Total pages in book: 362
Estimated words: 347293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1736(@200wpm)___ 1389(@250wpm)___ 1158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 347293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1736(@200wpm)___ 1389(@250wpm)___ 1158(@300wpm)
“Maia didn’t have a large army,” Rhain said. “Her forces would’ve been quickly overwhelmed.”
I nodded, hoping that meant her death was as quick and painless as possible. We’d sent as many soldiers as we could spare to secure the Court, as did Ione, but from Nektas’s quick flyover, we’d learned the capital was burning.
It felt like we were at war, even though it hadn’t officially been declared. And maybe we were. Perhaps calling it a war didn’t even matter. But I didn’t know if we were winning or losing at this point. Yes, we’d taken Lotho, Sirta, the Callasta Isles, the entirety of Vathi, and once Kithreia was secure, it would be under our control, too. But we’d lost Maia and most of Veses’ and Kyn’s soldiers.
“How’s Attes?” Rhain asked.
I shook my head. “I only saw him briefly when he returned with Nyktos late last night, but I imagine not good.” I lifted my gaze to Rhain’s. “I didn’t want it to be him.”
“I don’t think Attes would’ve allowed it to be anyone but him.”
My heart was even heavier because Rhain was right. Attes could’ve stepped back and allowed Ash to finish Kyn. He hadn’t. To kill one’s own brother? And a twin at that…
First, it was Kolis, and now Attes. Granted, it wasn’t the same, but I knew this was something Attes may never truly get past, even if his twin was a grade-A asshole. In all honesty, Kolis hadn’t. His grief and shame over killing Eythos had aided in him becoming what he had.
“Sera?” Concern tinged Rhain’s voice. “Are you feeling unwell?”
His question pulled me from my thoughts. “Why do you ask?”
“You’re holding your stomach.”
I glanced down, and yep, my hand was pressed to my lower stomach. “Yeah.” Dropping my arm, I cleared my throat and rose from the chair beside Aios’s bed. “I’m going to check in with Nyktos. We should be meeting with the others soon.”
“Sera,” Rhain called. “Are you…?”
Stopping at the door, my stomach dipped as I met his stare. “What?”
He closed his mouth and shook his head. “Nothing.” His attention turned once more to Aios. “I’ll be down when we’re ready.”
I hesitated. Had he been about to ask if I was pregnant? I was probably jumping to conclusions, but we’d have to tell everyone sooner or later. I knew they would be happy, even Rhain, who I imagined would probably be more of a nervous wreck than me.
We would tell everyone once Kolis was dealt with, and it…it would be something to celebrate. We just had to get to that point.
I stopped on the second floor to check in on Lailah again. I had sat with her last night for a little while. I had no idea if she would be out longer than Aios since their Ascensions were different, and I hadn’t been here when Bele rose as a Primal. As I neared the chamber, I felt a Primal nearby.
Cracking open the door, I saw that Lailah was still asleep. A chair was next to the bed that hadn’t been there when I’d spent time with her last night. I leaned in a little farther, spotting a pair of dark boots tucked under the bed. I tilted my head, hearing the faint splash of water. Curiosity rose as I let my senses concentrate on the Primal presence.
Attes.
Nibbling on my lower lip, I stepped back and quietly closed the door. Normally, I wouldn’t be too keen on the idea of him helping himself to the chambers Lailah was resting in, but I knew she was safe with him, and considering what he’d been through, I really couldn’t make myself be angry at him.
I went downstairs, passing several guards in the foyer and main hall. They bowed in a wave along both sides as if their lives depended on it as Rhahar stepped out of the hall leading to Ash’s office. “That’s not necessary,” I told them.
Rhahar’s lips twitched as he pivoted on his heel and fell into step beside me. “It’s charming how you keep telling them not to bow.”
“At some point, I’m hoping they’ll listen,” I said, nearing the office.
“Or, at some point, you will accept how they choose to show you respect,” he countered.
“It is unlikely either thing will happen,” Ash’s voice traveled from the office. He rose from where he was seated and stepped around his desk, the charcoal tunic he wore fitting the breadth of his shoulders to perfection. “Can you give us a moment, Rhahar?”
The god nodded, closing the door behind me. Ash extended his arm. I crossed the chamber and placed my hand in his. He pulled me to his chest, dipping his head to kiss me. It was such a soft and tender thing, but it still left me a little breathless when our lips parted.
“Sorry I wasn’t with you when you woke this morning.” Ash smoothed a stray curl back from my temple. “I was at the Pillars.”