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)
He reveals that the couple’s names are Orval and Malka, and they are known to each other. She asks what would happen if they weren’t, and Kolis wonders if it matters. She emphatically says that it does, and he points out another couple. He mentions the servant’s name is Jacinta and the god is Evander. He then tells her that pain is what turns Evander on. Looking at Sera, he asks her what she would do if she could. She says she’d kill him and then asks what Kolis would do to her. He says he wouldn’t do anything.
When Sera sees tears on Jacinta’s face, she stands and asks for a weapon. Kolis calls for Elias, and he hands her one of his daggers. Sera looks at Callum and sees him smiling.
That should have been a red flag.
She walks up to Jacinta and Evander, grabs the god by the hair, and tells the woman to leave. Then, she strikes.
And the screaming starts.
Sera starts to tell Jacinta that she’s okay now, and the woman freaks. She tries to rouse the god, calling him, “Evan.” Naberius—the sleeping draken—rouses, and Sera sees that Keella has a hand pressed to her chest.
Kolis orders Jacinta and Evander’s body to be removed, and Naberius moves toward Sera. Kolis tells him to stand down.
Attes calls to Sera and tells her to return to the dais. She panics and asks why Jacinta would act like that if she were being abused and traumatized. Kolis asks her how she knew that was going on. She starts to say that he told her, and he interrupts, saying he asked her what she would do, not that Evander was forcing Jacinta.
Sera argues that she saw the tears on Jacinta’s face, and Kolis asks her if they were tears of pain or pleasure. He goes on to say that she only hears what she wants to hear and thinks about herself. She argues some more and then asks whose Court Evander belonged to. Kolis tells her he was from the Thyia Plains. Sera gets it then. Kolis wasn’t proving some twisted version of reality. He was getting back at Keella and using Sera as the weapon.
When Kolis smiles, Sera can only think how vile and corrupt he is. The embers start to hum, and she feels Sotoria. The ancient power swamps her and riles her primal rage.
Attes calls to Kolis, telling him it’s time to start court. Kolis orders Sera to sit, and she watches a dakkai eating a leg bone, then watches as Kolis just kills a god. When he tells her she appears displeased, she asks if this is really how he wants them to spend time together. He says he’s multitasking. She adds that she never expected this when she asked for time out of the cage, and he asks what she means. She tells him that he’s only shown her death. He questions more, and she mentions Evander. He says that’s on her, and she breaks down the errors in that statement, then adds that he killed a god for calling another a cheat.
He says it’s about maintaining control and balance. She questions that, and he says every action has a reaction. Disrespect is met with a response: death. She asks if she is to be sentenced to death, and he says she’s different. He won’t punish her.
He tells her to stand and come to him, ordering her to sit on his lap. He continues with what he was saying, repeating that he won’t punish her but will rethink their deals. He asks if she understands. When Sera says yes, he tells her he’s capable of more than just death.
Sera scans the crowd and finds Kyn with a woman on his lap, drinking from and fondling her. And he’s looking right at Sera.
She suddenly sees a flash of red and gold and follows it, her breath leaving her when she sees a crown and then a familiar lithe figure and golden hair.
Veses.
The Primal goddess is free and looks pretty good. Veses smiles, and fury rises within Sera. She feels the embers rise with it. Sotoria stirs, and Sera senses her nervousness. She worries what Kolis will do about the surge of power. Sera remembers what he said about punishment and can only imagine what he did to Sotoria.
Veses addresses Kolis, and he beckons her forward. As she and Kolis talk, Sera ruminates on Veses and Ash and her true feelings.
Kolis asks Veses if she recognizes Sera. The Primal says she isn’t sure, and Sera calls her out as a liar. She tells Kolis they met in the House of Haides.
Veses and Kolis talk some more, and as Kolis goads Veses, Sera realizes that he’s enjoying himself. As things turn crass and Kolis insinuates that Veses would do anything he asked of her—and she agrees—it turns Sera’s stomach.