CHAPTER SIX

It felt like all the air had been sucked out of the chamber. My lips parted as my mind began racing, but the stench of stale lilacs returned, choking me and not allowing any words. What else? What else?

Nothing.

That was what I needed to say. Nothing else really happened.

But I could still feel the scrape of Kolis's fangs against my throat. A shudder slithered its way down my spine, and I jerked my hand away. I took a deep breath and held it, utilizing the breathing techniques Holland had taught me. All I had to do was look around to see that I wasn't being held captive. I wasn't in a cage—a gilded cage that no longer even existed. I'd destroyed it. I'd taken Kolis out—if only momentarily. I'd freed Ash from his prison.

Breathe out .

That had been me and my strength—strength fueled by pure rage, terror, and agony.

I knew that, but it felt like a part of me was still locked away where all my rights and freedoms had been stripped away, taking my identity and voice with them. The desperation and helplessness I never wanted to feel again crept in, threatening to soak my skin like rancid water. The rot of those emotions pressed in on me, and in the deafening silence of the chamber, I felt I would drown in them if I wasn't careful. I wanted to shed those feelings like a serpent discarded its skin, but they lingered like a bad omen.

I'm not there.

I didn't even understand why I was so affected. I should be able to handle this better. Whether Ash or Kolis, becoming the Primal of Death's weakness and ending him had been my duty since birth. I'd been trained to fight from the moment I could lift a sword. Groomed to seduce as soon as I became old enough to learn how flesh could become a weapon. I lived the entirety of my life knowing what was expected of me, yet I hadn't been prepared for Kolis's volatile mood shifts and twisted sense of honor. His cruelty and manipulation. His obsession. And even his moments of tainted kindness.

I hadn't been prepared for when he threatened to give me to Kyn, the Primal of Peace and Vengeance, who was nearly as messed up as Kolis was.

What else did he make you do?

I hadn't been ready to stand by as he turned a Chosen into something neither mortal nor god, but rather a being that hungered for blood. No amount of training had prepared me to pretend to not only be willing to spend time with him but also enjoy it. Breathe in . To see his fake, well-practiced smiles, and worse yet, the real ones whenever I made him happy or he spoke about Sotoria . Hold . Witnessing how he came alive then, finally showing he was capable of feeling something other than malice and self-persecution.

What else did he make you do?

To allow him to sleep beside me. Hold me. Remain still as he fed from me and found pleasure—

" Liessa ," Ash whispered.

The sound of his voice jerked my head back, snapping me out of my thoughts. My gaze flew to his. I had no idea how long I'd been sitting there. Definitely more than a handful of seconds. Had it been minutes? My heart was still pounding.

Reaching between us, Ash gently folded his hand around my wrist and pulled my fingers from my throat.

Dozens of tiny balls of unease settled in my stomach.

There is more.

I knew that.

Ash knew that.

"Talk to me," he said, so quietly I could almost pretend he hadn't spoken.

I wanted to run for the balcony doors. A better option was to change the subject slightly , and I knew exactly what to bring up. It was possibly the most important thing we needed to discuss and hadn't yet.

"There isn't much to say about any of that." I cleared my throat as I slipped my hand free of his. "But we do need to talk about Kolis. What are we going to do about him?"

That muscle flexed along Ash's jaw again as he reached for his glass and drank while I did everything in my power not to squirm.

Did he realize I'd changed the topic on purpose? Of course, he had. But had it angered him? Disappointed him? I didn't want that. I just couldn't talk to him about that. Not now. Not when I didn't even know what to think about it.

After what felt like a small eternity, Ash said, "Discussing how we're going to remove him from power is something we need to talk about with Lailah and Theon. Even Attes ," he said, surprising me a little that he thought to include the other Primal in, well, anything. "But we do need to be on the same page regarding what to do with Kolis."

"Agreed." I relaxed a little. "We know we can't kill him."

"Unfortunately, not at this point."

My thoughts flashed to Sotoria , and my stomach soured. "Nor can we allow him to continue as the false King or the true Primal of Death. So, what does that leave us with?"

"Only one thing."

My mind immediately went to the Ancients. "We need to entomb him."

Ash nodded.

I prodded at my fang, thinking that over. "That won't be easy. Kolis is old. He's powerful. Capable of healing any wound."

" Almost any wound," Ash corrected.

I started to frown, and then it hit me. "Ancient bone—wait. The true Primal of Life and the true Primal of Death can break through those."

"Yes, but if such a weapon is left in a Primal, it severely weakens them," he reminded me. "Whatever injuries they incur will not heal while the bone remains in place."

A chill skated down my spine. "Isn't that what Attes planned to do when he took Kolis?" When Ash nodded, I continued. "Has that been done before?"

"It has."

Part of me thought I already knew when and with whom, but I had to ask. "Has he done it to you?"

"Once," Ash answered flatly. "A few decades ago."

"Fuck," I rasped, pressing my hand to the table as eather thrummed hotly inside me. "I want to make Kolis bleed and then dance in his blood."

Ash's gaze flicked to mine. "I would love to see that, so let's ensure it happens."

I checked my anger before I started destroying more silverware. It wasn't easy. "We will also need chains made of the bones of the Ancients, won't we? And I assume there's not much just lying around."

"I know Attes has a small stash, but not nearly enough to make chains," he said. "And there are limitations for using Ancient bones against a Primal. Even leaving it inside them. The ground will seek to restore them, pushing any bone blades from the flesh like a splinter. And roots will eventually crush the bone chains."

Gods, I hadn't even thought about how the roots had come out of the ground when I almost pushed myself into an early Ascension. "How long does it take for that to happen?"

"For you or me?" He leaned forward. "Hundreds of years. For a Primal of Kolis's age? A handful of years. A decade if we're lucky."

"Gods." I sat back, fingers finding their way to my hair. "What about the tombs here?"

"They won't hold a Primal," Ash said, watching me. "And there would be a whole other issue with that."

"What…?" I trailed off as the answer pieced itself together for me. "You still rule the Shadowlands, meaning you receive the summonses at the Pillars and beyond. But if Kolis steps foot in the Shadowlands, he will gain control of the Abyss, the Vale, and all those who serve the Shadowlands, including the draken ."

"Because he's the true Primal of Death," he said. "Yes."

I faced him.

"But he'll be reluctant to do that. If he comes here, that would leave Dalos vulnerable and open for you to do the same there. As of now, that is the seat of power."

That was good news. Kind of. "So, we need to figure out how to entomb him and keep him there for longer than a decade." Or keep him there indefinitely so Sotoria wasn't needed. That would be the best possible outcome.

There had to be a way to keep him entombed because the— "The Ancients." I whipped toward Ash. "They've been entombed for thousands and thousands of years and are more powerful than a Primal. How are they entombed?"

Ash lowered his glass. "That's a damn good question. One I'm guessing the vadentia isn't helping with."

He was right. My intuition was silent. "But I know who holds that knowledge. The Fates. I also know the likelihood of them telling us is slim to none."

"But that means the knowledge is out there," he said. "We just need to find it."

"Yeah, that's all." I laughed. "Should be easy—" I halted again, almost not wanting to suggest what I was about to. "What about the Pools of Divanash ?"

"They can only show a person or an object," he answered. "And if there is an object out there that helped entomb the Ancients, and only the Fates know what it is, it likely won't reveal that."

Frustration grew as I twisted my hair around my finger. It shouldn't be this difficult. And in reality, the Ancients should be helping us.

"There is only one Primal almost as old as Kolis who may know and would have taken an active role in entombing the Ancients, while the others likely weren't old enough to fight," he said. " Keella ."

I twisted my hair tighter, hope sparking. There was no guarantee that Keella would have the information, but it was something. "Can we go now? To the Thyia Plains?"

"We can, but I think we should meet with the others first," he suggested.

"You're right."

"Always," he replied, and I shot him a look. He grinned as he reached between us and pulled my fingers free of my hair. "So, the game plan is to find a way to entomb Kolis. Once we have that information—"

"We have to go after Kolis, which will start a war."

"I'm afraid that is inevitable," he stated, refilling our glasses.

So inevitable, it seemed, that Ash had started planning for it by growing and training his armies long before I came to the Shadowlands.

"And how damaging that war is, how costly it becomes, will depend on how big it is. Because it won't just be us against Kolis," Ash continued. "It will be us against whoever stands with him, and he will have his loyalists among the gods and Primals ."

"I just don't get how any Primal could stand with him before and continue to do so now that there is a true Primal of Life." I shook my head, frustration growing because I did understand how on some level. "But they don't know me. However, they do know what Kolis is capable of."

He nodded as my gaze fell to the golden swirl on his left hand. Something occurred to me. "We won't rule as Kolis has. Obviously. But when your father ruled, did any of the other Primals take part in the decisions that were made?"

"As far as I know, mostly not," he answered.

"And this included decisions involving other Courts? And the mortal realm?"

"I believe so." Curiosity filled his expression. "Why are you asking?"

"I don't know. I'm just thinking. Like, I know things will be different with you being King instead of Consort, but why shouldn't all the Primals be involved in making major decisions?" I said. "Like officially involved."

Ash's head cocked. "Why would you want that?"

"Because no two people, Primal or mortal, should decide everything, especially when it comes to things they have no experience with and others do," I pointed out. "Power should be shared. That's what the Ancients did, right? The Ancients shared their power by creating the Primals ."

"Yes," he said. "Inevitably, it didn't stop what was to come, but if they hadn't done what they did, none of us would even be here."

That was a scary thought.

Ash was quiet for several moments. "There was a kingdom that existed when my father was alive. It was in the west, where Terra exists today, and was ruled by a council of elected officials. I believe it was called the kingdom of Creta."

"I haven't heard of that kingdom," I said.

"Probably because it was a young one full of ideals and people who also believed they should not be ruled by a King and Queen," he said. "They inevitably collapsed into infighting when no one could agree on anything from common laws to how rent should be collected."

"Well, that's disappointing to hear," I muttered.

"But one failure doesn't mean it shouldn't be attempted again."

I glanced over at him.

"I think the other Primals should be involved in the decisions. It would make them more invested in what occurs outside their Courts and Temples," Ash continued. "But it won't be easy."

"Oh, trust me, I know. My brief interaction with some of the Primals tells me that. But…there could be safeguards in place, you know? If the majority decides something terrible—which, again, based on my interaction with some of them, could happen—a veto power or even a non-Primal could also step in. Actually, why should it just be the Primals ? Shouldn't the draken be involved in decisions?" Excitement grew. "Like Nektas ."

"I doubt he'd sign up for that," Ash stated.

"Or any draken ," I said, silently adding that it would totally be Nektas . "There are so many better ways to do it."

"There are." He paused. "What made you think of that?"

I lifted a shoulder in a shrug. It wasn't the first time it had crossed my mind. "I just don't think one or two people should ever rule. And perhaps some of what has happened here wouldn't have occurred if the other Primals were more invested in the decision-making."

A faint smile appeared on his lips. "And you think you wouldn't make a good Queen."

"Shut up," I mumbled, my face warming because I could clearly hear the pride in his voice. "Anyway, I brought this up because, as we said, the other Primals don't know what it will be like if we rule. They don't know that it can be better. So, why don't we convince them?"

His gaze sharpened. "You're talking about summoning the Primals ."

It was a bold move. One that could pay off or end in disaster, and my mind immediately wanted to travel down the darker road, telling me that it would be impossible to convince most of the Primals that we would be a better option than the false King. Because some would only see me and choose to remain loyal to Kolis, simply because I was once mortal. Because I am a woman. Because the last time some of them saw me, I was dressed in transparent gowns and seated at Kolis's feet. Because—

Stop .

I took a deep breath to ease the tightening in my chest and nodded. "But not Veses or Kyn. I have no interest in convincing them of anything."

"Neither do I." Ash reached over and brushed a stray curl back. "I think we need to go over this with the Shadowlands gods, but if we can get the other Primals to side with us, taking Kolis down will be far easier." He fell quiet for a moment, eyeing me. "I must admit, I'm surprised."

"By what?"

"You." He reached for the bottle of wine and refilled his glass. "I didn't expect your response for how to handle Kolis to be so…measured."

"Me neither," I said. "It feels weird to be the practical one in a situation. Honestly, I don't like it."

Ash let out a low laugh. "Welcome to my world."

I cracked a grin. "Is it a bad thing? To be measured?"

"No." His head tilted. "It's just that I expected you to be more of the attack-first-and- then -think-about-it type."

"Well, that is my initial instinct," I admitted, thinking back to when I'd stood in the bathing chamber. "To go straight to Dalos and take out anyone who stands in our way."

"And why aren't we doing that?"

"Because that would be rash and impulsive. It's not really a plan. And…" I set my glass down, unsure how to put what I was thinking into words. "And it just seems like it would be a monstrous act."

"I see," he said, leaning back. "What happened with the riders has really gotten under your skin."

There was no point in denying that. "I haven't forgotten what we spoke about this morning."

"You just don't believe what I said to you about being a monster."

"No, that's not it," I was quick to say. "I do believe it. I know I'm not like Kolis or Kyn, and I get that we are all a little monstrous." I twisted toward him, dropping my hands to the robe's velvety skirt. "I do. But I also know that I am more…prone to giving in to that side of me and I am trying to make a conscious effort not to do that." I searched his gaze as my fingers curled against the soft material. "Is that wrong?"

"No, liessa ." He reached between us, straightening the collar of my robe. "It's actually very wise."

"Good," I said. "Because I think approaching this cautiously will benefit us. Kolis doesn't want—" I frowned as a sudden awareness pressed down on me.

"Kolis doesn't want what?"

"War," I whispered, concentrating on the feeling. It reminded me of what I felt when Primals were near, but this was different. The sensation didn't center only in my chest. "Someone is coming."