Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 231436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1157(@200wpm)___ 926(@250wpm)___ 771(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 231436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1157(@200wpm)___ 926(@250wpm)___ 771(@300wpm)
When she discovers that Ash is always cold because of how Veses feeds, it makes her furious. Her emotions explode, and she starts shaking the palace again. Rhain does his best to calm her. She’s able to quiet herself, but vows to Rhain that she’ll kill Veses, making a move to do just that.
The god blocks her and promises Veses will be dealt with. Sera suddenly realizes that once Nyktos Ascends, he will be able to Ascend a god to replace Veses in the Callasta Isles. Rhain calls her Your Highness, stupefying her. He goes on to say that she will be and has been his Queen.
Sera learns that only Rhain, Ector, and Nektas really knew about what was going on with Veses and Nyktos. After thinking about it, Sera says that Ash shouldn’t feel shame over the blackmail, though she would feel the same.
Rhain asks her if she loves Nyktos, and Sera can’t answer. He tells her the hesitation is all the answer he needs, and says he was wrong about her. Sera suddenly realizes she does love Ash, and it makes her a little sick to her stomach.
Acknowledging one’s truth will sometimes do that.
Without thought, she blurts to Ector that she wants to be Nyktos’s Consort, stunning both him and her.
Rhahar, Rhain, Ector, Saion, and the twins escort Sera to the coronation. Aios and Kars—a guard—take her the rest of the way. Sera asks Aios if she’s ever been in love, and the goddess tells her that it doesn’t feel the same for everyone. She adds that, to her, it was like feeling at home in an unfamiliar place. As if you’re finally seen, heard, and understood. And when you think of what you would do for the person and realize it’s anything, that means it’s love.
That’s actually a wonderful way to put it.
Sera comes to realize why she paid the price for Ash in Dalos and why sex with him has felt like more—because it is. He’s always been Ash to her. Despite her wanting that to change given everything going on and all that happened, it never has. She’s most definitely in love with him.
Ash comes to her and takes her hand from Aios, telling Sera to breathe. He uses shadows to block them from view as she calms.
She notices Ash’s crown, and he tells her she won’t have to wear hers until after tonight. He reads her a bit, and she politely asks him not to. But she does open up to him, telling him that she still wants the coronation, calling him Ash to his face.
He confesses that counting her freckles has become a habit and relays that she has twelve on her back. It makes her feel warm, and she notices the embers buzzing in her chest. There was a feeling of rightness before with him, but this is different. Once again, more.
Sera sees her crown for the first time, and it’s beautiful. When Ash bows to her, she and the crowd are stunned. He’s the Primal of Death, after all. Ash crowns her and bestows her new title upon her: the One who is born of Blood and Ash, the Light and the Fire, and the Brightest Moon. A golden imprint suddenly appears on her right hand, and she asks Ash if he did it. He explains that the Arae must be acknowledging their union.
He tells her about the imprint and blessings, and she wonders if it’s because of the embers. He explains that the imprint only fades upon death. He also tells her about Keella and the other Primals. Sera asks if Keella knows about Sotoria’s soul, given she’s the Primal of Rebirth. He says he isn’t sure. After all, it wasn’t a rebirth. However, it is possible.
Sera realizes that her new title contains bits from the goddess, Penellaphe’s, prophecy. She asks Ash about it, and he tells her that his mind kept returning to thoughts of her hair and how it was like moonlight. He also tells her the different symbolism of blood and ash.
She discovers that nothing has happened in Vathi since she was last there and is relieved to hear that the Court didn’t come under siege after what she did with the young draken—bringing Thad back to life.
Ash insinuates that she’ll be involved in discussions to come, and it satisfies her, projecting it for him to feel. She explains that it’s nice to be included. Still, she wonders what Attes wants to talk to them about. Ash apologizes for contributing to her feeling of unimportance before. He says that she matters. Always. And kisses her temple.
Keella approaches the couple, and Sera feels a charge of energy skitter up her arm as the Primal holds her imprinted hand. She intuits that Sera’s title may be another blessing, just like the mark. The embers inside Sera hum in response to their exchange, and Sera notices Keella’s clever, knowing smile as she says things without really saying anything at all.