CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

"Did you eat enough?" Ash asked, striding into the antechamber and pulling a white linen shirt over his head.

"Yes." This morning, he'd asked if I'd slept enough. The answer was the same, even though I could count on one hand how many hours of sleep I'd actually gotten. But I'd slept deeply, apparently having cried myself into exhaustion.

Ash eyed the array of dishes he'd arranged for me like he had when I said I'd gotten enough sleep. I'd eaten something from every plate and bowl. He looked worried when he stepped onto the raised platform. "You sure?"

"I ate two helpings of the sausage." I patted my belly. "I'm stuffed."

One side of his lips curled up, and he stopped at my side. He bent, kissed my cheek, and then stepped back. His gaze roamed over my face before fixing on my throat. Eather pierced his eyes as he opened his mouth.

"I know what you're going to say," I jumped in. "It's the same thing you said this morning."

He sat in the chair to my right. "That hasn't changed, liessa . Those bruises should've healed by now. I want Kye to look you over."

"I don't know why the bruises haven't completely faded, but I feel fine, Ash." I took a drink of the citrus juice. "I promise."

Ash didn't say anything, just picked up the last strip of bacon he hadn't eaten before he'd left to change.

"And we have too much to do today to waste time summoning a Healer," I added.

He glanced over at me. "Making sure you're healthy will never be a waste of time, Sera."

"It is when I'm okay." I sat back in the chair, resting my hands on the arms. "We need to decide what we're doing. I'm pretty sure Kolis is still in stasis, but I doubt he will be for much longer. We need to…"

Wiping his fingers, he then tossed the napkin onto his plate. "Strike before he awakens?"

I nodded. "That's what I should've agreed to when we first had this conversation."

His eyes found mine. "What you decided the first time wasn't wrong, Sera."

My fingers pressed onto the wooden arms. "Can I ask you something? And will you give me your honest answer?"

"Always."

I swallowed. "When you agreed to try to go the somewhat peaceful route first, was that what you really wanted? Or did you agree because it was what I suggested?"

"That's a question with a complicated answer." He rested his elbow on the arm of his chair. "I, too, wanted to avoid a full-scale war. Too many people would've died, both here and in the mortal realm. That's why I agreed."

"But?"

He was quiet for a moment. "But you know what I thought. That once Kolis felt truly threatened, he would strike out." He drew his thumb over his chin. "I just prayed it would not be in the manner in which he did."

Swallowing again, I nodded once more.

"So, yes, I did agree because it was the right route to go," he continued. "I had my reservations, especially about the deals, but that is in the past. There's no point in dwelling there. We don't have time for that."

I exhaled slowly. "Agreed."

He took a drink of his coffee. "You said last night that you were now going to be yourself. You. Not who you thought you should be. I think I know the answer, but I want to hear it from you. How do you think we should proceed?"

I didn't even have to think about it. "I think we should go straight to Dalos and take out anyone who stands in our way."

"That's what I thought." He set his cup down. "But that will not work. As of right now, we still do not know who our allies are, and Kolis's armies outnumber ours, even with you Ascending Penellaphe ."

I tensed. "You've gotten an update from Lotho ?"

" Thierran gave me a brief update when he returned last night," he said. "Nearly half the army has defected and fled to Dalos ."

I closed my eyes. Our numbers were closer to Kolis's, but he still had more unless a Primal like Phanos joined us. "I wonder if Thierran settled all the scores he needed to," I murmured.

Ash's brows rose. "Do I even want to know?"

"Probably not." The royal blue tunic I'd donned settled around my thighs as I rose from the chair and walked toward the open balcony doors. My gaze fell on the sunlight reflecting off the Rise walls. "We still need to summon the Primals ."

"Agreed."

"We need to do that today." I crossed my arms over my chest. "And we need to summon all the Primals , including Kyn and Veses . I want to make a statement."

I didn't even have to finish what I was saying. Ash knew, and a savage glint filled his eyes. He nodded and then asked, "Will you be able to handle that? There are rules when all the Primals are summoned into one's home. They cannot be harmed unless it is in self-defense."

"It won't be easy. I…I may need your help with staying calm," I admitted, feeling my cheeks burn.

He raised a brow. "You do realize I'm not the best person to rely on when it comes to that son of a bitch and keeping calm."

"You will stop yourself. You've done it before," I reminded him.

His eyes flashed with luminous eather . "That was before."

Before he knew everything.

"We won't mess this up. We will make sure we control ourselves," he said after a moment. "Are we still planning to establish a council of sorts after Kolis is dealt with?"

"Yes. I still believe in that." I tucked a curl back. "More now than ever."

He was quiet as he rolled up his sleeves. "Are we giving the Primals an ultimatum? Swear allegiance to us or die?"

I turned halfway to him. "I don't like it," I admitted, twisting the ends of my hair. "It sounds like something Kolis would do. With Phanos , I would like to give him the chance to stand down, but…"

"You want to do that because of what the ceeren did for you."

I nodded. "I saw his pain at their loss, Ash. It was real."

"I'm sure it was." He exhaled heavily. "But isn't Kolis capable of experiencing emotional pain?"

My fingers stilled.

" Veses ? Kyn?" he continued. "That doesn't change who they are at their cores, Sera. You know that."

"I do." I let go of my hair. "Thinking anything different would mean making another mistake. The same mistakes. We have to end this, and we need to do it in a manner that lessens the impact on the mortal realm."

He inclined his head, catching what I wasn't saying. That I could no longer hold back in an attempt to lessen the lives lost in Iliseeum . "That will solve our problem of acquiring enough Ancient bones. Either the Primals will give us what they have, or we will take it."

That was what Attes had suggested. Take the bones from the Courts.

"You do know that we cannot just kill the Primals who refuse to join us," he said quietly.

"I know." I tipped my head back against the cool wall. "I could Ascend a member of their Court just in case. We already have Aios if Maia remains loyal to Kolis. I could Ascend either Theon or Lailah to replace Kyn. We also have Saion and Rhahar ."

" Rhahar will not want to rule the Triton Isles," he said.

My gaze flicked to him. "Then we will ask Saion."

He nodded. "That leaves us with Veses ' Court."

"Rhain won't take her Court." I pushed away from the wall. "And there truly isn't a single god there we can trust?"

"I do not believe so."

I made my way back to him, my chest heavy. "Does that mean we have to…?" I stopped searching for a less harsh word. I couldn't pretty up the eradication of an entire Court. My chin lifted. "Does that mean we have to kill every god there?"

"The ones old enough to become an issue." His jaw ticked. "Yes."

Shaking my head, I glanced up at the ceiling. There had to be another way. Not trusting any of the gods to rule as a Primal didn't mean they were incapable of changing. "There will be an impact on the mortal realm if we do that. With no Primal of Rites and Prosperity, we'd plunge all the kingdoms into ruin."

"We would."

I stopped in front of Ash, wanting to be close to him. There was no reason for me not to be. Ash knew nearly everything now, and he'd held me close as I slept. And as I got ready this morning, he hadn't tried to hide his hungry stare when I undressed. Nothing had changed—well, that wasn't entirely true. Everything had changed, but not in a bad way. It was almost like there was a new type of understanding between us. That didn't mean I ever wanted to talk about what Kolis had done to me again, but I knew I could if I needed to. I nudged Ash's leg with my knee.

He looked up at me and turned his body to the side. "You sure?"

I didn't even have to say anything, and he knew. That was one of the many reasons I loved him so much. I offered him my hand.

He took it at once, folding his much larger hand around mine, and tugged me down so I sat in his lap. There was a moment when my mind wanted to go someplace else, but I nestled against Ash's chest instead when he wrapped an arm around me.

"This helps you think better?" he asked.

"Mm-hmm," I murmured, wiggling until I could rest my head under his chin. "It's another of your hidden talents."

He chuckled, burying a hand in my hair. "One even hidden to me."

I smiled. "Do you remember during the last meeting when we talked about how the true Primal of Life could take on a Court?"

He kissed the top of my head. "Yes."

"What if I take the Callasta Isles?" I said. "I know it's never been done before, but that has to be better than what feels like genocide that leaves no one but orphans behind—children who will then grow up, likely hating us for slaughtering their parents without really giving them a chance to be able to change."

"Giving them a chance can leave us vulnerable to rebellion and attacks," he said, finding a curl .

I thought about that. "I'd rather deal with that than proceed as if it's a foregone conclusion."

"I would prefer that also," he said, wrapping the strand around his finger. "As long as we know we cannot continue to tolerate attacks."

"Yeah, I know." Sunlight crept over the interior walls. "But maybe there will be a god we can trust to rise at some point."

"One can hope," he said warily.

I trailed my fingers down his forearm, tracing the tendons and bone. "We need to remove as many of Kolis's allies as we can before going after him. Once that's done, we'll have to…what did Attes say? Be the ones to act and not the ones to react?"

"Yes." He straightened the curl out. "What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking there is no way there won't be a clash of armies, no matter what we do. I can only hope that Ez —" I sucked in a reedy breath as Ash's arm tightened around me. I pushed through the burn of grief. "I can only hope Ezra was able to warn the other kingdoms to prepare or that they will after what happened in Lasania and Terra."

Ash's arm tightened even more, and that also made it hard to push through the burn. I cleared my throat. "It's not like Kolis won't know what we're up to."

Ash let the curl bounce into its normal shape. "He will strike back quickly."

"We still need the upper hand. Something that will catch him off guard. And we already have it."

Ash didn't even need to guess. " Sotoria ."

I nodded.

"He is also unaware of what we've been doing in Oak Ambler," he said. "That will be finished any day now."

"Yes." I sat up, not leaving his embrace but meeting his gaze. "But we need to draw him out and away from everyone else. He won't expect us to hand The Star over, and even if he suspects it to be some sort of trick, he'll still come. He'll do anything to get her back."

"As disgusting and disturbing as that is, it's the truth."

But there was another truth.

The one thing I hadn't opened up to Ash about yet. The only thing left unsaid between us but something that had occupied my thoughts from the moment I knew Sotoria's soul was inside me and what it meant.

I took a deep breath. "But I cannot allow him to have her."

A slight frown pulled at Ash's brows. "I didn't expect you would."

I placed my hand on his chest. "I also can't allow Sotoria to be forced into another life where she has no control. One where she runs the risk of Kolis somehow escaping his entombment and getting his hands on her before she can end him." What Kolis wanted both of us to suffer replayed in my mind. "I…I never want him to see her again."

His eyes widened. "I want that, too. Fates, do I ever. But she is the only one who can end him."

"But it's not fair to Sotoria ," I said. "For her to be reborn yet again, only to have to deal with Kolis once more."

"Not if we do it right." Ash disentangled his fingers from my hair. "For Sotoria to be successful, Kolis just has to be conscious, not free."

"And you think it will be that easy? That it will be as simple as waking him long enough for Sotoria to plunge a bone dagger through his heart?" I challenged. "We don't know that. What we do know is that the moment Kolis sees Sotoria as he remembers her, he will tear himself limb from limb to get to her. I don't want to risk that."

A moment passed. "Then what do you suggest?"

"What we already planned to do until Sotoria was ready. Entomb Kolis," I told him. "Look, the Ancients have been entombed for thousands of years and are more powerful than he is. There is no reason we can't do that and then release Sotoria's soul so she can find peace. He won't be dead. Balance will remain. You will still be a Primal of Death and the King."

"I don't care about being King or a true Primal. That's not my concern." Dragging his fangs over his lower lip, he turned his head. "You're right. There's no reason we can't do that."

I didn't let hope spark. "But?"

"But the prophecy, Sera. By choosing not to end him, we are fulfilling that part of the prophecy."

"I know, but we're going into it knowing there's a chance he could reawaken," I argued, even as I felt a tiny kernel of doubt. "We simply have to prevent that from happening, which isn't impossible. Not when the Ancients have been entombed for so long."

His gaze came back to me. "The only thing is, we would have to be okay with him still being alive."

The thought of Kolis still being alive, even if entombed, made me want to scream, but… "But if I have to choose between Sotoria and him, I can deal with him being alive. I can deal with the possibility that he could somehow awaken in a thousand years. Because you know what? We will be ready for him when he does. We won't let him usher in the end."

"I get what you're saying. But, Sera—Fates, the only thing I want is for there to be a future where you never have to think about that bastard again," he said, cupping my cheek. "Where he is no longer a threat, not even a distant one."

"And I want that for Sotoria . I want her to have a choice—to find peace or live a life without the threat of Kolis."

Ash inhaled deeply, the muscle in his temple ticking.

"I know she is only one girl. In the grand scheme of things, she's just one life. But she has suffered over countless lives because of him. She has suffered to the point where the last time Kolis had her, she asked your father to end her life," I said, and Ash's eyes widened. "Kolis told me that. I didn't want to believe it, but Attes confirmed it. And, Ash, I know what it feels like to get to that point. Yet I still don't know how bad it got for her. I've never been okay with using Sotoria . Never," I told him. "She doesn't deserve this."

His head fell back, and he exhaled heavily. "No, she doesn't deserve this."

I let the spark of hope grow a little. "Will you be able to live with this?"

"I can live with whatever brings you happiness."

"Ash, I'm being serious."

"So am I." His chin lowered. "You're the most important thing to me. Your happiness is everything, and if that means keeping that fucker alive but entombed and us doing everything to keep him that way for you not to carry the guilt of forcing Sotoria to be reborn, then I can easily deal."

My breath snagged. "Truly?"

He smoothed his thumb over my bottom lip. "Truly."

"I think I'm going to cry."

"Please, don't." He pressed his forehead to mine. "I want to burn things when you cry."

"But they're happy tears."

"Tears are tears."

I laughed shakily. "Okay. I won't cry." I cradled his cheeks. "I love you."

He kissed me softly, so tenderly my chest swelled. "I suggest we not leave this open for debate," he said, leaning back. "Most of the Primals don't even know about her. We should keep it that way."

I nodded. "I want to tell Attes , though. He will support this."

"I don't doubt it." He slipped his hand from my cheek and moved it to the nape of my neck. "We need to run this past the others."

My stomach dropped a little. "Okay," I said, and his eyes narrowed immediately. I sighed. "You're reading me."

He didn't even deny it. "What about meeting with the others made you anxious when summoning the Primals didn't?"

"I…" I pressed my lips together to give myself a moment. "What if they think of me differently because of what I did? What if they're scared of me?" I tensed. "That…that would hurt because they…they are the only family I have now."

"Oh, liessa , they've always known who you are at your core." His gaze met mine. "While it may have been rough in the beginning…"

I snorted.

A grin appeared. "They accepted you. Just like I did. They will not think of you differently because they know you."

The breath I exhaled, while not free of guilt or shame, was lighter. "Thank you for reminding me."

"I will always remind you of that." He kissed me again, and I felt like I could float right up to the ceiling. "Before I get everyone in here, I need to know one thing. Are you going to be okay with all of this when it's over? Even the harsh parts?"

I knew what he was talking about. The deaths that would be at both of our hands. "This is different than me losing control, but it will bother me. It'll haunt you. Both of us. But I have to be okay with it, and…and I will be."

"So, we're in agreement, then?" Ash asked, his fingers tapping softly against the wood. "We summon the Primals today and then proceed accordingly."

Holding the fork with a slice of melon for the little draken in my lap, I smiled faintly as Jadis took the fruit without staring the fork down for five minutes.

Progress.

She held on to my hand without digging her claws in when I speared another piece of fruit. Reaver was at our side in his draken form, and I didn't think he'd taken his eyes off either of us since everyone arrived.

I glanced up as Jadis guided my hand, and therefore the fork, toward her mouth. There were nods of agreement.

Everyone was here.

Despite Ash's assurances, seeing all of them had been hard at first. I wasn't just worried that they would think of me differently or be scared of me. I'd also feared they'd feel pity because there was no way that those within the palace had not heard me rage screaming last night.

But while their eyes and words had been compassionate, none of them had acted strangely. Well, except for Bele. She'd patted the top of my head when she passed.

My gaze swept past Nektas to Attes . Drinks had been brought in, but he hadn't touched the coffee or gone for one of the decanters of whiskey or sherry. Sure, it was early, but I doubted that would've stopped him in the past. He also hadn't said much.

I cleared my throat. "I know our plan is…brutal and not at all what I originally wanted, but this is the only way we believe we can lessen the impact on the mortal realm."

"Doesn't sound brutal to me," Bele said, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear. "Sounds like a good time."

Lailah and Aios frowned at Bele. "It's not brutal. It's actually smart," Lailah said. And it was. It was what we should've done at the beginning. "If we can pull this off, we will have the upper hand when it comes to Kolis."

"Agreed," Rhain said, rising. "If you will excuse me, I should go ahead and begin preparing for the Primal summonses."

"Thank you," I said. Jadis pushed my hand away, letting me know she was done.

Meeting my gaze, Rhain gave me a small smile and nodded. Jadis peered over my shoulder, watching him leave. I patted her scaled back.

Ash shifted his attention to the oneirou . "You think you'll be able to do your thing?" Ash asked. I'd told him about what I had thought of when I spoke with Thierran in the library.

"You get Kolis alone?" A lock of black hair tumbled over his forehead. "I will do my thing and then some."

Ash's smile was tight as he looked at the twins. "Theon, I want you in the Bonelands while we have this meeting, just in case." Jadis turned in my lap, stretching her arms toward him and letting out a little chirp. He reached over and placed her on his lap.

"I feel so unloved," Nektas remarked as his daughter pressed her head against Ash's chest.

Ash snorted. "Lailah, I want you at the Black Bay."

The siblings nodded, and Nektas handed a blanket and what appeared to be a nightgown to Ash. As they rose to leave, Lailah sent Attes a worried glance.

He didn't even seem to be aware that they'd left.

"Saion, Rhahar , you will remain here," Ash continued, attempting to pull the nightgown over Jadis's head, but she kept lifting her wings. Nektas grinned.

"Sounds good to me." Saion looked at his cousin.

Rhahar nodded. "You really think any of them will come at either of you?"

"They'd have to be very foolish," I commented, scratching Reaver under the chin. Ash finally got the nightgown on Jadis and covered her with the blanket. "They may not have known what I was capable of before, but they do now," I said without the hint of smugness that would normally fill my tone. But that was before. Now, I knew this was nothing to boast about.

Bele was silent for a moment, surprisingly not responding with one of her customary quips. "They're not going to be here, right?" She jerked her chin toward Reaver.

The draken narrowed his eyes.

"I will take the younglings to Mount Rhee before the meeting," Nektas said, propping a bare foot up on the edge of the desk.

I didn't think I'd ever seen Nektas in shoes.

"I doubt anything will happen," Ash said, adjusting the little draken in his arms. Jadis was already asleep. "But I don't want you near the throne room, Aios ."

Aios frowned. "I am not happy with that."

"I am." Bele smiled at her, and the look she gave the Primal immediately erased the smile. "We done here for now?"

Ash nodded. "Stay close."

"Will do." She rose and took Aios's hand. "Let's go so you can yell at me in private."

Attes actually chuckled at that as he started to stand.

" Attes ," I said. "Can you stay for a few moments?"

"Of course." He settled back.

"Come, Reaver." Nektas stood, taking his sleeping daughter from Ash's arms. "We need to go."

The draken hesitated, his cerulean gaze darting between Nektas and me. I don't want to leave you.

Even his voice in my mind was filled with dread. "It'll be okay." Bending at the waist, I cupped Reaver's jaw and kissed the top of his warm head between the horns that would soon grow. "Go with Nektas ."

His heavy sigh echoed in my thoughts, bringing a grin to my lips. He rocked back, extending his wings and taking to the air.

Once it was just the three of us, I got up. As I passed Ash, I briefly stopped to kiss his cheek. His gaze tracked me when I sat in the chair Nektas had occupied.

Attes's wary gaze slid to mine. "Don't look at me like that."

I arched a brow. "Like what?"

"Like you're worried about me," he replied. "It makes me uncomfortable."

"It shouldn't, considering you saw me having a complete breakdown."

"Are you going to say that doesn't make you uncomfortable?"

"It does," I admitted and felt Ash's hand on my lower back. "But I am worried about you."

A ghost of a smile appeared. "There is no need, Sera. I know why you wanted to speak with me in private, and while I appreciate the thoughtfulness, I've known this day was coming, even when I didn't want to know." He inhaled deeply. "Kyn will not survive this."

I wanted to look away, but it felt wrong. Weak in a way I couldn't be.

"No," Ash said from behind me. "He will not."

Attes nodded, his lashes lowering. "He…he truly wasn't always like this," he said roughly before clearing his throat. "He once lived for times of peace. He had a heart. He laughed and loved. He lusted for life and not cruelty." His gaze turned distant as if he were seeing far into the past. "His care for the younglings remained through the centuries, the only thing that reminded me of who he used to be. The only hope I had that he could still be saved. Kolis took that when he had you kill Thad," he said, and my eyes closed. "When I could finally tell him that his youngling draken still lived, it was too late. My brother was gone."

"I'm sorry," I said. When I felt his hand on mine, I opened my eyes.

He lowered his head so we were at eye level. "As am I." He squeezed my hand and then straightened. "But it is what it is."

Ash's hand moved in slow circles on my back. "We will need to Ascend someone to take his place."

"Lailah," Attes said without hesitation. "She has the temperament, and she's ready."

I glanced over my shoulder at Ash. He eyed Attes closely. "And you're suggesting Lailah because you truly believe this," he asked. "Or because you want her?"

I raised my brows at Ash's bluntness.

Attes huffed out a low laugh. "Her being a goddess hasn't stopped me from wanting her, has it?"

Oh, my.

Ash made a sound that might've been a laugh. Or maybe a growl. I couldn't be sure.

"Besides," Attes went on, "I aim to rest after this."

Heart dropping, I stiffened.

"I don't plan to enter Arcadia," he said, seeing my reaction. "Not yet, at least. Nor will I go to ground immediately afterward. You will need my aid in the transition. But I will need to rest." His gaze flickered away. "I need that time."

"I understand," Ash said, and so did I, even though it made my heart ache.

"I will assign Theon to oversee things in my place during that time," Attes added, surprising me once again. "He will do well just to prove he is better than me, and I will be able to rest peacefully."

I smiled at that. "That's not the only reason I wanted to speak to you."

"Is that so?" He lifted a cup of likely cold coffee and drank. "Hopefully, it is a less depressing conversation."

"It is," I said. "We will not be using Sotoria's soul."

His head swung toward me so fast he probably gave himself whiplash. "What?"

"I can't do it. I can't force Sotoria to be reborn and used." As I told him what I'd said to Ash earlier, it was like witnessing a man finding a small slice of peace as disbelief gave way to relief. Attes's left hand dropped to his lap, and his right followed as I promised him that Sotoria would not be forced to live yet another life she didn't choose for herself. Tension eased out of his neck and shoulders when he understood that she would find rest. He slouched a little in his chair as I told him that Kolis would never see Sotoria again.

"He will remain entombed, and we will do everything to make sure of that. And Sotoria will have a choice."

"That is…" Attes's eyes closed as he tipped his head back, raising his arms. He dragged his palms down his face, then up and through his hair. Turning his head toward us, tears glimmered in his eyes. His voice was rough and thick when he spoke just three words. "That is everything."

I inhaled swiftly, fighting back a rush of my own freaking tears. Ash folded an arm around my waist from behind. He hauled me out of the chair and into his lap as he said, "You do love her."

Attes's laugh was shaky as he shook his head. " Sotoria could've killed two Primals if she had the chance."

Gods…

I squeezed Ash's arm, biting my lip.

"I've always known she would never be mine. I was okay with that. I could live with it. All I've ever wanted was for her to have peace." Clearing his throat, he smiled a little. "I guess that's the purest kind of love."

"Yeah," I whispered, blinking rapidly. "I believe so."

His eyes met mine and then Ash's. "Thank you."

"There is no need for thanks," Ash said. "None at all."

I swallowed the knot in my throat. "I was thinking it would be best to wait to release her until after Kolis is entombed."

"Agreed." He rubbed his palm over his chest. "I want to be there when we do it."

"Of course. You would be there even if you didn't have The Star," I told him.

He nodded again and cleared his throat once more, appearing to rein in his feelings. "You said something earlier, Sera. About the plans being brutal. You're wrong."

"I am?"

He was quiet for what felt like a small eternity. "When people think of war, they imagine endless, grand battles fought across many landscapes. They think it's nonstop violence stretching from one kingdom to the next the moment conflict erupts, leaving hallowed ground behind. In their minds, they see cities sacked and burned, left to rot along with the corpses of those who would've died for peace but perished for being in the way. One speaks of war, and mortals hear the pounding of warhorses' hooves, the clash of swords, the cries of the wounded and dying, and the whistle of arrows piercing the air. They picture men who were once loving fathers and sons, gentle husbands and tender lovers, becoming blood-hungry beasts, knowing that no one, neither King nor servant, will return without pieces of them forever lost. That's the kind of war mortals expect—that the young, in their na?vety , romanticize. Bloody, brutal, and unforgiving in its indiscriminate slaughter. That's not the kind of war Primals and gods were meant to engage in," he said, causing small bumps to rise along my arms. "However, that is the kind of war Kolis has started."

Attes's voice lowered, and he held my stare. "But what mortals and even some Primals don't realize is that there is rarely a distinct winner in that kind of war. The victor is simply the one who still stands. Not because of sheer willpower or even the greater strength in their values. The victor stands simply because of their brutality." One side of his lips curved up, hinting at a deep dimple in his scarred cheek. "But they never stand for long. Because despite every life they took, every city they burned, and every family that was simply in the way as they destroyed things to reach their target, twice that will inevitably rise to raise swords against the victor. That kind of war can never be won because it never ends. There are only reprieves." Eather streaked across his eyes. "But what you seek is how wars are won. Through cunning and precise actions before a single piece of armor is pierced on the battlefield. It is no less harsh, but it is not brutal. What is, is the morality of fools. The choice to make war instead of going after only those who have made the decisions that created the conflict. That is brutality."