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 didn’t think I could ever return there.
My mind raced. Those women people sought, wasn’t it said they worshipped at Temples of the Primal Goddess of Love, Beauty, and Fertility? There was no way I would ask Maia, but could Aios somehow—?
“Sera?”
I was so caught up in my panic, I didn’t feel Ash’s approach. I squeaked, dropping my tunic and whirling toward the entrance.
A second later, he filled the doorway. His dark, reddish-brown hair—his mahogany-hued hair—was swept back in a knot at the nape of his neck. Several strands were loose and tousled, though.
“Are you all right?” he asked, concern filling his voice. “I felt your…panic.”
“Uh…”
His gaze swept over me as if he were checking for injuries. The only one he’d find was to my brain. “It was so thick it nearly choked me,” he continued.
I could only stare at him.
He walked in, eyeing the tub and then the space around us. “What happened?”
“Nothing.” Clasping my hands together, I turned as he brushed past me, checking behind the short wall where the privy was. “No one is in here.”
He faced me. “Then what caused you to feel this?”
“Why is your hair so messy?” I asked instead, willing my heart to slow.
“I was on the Rise near the Black Bay.” He paused. “As you know.”
I did know that.
Godsdamnit.
His eyes narrowed. “What’s going on, Sera?”
A laugh crawled its way up my throat. One I knew would sound crazed if I allowed it any sort of freedom. I clamped my mouth shut.
“I’m starting to become worried.” Ash crossed the distance between us, cupping my cheek. His forehead creased. “Why is your face damp and cold?”
“I just washed it.” I forced my voice to be light, knowing I needed to calm down. There was no way I was telling him what I was thinking, causing him to—oh, gods, how would he even react? He’d likely be as panicked as me.
Maybe he’d vomit, too. I would if I were him.
“Liessa?” His thumb swept across my cheek. “I hoped we were beyond this.”
“We are.”
“Then talk to me.”
Fuck. Shit. Damn.
None of that was helping. “I don’t know why you felt that,” I blurted out, thoughts racing. “I might have had a nightmare.”
His brows shot up. “A nightmare?”
I nodded. I didn’t want to lie, not after finally opening my dumb mouth and talking, but I also didn’t want to say anything until I knew. And especially not right before I summoned the freaking Primals to basically tell them to join us or die.
What in the fuck kind of bad timing was this?
“Do you often have them while awake?” Ash asked.
“Not normally.” Realizing that had been the stupidest excuse, I quickly added, “But I dozed off pretty quickly after you and Attes left. And before you ask, no, I don’t know what I was dreaming about, but I do have a distinctive feeling I was having a nightmare.”
His brow furrowed. A moment passed, and then another.
I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. “Are you okay?”
“I was,” he stated, lowering his hand.
I started to ask what he meant, but then it occurred to me that he likely believed I’d had a nightmare about Kolis and that I was keeping it from him. Again.
Shit. Damn. Fuuuck.
“It wasn’t that,” I assured him. “I wasn’t having a nightmare about Kolis.” My hands curled at my sides. “I swear, Ash. I’m fine, and I’m sorry I worried you.”
“You don’t have to apologize.” He exhaled heavily. Some of the tension eased from his jaw.
“And you don’t have to worry.” I turned, making my way from the bathing chamber. “Did you speak to Lailah?”
He followed me. “Yes. She is a little shocked but on board.”
“Good.” I smoothed my hands down my thighs. I needed to pull it together. Even though it didn’t feel like it at the moment, what we needed to discuss with the others was far more important. “Is it almost time?”
Ash eyed me closely and then nodded. “I need to change my shirt.”
I glanced down at myself and figured I’d do the same. It took Ash two seconds to pull a dark gray tunic from a hanger. My gaze fell on the clothing hanging there, and for some reason, I reached for a black gown with silver ivy stitched along the waist and sides. I stared at it for a moment and then tugged it free. I didn’t even know why. I’d blame the shocking possible revelation. Or maybe it was because, deep down, I didn’t hate gowns.
I just hated being told to wear one.
“Can you help me?” I asked Ash.
He’d already donned the tunic, ready in less than a minute. It took me a little longer. Not because I had to undress and then shimmy my ass into the brocade gown—thank the gods it wasn’t skintight where I had to fight my possibly growing sto—