Total pages in book: 222
Estimated words: 213974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1070(@200wpm)___ 856(@250wpm)___ 713(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 213974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1070(@200wpm)___ 856(@250wpm)___ 713(@300wpm)
“Not deeply enough,” muttered Lailah.
I tugged on Ash’s shirt again as I whispered, “Are they aggressively flirting?”
Ash’s eyes narrowed on them.
Lailah and Theon were from Vathi. How they’d ended up with Ash was a story not yet shared with me, but the way Attes eyed the goddess had me thinking there was history there that might also involve…aggressive flirting.
Ash faced the stairs. A moment later, Keella appeared, lifting a hand as everyone started to bow again. “Not necessary,” she assured the gods, but Kars and Rhain stilled bowed. She smiled at them. “I hope all is well?”
“Perfect. One second, please.” Ash’s head snapped to where Attes was currently circling Lailah. “Knock it the fuck off.”
Attes looked up through a lock of sandy-brown hair. Quiet fell across the Temple as Keella clasped her hands in front of the pale blue cloak she wore.
“She no longer serves in your Court,” Ash reminded him.
“Thank fuck,” Attes replied. “I would’ve lost complete control of my Court if she still did.”
That statement piqued my curiosity and then some.
Lailah’s response didn’t help. “It’s okay, Nyktos. I know how to handle him.”
“I can one hundred percent confirm that,” Attes said, sending a wink in Lailah’s direction. “With the fondest memories.”
Lailah’s eyes rolled.
Okay. Now, I was really curious.
“Yes.” Keella lifted her chin. “Everything seems completely…perfect.” She turned from them. “Attes filled me in. You have The Star?”
Blinking, I stopped paying attention to…well, whatever was going on. “I do.” The moment Keella’s stare landed on me, I did everything to keep from thinking about the last time she’d seen me. I lifted the wrapped diamond. “And he told you everything?”
Keella nodded as she glided forward, her sorrow-filled eyes lifting to Ash.
“So, back to the important stuff.” Bele hopped off the stone, tossing her apple core toward the draken. Nektas moved to catch it, but Aurelia got there first. “What is a star?”
“I assume it’s not what’s in the sky,” Rhahar said as the apple core—or half of it—got flung toward Nektas.
Oh, cute. They were…sharing food.
“It’s something no one but the Arae should possess.” Keella eyed the bundle I held. “Or should’ve ever created.”
“I can agree with that.”
“But if they hadn’t, then you would not be standing here with him.” Keella stopped in front of me. “There is always good in the bad.” Her gaze met mine, and the intensity of her stare made me squirm. “I understood then, just as I do now.”
I sucked in a short breath, knowing she was speaking of the last time we’d seen each other.
“Understand what?” Ash asked.
“That there is often good behind the bad,” she said. “Are you sure of what you saw in the diamond?”
Grateful for the subject change, I nodded as I glanced at Ash. I didn’t know if he wanted anyone else here to know.
Ash’s gaze held mine, then flicked to the others before returning to the diamond. “It’s my father’s soul. It’s in there.”
Bele’s mouth dropped open.
“Are you…?” Rhain had paled. He came forward, stopping several feet from us to stare at what I held.
“I am certain.” I carefully unwrapped the diamond, letting the flimsy torn silk drift to the floor.
The milky-white light throbbed inside The Star, pressing against its edges.
“Attes told you about Sotoria?” When Keella nodded, I could practically feel the questions bursting to break free of Bele, but she remained quiet.
“It’s doable, then?” Ash’s chest rose with a heavy breath. “Once my father’s soul is free?”
“Yes.”
“And you know how that is done?” he asked. “Will I be able to do it?”
“I do not imagine it’s like drawing out other souls,” she said, her delicate brows knitting. “If it works like transferring the embers, then the soul could likely only be summoned by the one who placed it there.”
Attes cursed, having left Lailah’s side. “That’s not going to happen.”
“There have to be other ways.”
The breeze tossed a few strands of her russet-colored hair across her jaw. “The Arae could draw the soul free.”
What had Ash claimed in the dream? “You said I could summon them, right?”
Before Ash could answer me, Keella said, “Yes, but they would likely take The Star back.”
Damn it.
“That won’t work either.” Frustration filled Attes’s tone.
“There is one more way,” Keella said. “The true Primal of Life can summon it.”
Of course.
“Absolutely not,” Ash stated.
A tremor went through my arm. “How?”
Ash stepped into me. “Sera—”
“You would simply will it, and it should happen,” Keella explained as Ash cursed. “The Primal of Life—”
“Say no more,” Ash growled as he blocked her. “You cannot do this.”
Aware of the confusion surrounding those around us, I smiled at him. “If it’s just willing it, that won’t take a lot of energy.”
“That’s not how it works.” Ash grasped my shoulders. “And you know it.”
I did.
“I have to,” I told him. “It’s your father, Ash.” Even if we didn’t need to get Sotoria’s soul out of me. “I need to do this.”