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)
I walked toward the dais, needing space. How could Aydun forget to mention this? Better yet, why hadn’t the vadentia warned me? It had to be because it didn’t work when it came to my actions. “So, what are we supposed to do? Sit around and do nothing?”
Attes turned. “You can do anything that does not involve calling Primals to arms.” He paused. “And you cannot attack during the eirini.”
“Of course,” I spat, stopping at the dais. “Haven’t we already broken the eirini? By involving you?”
“No, because I pledged allegiance to you before the eirini,” Attes answered. “The rule doesn’t apply to me.”
“What about him?” I nodded at Thierran.
“You asked nothing of me.” Thierran propped his boots on the bench in front of him. “I invited myself along.” He took a drink. “And I’ve never been what one would consider loyal to Kolis. And he knows that.”
“How have you managed to stay alive with Kolis knowing that?” I questioned.
“Because he knows if he tries to come at me, I’ll do worse to him,” Thierran stated, eather burning behind his eyes.
I raised my brows. “Worse than death?”
He smiled. “I’ll take his dreams.”
Air whooshed out of my lungs as I held Thierran’s stare. I suspected that was worse than death because Kolis likely only dreamed of one person.
Sotoria.
“Real convenient of Aydun to fail to mention any of this,” Ash gritted out. “Considering how understandable it is that an eirini would be forgotten.”
“Yeah.” I leaned against the dais and let my head fall back. Why did it almost always feel like the Fates were actively screwing us over? It didn’t make sense. Aydun wanted me to avoid war, but why didn’t he ensure I knew the rules? “Shit.”
“It’s not a big deal,” Attes began.
I laughed.
“It’s really not,” he insisted as Ash approached the dais. “You just cannot involve the other Primals or attack. That’s it.”
“He’s right.” Ash stopped in front of me, taking my hands. “We can still proceed with figuring out how to entomb Kolis.”
“There’s really only one option for that,” Attes said, sitting on one of the benches opposite Rhain. “You will definitely need the bones of an Ancient.”
“We know,” I said.
“And we also know we need more than just that,” Ash said, turning as he slid between me and the dais. He looped his arms around my waist. “But regarding the bones, Kolis has most—but not all—of the stash.”
“He does,” Rhain said, squinting.
“Most of it was in the Carcers,” Attes said. “I doubt it still is.”
“Damn it.” I closed my eyes. “When I destroyed the prison Ash was being held in, I likely destroyed all the Ancient bones there, too.”
“We wouldn’t need a lot, right?” Saion set his glass on one of the stone benches. “Enough to make chains and probably some spikes.”
“As you said, Kolis has most of it. But not all. The Primals who’ve stayed in his favor have bone weapons. I have a spear. So does Kyn. And I know he has at least one chain. I’m betting Veses has some, too. Maybe even Embris.”
“Are you suggesting we just go to their Courts and take it?”
Attes met my stare from where he sat. “If it comes to that, yes.”
My stomach dipped as I started to respond, but the sudden throb of an arriving Primal snapped my attention to the doors. The feeling was intense, meaning the Primal was close. Too close—
“Son of a bitch,” Ash growled, and Attes shot to his feet.
“No,” rasped Attes. “He can’t be this fucking idiotic.”
The doors to the throne room swung open, and the Primal God of Peace and Vengeance entered.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Wisps of shadow whirled around Ash’s legs as he stepped forward. “If he’s harmed a single guard outside,” he said to Attes in a low voice, “he will not be leaving here conscious.”
If Kyn had harmed any of our people, he wouldn’t be leaving here in one piece.
Shoulders tense, Attes nodded. “Understood.”
Kyn strolled down the center aisle. “Don’t worry. I didn’t touch a single hair on any guard’s head.”
Attes grabbed Rhain by the arm and shoved him behind him as he demanded, “What are you doing here?”
Rapidly fading sunlight glinted off the bronze-and-shadowstone armor covering Kyn’s chest. “I could ask you the same question, brother.”
“He’s welcome here. You are not.” The air in the throne room dropped several degrees. “So, you have less than a minute to explain why you’d make such an unwise decision as entering the Shadowlands uninvited.”
Kyn stopped halfway down the aisle. “I came to demand payment for what was done to my hounds.”
Anger and disbelief combined, forming a searing knot in the center of my chest. “The hounds you sent after Nyktos?”
Kyn’s eather-soaked gaze flicked to me. “I wasn’t speaking to you.”
“You should be,” I said. “Since I’m the one who killed most of them.”
“Interesting.” Kyn’s steps slowed. “I’ll make sure to let the King know you’ve admitted to slaughtering my hounds.”