Total pages in book: 248
Estimated words: 236909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1185(@200wpm)___ 948(@250wpm)___ 790(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1185(@200wpm)___ 948(@250wpm)___ 790(@300wpm)
“Fuck,” Ector uttered.
I seconded that emotion as I glanced over my shoulder at Nyktos. “Did you know he could do that?”
“Gaining the King of Gods’ permission was a tradition back when my father ruled.” Nyktos leaned back in the chair, putting a little more space between us. “Primals and gods sought his approval before a coronation, hoping he would give his blessing. But Kolis hasn’t done it once. Nor has he ever shown any interest in such a thing.” The muscle along Nyktos’s jaw flexed. “But I should’ve expected this—that he’d pull this shit.”
After all, you are his favorite.
“He’ll use this as a chance to find out how the embers of life were felt here,” Nektas said. “I bet he’ll offer that in return for his permission.”
Ector’s amber gaze darted from me to Nyktos. “You can’t let him know the truth.”
“No shit,” Nyktos replied.
“But what will you tell him if that’s the case?” As soon as I finished asking the question, I understood. “Attes said that neither he nor the other Primals had forgotten who your father was or who you were meant to be. Kolis could think it was you.”
“That’s far better than him thinking it’s you,” he countered.
I gaped at him. “No, it’s not.”
“Kolis would know it’s not Ash,” Nektas interrupted. “He’s already tested Ash enough to know that he has no embers of life in him.”
“Tested…?” I trailed off, thinking of the ink swirling over Nyktos’s skin. I knew as Ector looked away, rubbing his hand through his hair. I knew without even asking. Some of those drops represented those that Kolis had killed to see if Nyktos could bring them back to life.
Gods.
Nyktos had gone still behind me, and I hoped I wasn’t projecting and that he wasn’t reading me. I didn’t think he’d appreciate the sorrow I felt for him.
Nyktos finally spoke. “I would lie. I would tell him that I felt it, searched for the source, but haven’t found it.”
“He’d believe that?” I asked, looking back at him.
“I’ve had to convince Kolis of many things,” he told me. “I will convince him of this when he issues his summons—whenever he’s damn good and ready. Which—”
“Presents many issues,” Nektas finished.
That was an understatement.
“Believe it or not, Kolis’s interference isn’t the only issue we’re now facing,” Nyktos said. “Not after Attes met Sera.”
I twisted back to him with a frown. “I doubt Attes thinks I’m anything more than a mouthy pair of breasts.”
Ector snickered.
Nyktos’s eyes flared with eather. “He was provoking you.”
My scowl deepened. “When he called me an accessory?”
“Not then. Later. I could sense him using eather. He was feeding into your emotions, amplifying either calmness or violence.”
There was a reason Primals didn’t often enter the mortal realm. Their presence could change the moods and minds of mortals and impact the environment around them. The Primal Maia could evoke love and fertility. Embris could increase one’s wisdom or guide them into making poor choices. Phanos could stir the oceans into a frenzy. Attes’s brother, Kyn, could engender peace or vengeance.
“You really think he was trying to do that?” I asked, thinking of when the eather in Attes’s eyes had grown brighter. “To me?”
“Without a doubt,” Nyktos confirmed.
“But I didn’t feel calmer or more violent…than normal,” I said, and he huffed out a laugh. “I didn’t feel anything.”
“Exactly,” Nyktos said.
“Oh, shit,” Ector murmured. “Attes would’ve realized that his presence had no impact on you.”
A sharp slice of unease lanced my chest. “But Nyktos told him I was a godling—”
“Neither godlings nor gods are immune to a Primal’s abilities,” Ector said. “We don’t react to their presence as quickly or recklessly as a mortal might, but it would affect us if a Primal wanted it to. That’s why the gods in Kyn’s Court are a bunch of bastards, and the ones in Maia’s are a horny lot.”
My lips pursed.
“Besides the Arae and the draken,” Ector continued, “only one other would be immune.”
Nyktos’s gaze caught mine. “Only a Primal is immune to another Primal’s presence.”
“Good gods, that could mean…” I squeezed my eyes closed. It could mean that Attes might suspect the truth. That it was me who carried the embers of life. The Consort-to-be, who was about to be summoned by Kolis. My breath scraped against my throat.
“Give us a minute,” Nyktos said, and when I opened my eyes, both Ector and Nektas were gone, the doors closed once more. More than a few seconds passed in silence before Nyktos spoke again. “It’ll be okay.”
A strangled laugh left me. “Attes might now realize it is I who carries the embers of life. And Kolis is going to summon both of us. How in the world is that okay?”
“It could be worse.”
“How?”
“Kolis could’ve outright denied the coronation. Forbidden that I take a Consort.”
“He can do that?”
Nyktos nodded. “I could still take you as my Consort, but you would not be recognized as such by the other Courts.”