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)
“Violently?”
“Is there any other option?” Ash replied.
“No.” Bele smiled in a way I should’ve found disturbing but didn’t.
“Exactly how will that be done?” Theon followed up.
“We entomb him,” Ash said.
“That won’t be easy,” Rhain stated.
“We know.” I idly petted Reaver’s head. “But there has to be a way. After all, the Ancients have been entombed for thousands of years.”
Rhahar choked on what he was drinking. “Come again?”
Well, apparently that was something else they weren’t aware of. “Not all the Ancients entered Arcadia or were killed. Some could only be put into the ground. That is why there must be balance—why there must always be life and death.” I then explained what Kolis had been doing with the Chosen—turning them into the Ascended. “That has been working, but I know that at least Kyn was worried it wouldn’t continue to do so. And if balance is not kept, the Ancients will wake.”
Blood drained from Rhain’s face as he sat—or collapsed—back into his chair.
“Do I want to know what would happen then?” Bele said.
“They would finish what they started when the Primals rose against them. Kolis would be the least of everyone’s worries,” I said, keeping my hand on the curve of Reaver’s neck. “Either way, we need to discover how the Ancients were entombed. What worked for them will work on Kolis.”
“Keella is the eldest Primal after Kolis.” Ash drew his fingers over his chin. “We plan to speak with her.”
“So, we entomb Kolis. For what? Thousands of years?” Rhain asked.
“That will ensure the balance is kept,” I said. It finally hit me that could mean we didn’t need to use Sotoria’s soul. Hope sparked. “Nyktos will continue as a Primal of Death, and I as the Primal of Life.”
A crease formed between Ash’s brows. “Or until Sotoria can be used. Her soul could be released once Kolis is safely entombed. And then once she is old enough…” Ash sent those around the table an icy smile. “Then Kolis will be no more.”
Theon smiled tightly. “Now that I like the sound of.”
My gaze lowered to Reaver’s as several cheers of agreement rose. I couldn’t blame them for wanting a future that included a dead Kolis. None of them knew Sotoria. They didn’t know what she had already been through. I looked up, finding Rhain’s gaze on me.
I shifted in my chair and refocused, returning to stroking Reaver’s neck. “So, how do we go about summoning the Primals?” I asked. “I assume it isn’t as easy as sending them a missive.”
“No, it is not.” Ash refilled my glass. “You, as the true Primal of Life, can issue the summons simply by willing it.”
My lips parted at the memory of the painful, reddish-black symbol that had appeared on Ash’s palm when Kolis had summoned us. “I don’t think hurting them is a wise way to start off.”
“It doesn’t have to be painful. What Kolis did was an ability provided by the true embers of death. It’s a death mark,” Ash explained. “But I agree. Forcing them to answer is something Kolis would do. Luckily, there is Attes.”
I raised a brow at that. “Luckily, you say?”
Ash smirked. “Yes. Just this once. He could prove useful and contact the other Primals.”
Attes had already proven himself useful, but I wisely kept that to myself.
Jadis had seemed to grow bored with Bele once the Primal ceased throwing her dagger. She rose now, stretching with a little squeak of a yawn.
Either sharing in Ash’s dislike of the Primal or still harboring distrust toward him, Rhain’s tone was cold as he asked, “And if Attes decides that he’d rather not be useful?”
Ash leaned back, resting the ankle of one long leg on the knee of the other as Jadis’s claws scraped against the table when she crawled forward. “I will convince him that it would be in his best interest to be very useful.”
“Wait.” My hand halted on the back of Reaver’s neck. “As in you’ll go speak with Attes?”
A lock of hair lay against his jaw as he tilted his head. “That would be the plan.”
“I don’t know if that’s wise,” I pointed out, leaning forward to catch Jadis before she fell right off the table.
Reaver lifted his head, eyeing the little one as she mewled, wanting to be on the floor. For his benefit, I placed her on my other side.
“That is exactly why I’m best suited to speak with him,” Ash countered as Jadis immediately scrambled under my chair, causing Reaver to shuffle back. “I’m the last person he wants to piss off.”
I wasn’t so sure about the plan as I tried to keep an eye on the two draken. Jadis had grabbed one of Reaver’s legs—thankfully with a hand and not her mouth. “The last thing we need is you hauling off and punching him.”
“I think that is the very first thing needed.” Ash gave a shadowy smile that frosted his eyes. “Besides, he has it coming and knows it.”