A smug smile twisted his handsome features. “I’d rather be fucked by one of my hounds,” he said, making Veses’ lip curl, “than swear allegiance to either of you.”