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)
“Both of you seemed surprised to see Dyses alive and well.” Kolis glanced between Attes and Nyktos. “Have you two shared the same concerns as Hanan?”
“I have not seen you bestow the honor in a long time, Your Majesty.” Attes shrugged. “It’s just a surprise to see you do such a thing.”
Kolis nodded, then his attention shifted to Nyktos. That smile of his deepened, tightened. “And you?”
“It is unlikely that Hanan and I share any concerns,” he replied smoothly. “I, too, am surprised for the same reasons as Attes. And for the dakkais you sent to my lands shortly after the energy was felt.”
A shiver tiptoed down my spine as I braced myself.
Kolis leaned forward, letting a hand drop over the arm of the throne. The crown glimmered as brightly as the sun. “Why would you think those two things are related?”
“They’re not?”
“No.”
“Bad timing, then?”
“Yes, bad timing.” Kolis’s head tilted in a…a serpentine manner. “I was displeased with your failure to announce your intentions to take a Consort. I am still not pleased that you sought to hold a coronation without my approval.”
I stilled.
So did Nyktos.
That was bullshit, and I doubted that Nyktos believed him. I wasn’t even sure Kolis thought we believed him. Unease ratcheted up. This felt like a game where the rules were kept hidden.
“You know what happens when I’m displeased, especially with you.” Kolis’s voice slipped and slithered across the atrium, coating my skin in oil. “And yet it seems you take great joy in doing so. I have been so very tolerant, but you disrespected me, and that cannot go unpunished.”
“I know,” Nyktos said, and that was all he said. Fear, cold and hard, bolted through me.
“It was my fault,” I blurted, heart seizing as Attes’s head swung in my direction.
“Sera,” Nyktos hissed, straightening as he grasped my hips like he fully planned to lift me and run from the room—or throw me from it. “That is—”
“No.” Kolis rose. “I want to hear what she has to say.” Those golden, churning eyes fixed on me. “How is it your fault?”
“I…” I swallowed, my heart thumping as my thoughts raced. “He didn’t seek your permission because I asked him not to.”
“That is not true,” Nyktos growled.
“Yes, it is,” I argued, scooting forward as far as I could go as Kolis’s gaze flicked between us. “You see, I feared—”
“Me?”
“No,” I quickly denied, willing my heart to slow. “I have no reason to fear you.”
Kolis came to the edge of the dais, glided to it, and those tendrils of eather spilled onto the marble.
“I feared that you’d find me unworthy. I am just a godling. And Nyktos, your nephew”—I choked on the word, widening my eyes—“he is the Primal of Death. Surely, many gods are far more worthy than I.”
Kolis said nothing as he stared down at us.
“We truly didn’t think it would be a cause for concern because Nyktos did believe you to be too busy for such things. But it was I who was the cause, and I am deeply regretful.” Icy anger pressed against my back, and I knew I would never hear the end of this—that was if Kolis didn’t strike me down right here. But I couldn’t allow him to punish Nyktos. I wouldn’t. “I hope that I can be forgiven and am able to prove that I can be worthy of such honor and graciousness.”
Kolis remained silent for long enough that I began to feel pressure creeping into my chest. But then a slick smile appeared. “You are…brave, Seraphena, to admit such a thing to me, the King. That alone would make you most worthy. But I will have you prove yourself to me.”
Nyktos suddenly had me on my feet, then was standing before me. “If anyone needs to prove their worthiness, it is I.”
“I am sure there will be other ways for you to do so in the future. But if you want my permission to take her as your Consort”—the mask faded from around his eyes and churned down his cheeks—“she must earn it in the same manner I would ask of you.”
“I can do that,” I said, not letting myself think about what manner that could be as Nyktos’s wild, swirling eyes clashed with mine. I drew in a shallow breath. “I want to prove myself worthy, Your Majesty.”
Kolis looked at Kyn. “Did you bring what I asked?”
My gaze swung to the Primal of Peace and Vengeance. Kyn leaned over, half-sitting up as Attes frowned. “Yeah,” the Primal replied gruffly. “In the hall.”
Kolis snapped his fingers, and two guards peeled away from the walls, disappearing behind the curtain.
“Fuck,” Attes uttered under his breath, turning to face the dais. His eyes closed, and my stomach…dropped.
“It should be—” Nyktos started.
“I command silence,” Kolis interrupted. “Do not disobey me, Nyktos. It will not be you who suffers.”