Page 103 of Born of Blood and Ash
Blinking, I scanned faces filled with surprise. People wereembracing one another, others wept as they pressed their hands totheir cheeks or chests—women and men. My eyes widened in awe at the feverishoutpouring of emotion from the crowd. My throat tightened but with good thingsinstead of panic as I took in the joyful, beaming faces.
Ash tugged on my hand, drawing me to his side. I looked up,and his gaze swept over my face with intensity. “Thirty-six,” he said, cuppingmy cheek with his other hand. “Just making sure they are all still there.”
Then he kissed me.
And gods, there was no restraint or suppression of desire asI gripped the front of his tunic. Our tongues twined in a sensual dance as hissharp fangs grazed my lips. He kissed me as if it were just us, and for thatfleeting moment, it truly was. But we weren’t alone. Bawdy whistles and raucousshouts pierced the air.
I laughed against his lips, my face warming.
“I think they liked that even more,” he said, folding hisarms around me. As he held me, I swore the entire realm must have heard thecheers.
Closing my eyes, I rested my cheek against Ash’s chest andsoaked in the sound. I really hadn’t known how today would go or what ourreception would be. The possibilities had been endless. But I never expectedthis.
Though I probably should have. Most of those here knew thatI had fought against the dakkais alongside Ash andhad changed the landscape of the Shadowlands overnight. And I was, after all,the true Primal of Life, and Ash was beloved by his people. Of course, theywould be ecstatic.
However, I’d never experienced anything like this in myentire life. I had not been known to my kingdom. I’d been nothing but a specternot fully formed yet drenched in blood. I wasn’t that here. I was seen.Welcomed. Known.
When I pulled away, I peeked over my shoulder. Nektas was watching us. He huffed with a shake of his largehead as Saion approached us.
“Your face is so red,” Saion told me before addressing Ash.“The barrels of wine you had us bring are about to be rolled out.”
“Perfect.” Ash’s hand slid down the center of my back.
“This went really well,” I said as several soldiers beganmoving the large barrels out from the alcove of the colonnade.
Saion smiled. “Of course, it did.”
Bele jogged down the dais steps, and something struck me asI looked over the mass of gods, godlings, and mortals. “No one is wearing maskslike many did during the coronation.”
“There is no need,” Saion replied as the hum of stringinstruments reached my ears, the notes drifting through the air.
Faces blurred as I nodded. They hadn’t felt the need toconceal their identities, not just because there were no other Primals in attendance but because they felt safe. Gods,that meant more to me than the cheers or being known.
And I would do everything to ensure they never lost thatsense of security.
I let out a slow breath as the beat of drums joined themelodic dance. The rhythm grew louder, infusing the coliseum with infectiousenergy as I found Bele in the crowd. All I had to do was follow the wave ofbows as the masses parted for the Primal goddess. She joined Aios, who stood with a petite woman dressed in a hooded,white gown with long sleeves who surveyed the revelers in front of her. It wasErlina.
The once-Chosen now had her own life, one where she wasn’tsubjected to the whims of another. I reminded myself that the others in Dalos and the other Courts would soon have that choice.Now, we just needed to meet with the Primals.Hopefully, that went as well as this had.
I wouldn’t bet on it, but I also wouldn’t dwell on it rightnow. There would be plenty of time for that tomorrow.
Nightmare.
Bars.
I was staring at bars made of gilded bones.
Soft material brushed against my legs as I staggered back astep, my feet sinking into soft fur. I looked down at the swath of ivory gauzeand saw the darker pink tips of my breasts through the transparent garment.
“No.” My heart thudded heavily as my head jerkedback around.
The golden chests.
The golden divan.
My head swung to the other side as pressure clamped down onmy chest. I saw the large bed draped in gold blankets and white furs.
“I’m not here,” I whispered hoarsely, my gaze slowlytracking to the bedposts and the floor at the foot of the bed.
