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)
When the vengeful gods attack, Nektas comes in through the ceiling and torches Madis. He growls a warning as Taric materializes an eather sword and then trills at Sera, urging her to use her gift. Ash tells him to be sure the guards are ready for anything, and Nektas calls out to the other draken, who answer him immediately.
Nektas watches as Sera brings Bele back to life, and trills again when the goddess draws renewed breath.
Nektas leaves to summon the Fates and then returns, waiting for Ash and Sera in the throne room. He eventually sends Reaver to get them. When the Arae respond, Nektas waits with Rhahar, Ector, Ward, and Penellaphe outside the throne room with Reaver by his side and tells Sera and Ash that they will wait—for both of them.
After the dakkais attack, Nektas checks on Ash and Sera. He remarks later in the war room that he doesn’t know every draken but sensed the enemy draken was young—too young to be up to that kind of shit. He wonders if the other god involved in the dakkais attack saw Sera and wanted to grab her, and then tries to calm Ash when he hears that the god planned to let Sera die.
He tells them that a Primal had to be behind the attack, as no one else could command a draken. The question is, who would be willing to anger both Kolis and Nyktos by letting Sera die?
Nektas arrives in the Dying Woods just in time to see Sera and Nyktos fighting. He lands and crouches over Sera after she blasts Nyktos with eather, protecting her from Nyktos possibly retaliating out of reflex. When Nyktos calms a bit and lands, he nudges him and is told he’s okay and just needs a minute.
Nektas shifts and smirks when Sera stares at his nakedness. He manifests some pants for her benefit. He then asks her what the Shade said and grins when she explains what happened. He tells her it’s the embers and explains that Eythos could raise the bones of the dead. He says that he only remembers him doing it once, and it’s not the same as restoring life to the recently dead—that’s why nobody felt what happened with the Shades like they did with the other things Sera did. He reiterates that the embers are really strong in her and then asks Ash if he’s better.
He tells them that he doesn’t think even Kolis knew Eythos could raise the dead that way and then instructs them to go back to the palace since the Shades won’t be scared off for long. He shifts back to his draken form and flies off.
Nektas spends some more time with Jadis and Sera after Ash puts the other gods in their place about Sera and her bravery. He tells Sera that he’s with her because he chooses to be. When Sera asks about Davina, the draken who fell during the battle, Nektas explains about the draken’s family, saying there won’t be a burial rite and telling her why.
Food is brought in, and Nektas laughs and says he thinks it’s funny that Ash thinks he doesn’t know that the Primal lets Jadis eat whatever she wants. He then tells Sera that his daughter can have food if she eats it off a fork instead of using her grubby little fingers. When Sera gets her to eat with the utensil, Nektas stares in stunned amazement and states that everyone has tried with little to no results—even Reaver. He tells Sera that he thinks she reminds Jadis of her mother and then relays what he knows about matings and heartmates. He admits that he knows everything Eythos did and tells Sera the price always matters—speaking about her risk of going after Kolis on her own.
As Nyktos and Sera bicker, Nektas tells them it’s entertaining. He insinuates that death isn’t a foregone conclusion for Sera because the embers aren’t fully hers until she Ascends. They should be removable until then. He adds that when Eythos was the Primal God of Life and Ascended the Chosen, they became like godlings because the eather was stronger in them. None ever became gods, but none had embers in them either. He tells Sera that anything is possible with her and reminds her that someone had to tell Kolis how to take the embers from Eythos.
As they discuss possibilities, Nektas tells Sera how they can find Delfai via the Pools of Divanash but adds that they’re temperamental, and he can’t be the one to ask. It needs to be her.
When the Cimmerian appear, Nektas arrives at the battle, killing one with a bite and shaking it in two. He senses the eather growing in Sera and looks up to give her a warning growl.
After the attack, Nektas brings Sera breakfast and sits with her. He asks if she wants to accompany him to check on Jadis and then wonders what she thinks of Ash’s plans to remove the embers from her. He tells her the road to the Vale is dangerous. When they talk weaknesses, he says he can burn anyone to a crisp save for a Primal—no one can fight a Primal unless they attack Nyktos or his Consort.