CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Wisps of shadow whirled around Ash's legs as he stepped forward. "If he's harmed a single guard outside," he said to Attes in a low voice, "he will not be leaving here conscious."

If Kyn had harmed any of our people, he wouldn't be leaving here in one piece.

Shoulders tense, Attes nodded. "Understood."

Kyn strolled down the center aisle. "Don't worry. I didn't touch a single hair on any guard's head."

Attes grabbed Rhain by the arm and shoved him behind him as he demanded, "What are you doing here?"

Rapidly fading sunlight glinted off the bronze-and- shadowstone armor covering Kyn's chest. "I could ask you the same question, brother."

"He's welcome here. You are not." The air in the throne room dropped several degrees. "So, you have less than a minute to explain why you'd make such an unwise decision as entering the Shadowlands uninvited."

Kyn stopped halfway down the aisle. "I came to demand payment for what was done to my hounds."

Anger and disbelief combined, forming a searing knot in the center of my chest. "The hounds you sent after Nyktos ?"

Kyn's eather -soaked gaze flicked to me. "I wasn't speaking to you."

"You should be," I said. "Since I'm the one who killed most of them."

"Interesting." Kyn's steps slowed. "I'll make sure to let the King know you've admitted to slaughtering my hounds."

"You go ahead and do that," I retorted.

That fucking grin of his faded a notch as he looked away from me. And then it completely disappeared when he noticed Thierran , who remained seated, his feet still on the bench in front of him, ankles crossed. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

Thierran cocked his head and raised a brow. "Acknowledging your presence already isn't worth my very precious time," he said, sipping from his glass. "Let alone answering your questions."

Kyn halted, his flesh thinning until I saw hints of gray beneath. My skin prickled as energy ramped up. He lifted his left arm, eather sparking.

Essence flooded my body in a hot rush as I stepped forward. I didn't rein the power back in. Gold-tinged silver filled the corners of my vision. A glow pulsed around me, and several strands of hair began lifting off my shoulders. "Don't even think it, Kyn."

He slowly turned his gaze to me. Our eyes locked as brilliant strands of gold-and-silver eather streaked from my legs. One side of his lips curled up. "Weren't you in a cage the last time I—"

"Finish that sentence, and I will rip out your tongue and then feed it to you," Ash growled, his shadows snaking out and streaming between the rows of benches.

Holding Kyn's gaze, I smiled. "Finish it."

Kyn's nostrils flared.

"Don't finish that sentence," Attes intervened, holding up a hand as he glanced over his shoulder at Ash and me. "Let me handle this."

The hazy outline of wings appeared behind Ash's back, stretching out. "If by handle this , you mean removing him from my sight, then you'd better do it quick."

"I want payment for my hounds," Kyn demanded, glancing to where Rhain stood. "He'll do. We have some unfinished business to attend to, anyway."

"Try it." Rhain's nostrils flared as Saion moved closer to him, his hand going to his sword.

"Stop it." Attes blocked his brother. "Fucking Fates, what are you thinking? You shouldn't be here."

"Neither should you," Kyn retorted. "And you definitely should not have freed her."

"He didn't," I said, fingers twitching. "I freed myself."

"Congratulations." Kyn blew me a kiss.

"I'm going to fucking disembowel you," Ash promised.

"Can't wait." Kyn turned back to his brother. "You should be before our King, begging for his forgiveness after the shit you pulled."

"That's not going to happen." Attes moved toward his brother.

"Preferably on your knees." Kyn ignored Attes . "Something I'm sure some of you are well versed in."

Anger pumped through me. "Your insults are only slightly less amusing than Veses '."

Kyn huffed out a laugh. "What's going to be amusing is seeing you try to repeat that with a dick in your—" He grunted, sliding back several feet before catching himself. Eather lit up the veins in his cheeks, and his head jerked back toward me.

I stood several feet from where I'd been standing before. My reaction had been immediate, the eather rising to meet my will seamlessly. "Watch your mouth."

Kyn straightened. "That was a cute parlor trick."

"Did you see what I did to Kolis?" I asked, lowering my hand as I felt the throbbing awareness of a draken . "Was that a cute parlor trick?"

"No, that was what we like to call an act of treason." He focused on his brother. "And that is exactly what you're doing by being here."

"Actually, it's not, considering I no longer recognize Kolis as my King," Attes replied. "And I didn't long before she Ascended."

"You…you fucking idiot." Kyn's jaw throbbed, and he inhaled sharply. "You're endangering your Court, Nyktos ."

"Is that so?" Ash replied in a voice that was too quiet.

"Kolis won't stay my hand now." A glint of eagerness sharpened his features. "He will order your Court to be returned to dust." His gaze shot to the dais as the door leading to what I called the war room opened. "Along with your draken ." He let out a cutting laugh. "Even you."

"Sure, he will." Nektas crossed the dais and jumped down. He exchanged a look with Ash and then planted himself before me.

My narrowed-eye gaze landed on Ash. We would have to talk about that later—like after the trash had been dealt with.

"Kyn," warned Attes , creeping closer to his brother, "you need to leave. Now."

He wasn't listening. Instead, he said, "And I will gladly see it carried out."

"No, you will not." Attes planted a hand on Kyn's shoulder, shoving him back. "You aren't going to do shit."

Kyn laughed. "I always thought you were a little soft. But this? I never believed you capable of being this much of a fool."

"It is not I who is the fool." Attes followed as Kyn stepped to the side. "You need to leave."

"But I just got here." Kyn edged to the side more. "And I haven't received my payment. Nor any thanks."

"And what do you think we need to thank you for?" Ash asked.

I couldn't wait to hear this.

"For staying out of the goodness of my heart and attempting to talk some sense into you."

"Do any of us look like we need that?" Thierran asked.

"You always look like you need that." Kyn shadowstepped , passing his brother.

Shadows spun across the floor, rising within inches of Kyn, forcing him back a foot.

Ash's wings thickened behind him. "I thought you were going to handle him."

"Yeah, well, it's taking me a minute," Attes muttered.

"If you stand against Kolis,"—Kyn lifted a hand, sending his brother skidding backward—"you will spend the next several centuries regretting it."

"Do you think we haven't already spent centuries doing just that?" Attes spat, a pale shade of gray appearing just under his flesh.

Kyn's lips peeled back. "Kolis has only done what was necessary."

"Are you serious?" I demanded. "If you're going to support him, then at least be truthful about who you are supporting."

"And what would that truth be?"

"That he's a monster," I hissed, eather crackling from my skin as I sidestepped Nektas . "And the worst parts of you have benefited from that."

"It doesn't have to continue to be that way," Attes said, clasping Kyn's shoulder from behind. He spun him around. "You weren't always this—"

"This what?" Kyn shrugged off his brother's grasp.

"Violent," Attes answered without hesitation. "Aggressive. Bitter. Demeaning—"

"He's always been annoying as fuck," Ash cut in, shadows swirling rapidly around his legs. "Just wanted to throw that out there."

Kyn's head whipped toward Ash. "Fuck you."

"You weren't always hungry for vengeance," Attes rushed on. "You used to live for peace. Both of us did. What you've become is Kolis's fault. His actions have corrupted you."

"You have no idea what you're talking about," Kyn snarled. "If his actions corrupted me, then it would've done the same to you."

"You think I haven't felt his influence? I have," Attes shouted. "All of us have. You know I speak the truth, and the Fates know I should've spoken it earlier than this." Attes's voice roughened. "I should've stepped in centuries ago. But it's not too late to stop this."

"It might be too late for you, brother." Kyn extended his arms. "For all of you."

"It's about to be too late for your ass if you don't get the fuck out of my Court," Ash warned.

Kyn spun, baring his fangs. Eather swelled inside me, pressing against my skin.

"Look, I get it." Kyn drew back, his body moving in a disturbingly serpentine manner. "Kolis took your mother. Your father." He smiled. "Then your Consort."

The shadows stilled around Ash.

"Of course, you're angry. You've always been angry. But you, brother? You may feel a little regret here and there, but you live. You still prospered. All because of Kolis. All because he kept the balance."

"Balance he had to maintain because of his actions," Attes argued, his eyes wide. "Are you fucking serious right now?"

Kyn smirked. "Not to sound cliché, but I'm deadly serious."

"And you're also worried," I said. "I remember what you said to Kolis. You were concerned that his idea of creating life wouldn't continue to maintain the balance."

Kyn stiffened. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

I laughed. "Yeah, you do. You tried to hide just how concerned you were in front of Kolis because you're afraid of him."

"And you're not?"

"Who wouldn't be?" Shadows throbbed around us.

Kyn stared at me for a moment. "Brother, did you swear an oath to her ?"

My muscles locked up as Nektas edged closer to me, his hair shielding his face as he dipped his chin.

"I did." Attes grabbed his brother. "Before she Ascended and rose as the true Primal of Life. Before the eirini ."

"And what exactly do you think she can do for you? For Iliseeum ?" Kyn's laugh sounded like blades being dragged against each other. "She is a mortal."

My brows lifted as Saion sighed. "She is not quite mortal any longer."

"It's kind of embarrassing that you even have to state that," Ash drawled.

Kyn shoved Attes back once more to fully face Ash. "You want to know what's embarrassing, Nyktos ?"

Attes held up a hand. "Don't say another word."

"No." Ash's voice was soft, his lips curving into a smile as cool wind blew through the throne room. The faint sound of crackling came from the walls as the candles were snuffed out. "Please, continue."

" You ." Kyn tilted his head. "I'm embarrassed for you."

Attes paled. "Shut the fuck up, Kyn."

"Because you stand here," Kyn continued, his words slithering over my skin, "beside her . When only a few weeks ago, your Consort was Kolis's whore."

My heart stopped. Everything in and around me did.

"And I cannot wait for Kolis to fulfill his promise to me, and she becomes my—"

Ash was a blur of shadows and icy rage, slamming into Kyn in a heartbeat. He had shifted, his skin the color of midnight streaked with pure silver bolts of eather . Twin, sweeping arcs similar to the wings of a draken rose as Ash lifted Kyn into the air. Attes was shouting, but all I heard was the wet splatter of shimmery, bluish-red blood and tissue against the stone floor.

Ash had driven his hand through Kyn's stomach.

The Primal of Peace and Vengeance roared, his body jerking. Blood splattered the table.

"Stop this!" Attes yelled as Thierran reached for his bottle of wine, yanking it clear of the carnage.

Kyn's flesh turned a deep shade of stone gray. Leathery wings sprouted from his back, and he gripped Ash by the arms.

"Don't worry," Kyn spat, shaking Ash off. He flew back, the jagged tear in his stomach healing. "I'll give her back to you," he said, and I flinched.

"Stupid fuck," Nektas bit out, thin traces of smoke following his words. "Such a stupid fuck ."

"That is," Kyn hissed, "if anything is left of her."

Ash laughed.

He laughed .

Then he was on Kyn, their bodies crashing together in a clap of thunder. Kyn's fangs flashed as his head snapped down, aiming for Ash's throat.

Kyn was ages older than Ash, but Ash was enraged, and that fury set the candles aflame again, the fire racing upward. He was possibly even furious enough to kill his second Primal as he jerked his head to the side, avoiding Kyn's bite.

Gripping Kyn's jaw, Ash forced his mouth open. "What did I promise you?"

"Fuck—"

"That's not it." Ash's hand moved as quick as lightning.

Blood poured from Kyn's mouth as Ash held something pink and limp.

It was Kyn's tongue.

His actual tongue.

Just as Ash had promised, he shoved it back into Kyn's gaping mouth.

"Stop this." Attes whirled toward me. "You have to stop this, Seraphena ."

I knew I should. No god had been Ascended to take Kyn's place. Not only would killing Kyn kickstart a bloodbath, but it would also damage the mortal realm.

But I did nothing.

Rhain turned to me. "If Kyn falls here and not in battle, it will send the exact opposite message you want to extend to the other Primals and gods."

I knew that.

Kyn hadn't done anything but run his mouth—not exactly a good reason to kill someone.

But still, I did nothing.

Ash's arm jerked back and then thrust forward again. The other Primal's eyes went wide, and his body became rigid as he let out a guttural scream, throwing his head back.

Ash flew up to the ceiling and yanked his arm back. Kyn's wings collapsed.

"Holy shit," Thierran murmured, taking a drink of his wine.

Ash now held Kyn's beating heart in his hand. The shadows moving through Ash's flesh stilled, leaving silver streaks across Ash's cheeks as his all-silver eyes locked with mine.

Ash bit into the heart, tearing through the muscle. Blood spurted, running from the corners of his mouth. He lifted his head and then spat the blood into Kyn's face as his hand closed around the heart, crushing it.

Then he let go of Kyn.

I watched the Primal plummet to the floor. He hit a stone bench, cracking his back.

Thierran winced. "Ouch."

A giggle crawled up my throat, but I squelched it as Attes closed his eyes, letting out a long breath. I wasn't sure it was one of relief, even though his brother still lived since he still had a head. It was probably more a mixture of that and dread.

Ash lowered himself, landing between Attes and me. Nektas stepped out of his way and moved back as Ash's wings evaporated.

"I don't care what you do with him as long as you get him the fuck out of here," Ash bit out, turning to the others. "This meeting is over."

The blood and gore weren't visible on his shadowstone -hued flesh as Ash faced me. His eyes met mine, and he stalked toward me, silently taking my hand and shadowstepping us from the throne room.

Cool fingers brushed my cheek, catching several curls and tucking them behind my ear. "What are you thinking, liessa ?"

I sat on the side of the tub Ash occupied, my chin resting on my forearm. The water had turned red with blood, but it had since been emptied and fresh had been brought in.

"Many things," I murmured.

"What's the most pressing?"

They all felt equally pressing as my gaze lifted to Ash's. The striking lines of his face were relaxed and showed no sign of him having ripped the heart from another Primal's chest.

And then bit into it.

"I was thinking about the eirini and how close we came to breaking it," I said, trailing my fingers through the water. My gaze briefly lifted to his. "I was thinking about Attes . Everything with Kyn must be so hard for him."

"It would've been less so if he'd gotten the fucker out of there."

"It's his brother." I watched the suds swirling over Ash's thigh. "He was trying to do it without hurting him."

"And that's a problem." The tips of Ash's fingers smoothed over a strand of my hair. "Because, at some point, he will need to hurt his brother."

"I know." I pulled my fingers from the water and straightened. "And he knows that."

He huffed. "You sure about that?"

"He knows what happened when Eythos gave Kolis too many chances."

His gaze tracked the strand of hair he threaded through his fingers. "Yeah, and I think he was more so reminding himself."

"Possibly," I murmured. A huge part of me childishly hoped that Kyn and Attes wouldn't have to come up against each other, but the very real possibility weighed heavily on my mind and heart. I had to shift my thoughts to something else. "So, Thierran ? There's something…"

"Not quite right about him?" Ash suggested.

"Yes." I grinned. "I tried to read him but saw and felt nothing."

Ash's fingers stilled in my hair. "I would strongly advise against attempting that again."

My frown returned. "Well, after that dire piece of advice, I want to try it again."

Ash sent me a look of warning. "The oneirou can do more than just invade someone's dreams."

"They can steal them."

"It is more than that. They are known by another name: Sōl Eder ."

The translation caused my stomach to dip. "Soul Eater?"

"Yes. They can manipulate the emotions of their targets—including gods and Primals —both when they sleep and while they're awake."

My lips parted. "I think I know what kind of shit you were talking about now when you warned him."

"They are the only gods that can mess with us if they catch us off guard," he said, as serious as when he ripped out Kyn's heart. "Most are smart enough not to try it. But if they catch you in their heads, it's in their nature to do the same in return. And what they can do is far more than learning details about a person. They can create an emotion out of nothing, including manifesting and amplifying fear. They can drive someone mad in their sleep and send a god fleeing before a sword is even raised."

What did it say about me that I thought that ability was kind of interesting? Creepy, but definitely interesting.

"You don't fuck with them, Sera. Not unless you plan to end them immediately after doing so."

I swallowed. "Message received."

"Good." He exhaled heavily.

"You were sort of fucking with him out there. In case you didn't realize," I pointed out.

"That's because Thierran has just enough common sense to know I will do exactly as I warned without hesitation."

"Oh." My lips pursed. "I'm guessing they're really good at blocking their minds from others?"

"Yes. Not even I can easily read their emotions without making it known that I am doing so. And I know what I'm doing." His gaze met mine. "You're still figuring out your abilities."

"I said I wouldn't."

He didn't look away. "And I also know you're incredibly curious and impulsive."

"I'm not—you know, I can't even deny that," I said, and Ash chuckled. "Do you think we can still go to the Thyia Plains?"

"I think so. We just need to be careful with what we say."

I was relieved to hear that, and then I got a little distracted by all the sleek flesh on display. After he dried off, we talked a little about the eirini and what it meant. He stressed again that it wasn't that big of a deal, but it made me feel like we were spinning our wheels. Then he briefly checked in with Rhain—something I felt was actually expected of me . I kept forgetting. When he returned, I had just finished readying myself for bed. I stepped out of the bathing chamber in a thin, silky nightgown that reminded me of the color of Aios's hair.

Ash's eyes flared to a heated silver as he crossed the chamber. "Beautiful," he murmured, stopping near me.

He kissed the skin beside the gown's thin strap. The tips of my breasts tightened, and I shivered at the touch. "I'll be right back."

I nodded as he entered the bathing chamber. Dragging my hair over my shoulder, I climbed into bed and pulled the blanket up.

Ash returned, drawing to a halt as he saw me. An eyebrow rose. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." I frowned. "Why?"

"You're holding the blanket to your chin."

"Oh." I looked down to see that I was, in fact, clutching the soft fur to my chin. I eased up on my grip as Ash undressed.

I expected him to join me, but he didn't until he pulled on a pair of loose-fitting linen pants, keeping his back to me. That was odd. Or was it? He didn't always sleep nude. Prodding at a fang, I watched as he settled in beside me.

He didn't roll onto his side to face me, which also felt strange. I glanced over at him, my mouth opening and then closing. A knot lodged in my throat.

"I think we need to talk about Kyn." Ash shattered the silence.

I tried to swallow as I quickly averted my gaze, but it was difficult. "About what happened earlier? I probably should've stopped you."

Ash snorted. "You really think that?"

"Both Attes and Rhain asked me to."

"Why didn't you?"

I lifted a shoulder and peeked over at him. "I didn't want to."

"I'm glad you didn't. I thoroughly enjoyed shutting the fucker up." One side of his lips curled up, but it didn't soften the tension around his mouth. "But I thought for a moment that I might kill him. He's not Hanan, but I was angry enough to do it—at least, it felt that way."

I pressed my lips together.

"What he was saying?" Ash's voice was level, but my essence throbbed in response to the angry rise in his tone. "About Kolis offering you to him? That wasn't the first time I heard that."

I squeezed my eyes shut, knowing where he'd heard it, even though I did my best to forget it. Kolis used to talk to Ash when he visited him in the Carcers . So did Kyn.

"It was said in front of you, wasn't it?" he asked.

"Yes." I opened my eyes and willed my heart to slow. "It was before Ione gave Kolis the confirmation that I was Sotoria ."

Ash went quiet for a moment. "I'm sorry."

A tremor shot through me. "You don't need to apologize. It was just a threat—an empty one at that."

"It wasn't empty," he said, his voice roughening. "It was before Ione? That means you had no idea she would lie for you. His threat was a real possibility. And that…" He cleared his throat. "It had to be terrifying and enraging."

It had been.

"And you must have felt trapped."

I had.

I'd felt cornered and helpless.

"I know I did when he ordered me to feed—and to keep feeding—until there was no life left in those he turned me on after I pissed him off for something so irrelevant I can't even recall what instigated his fury now."

My breath caught as I looked at him.

"Sometimes, it was gods who hadn't even entered their Culling. I used to wonder what they'd done to earn such a fate until I realized they had likely done nothing—or something insignificant." He stared at the ceiling, his hands resting just below his chest. "If I refused—which I had before, though only once—I learned quickly."

"What…what did he do when you refused?"

"He killed three gods."

"Gods," I rasped.

Ash's chest rose with a heavy breath. "So, that was my choice. Were three lives worth me refusing to take one? I decided it couldn't be. And for a long time, I didn't know if I had made the right decision."

"That's an impossible choice to make," I told him, my heart aching. "I would've chosen the same."

"Yeah, and you would also wonder if you had made the right decision," he said, and I didn't need to confirm that. He was right.

"How many times did he make you do that?"

"Hundreds."

Shock doused the rising anger, but I could still feel it building in the air around me. It took me a moment to get it under control. "I want to kill him."

"As do I."

"Those deaths are not on your hands, though." My fingers dug into the blanket.

"I know that." A muscle ticked in his jaw. "But every so often, I dream of being in Dalos , feeding and feeling the heart stutter and stop. Feeling the anger and desperation as I searched for a way out of what I was being made to do. I don't think about it as much as before, but yeah, that shit can haunt."

"I'm so sorry." Tears stung my throat. "But I was lucky, Ash," I whispered. "I wasn't forced to do anything like that."

He was quiet for a moment. "Evander?"

A jolt of surprise ran through me. "How do you know about him?"

" Keella told me when we were in the Thyia Plains before you woke up."

Gods.

I couldn't be mad at Keella , but I wished she hadn't said anything. "It wasn't like that."

"What was it like?"

"It was…it was when Kolis brought me to court. There were Chosen there who had shed their veils and acted as servants. Some were rather friendly with the gods, but it was hard to tell, you know? The gods would just grab the Chosen."

Ash said nothing as an image of Evander filled my mind, his eyes widening with shock. "I got angry at the way the Chosen were being treated, and when Evander grabbed one—Jacinta—and bit her… It was right after—" I cut myself off with a shake of my head. "Kolis led me to believe that Evander was forcing himself on Jacinta and told me I could stop him. So, I did." The sight of the life fading from those shocked eyes filled my mind, and I flinched. "Then Jacinta started screaming. That's when I realized he'd played me. Easily. Too easily. I should've known better."

"How could you have?" Ash asked.

"Everyone speaks about how manipulative Kolis is. I saw it myself."

"That doesn't mean anything, Sera. Every situation is different, and I've seen him manipulate gods three times older than me."

I didn't want that to make me feel better because I had taken a life. Likely a purely innocent one.

"So, just like you're sorry I experienced that,"—his head turned toward mine, and our eyes locked—"I'm sorry you experienced what you did. Okay?"

The tears stung my eyes now. "Okay."

He held my gaze for a moment and then looked away. The lights flickered off, plunging the chamber into darkness. A moment passed, and then the bed shifted as he rolled onto his side. His arm came around me. I felt his lips brush my cheek and closed my eyes against the rush of rising emotion, refusing to allow it to be freed. It wouldn't help anything, and it would only worry Ash more.

I wouldn't cry.

I wouldn't .