Page 132 of The Primal of Blood and Bone (Blood and Ash #6)

“We’re thinking Pensdurth,” Kieran said, crossing his arms. “But we aren’t sure. We sent a regiment there and are waiting to hear from them.”

“Do you think he’s fully corporeal now?” Poppy asked.

“Unfortunately,” Seraphena muttered. “He has a buffet of Ascended and those reborn from death,” she said, her lip curling, “to feed upon. And they’re likely coming to him in droves, happily marching to their deaths.”

“Even the Revenants?” Poppy asked. I knew her thoughts went to Millicent.

Fuck.

If that was where she’d disappeared to…

“You meant to say the abominations,” Seraphena sneered.

I tensed as Poppy’s anger gathered hot and acidic in my mouth.

“If the Revenants are anything like many of the Ascended, they likely didn’t have much choice,” Poppy stated coolly, and I knew those words were fueled by the love she already felt for the sister she barely knew. “But you may not know that, given you’ve been sleeping.”

Shit.

Seraphena’s gaze flicked to her, and I heard Kieran mutter a similar curse. I kept my eyes on Seraphena. Eather hummed through me. If she so much as made a move toward Poppy…

“Ash was right,” Seraphena murmured.

“About?” I asked.

“He warned me about her.”

My arm tightened around Poppy’s waist, ready to shove her behind me if necessary. “Is that so?”

“He warned me that she was like me.” Her eyes narrowed on me. “Do you think I can’t feel the essence rising in you?”

“Do I look like I care if you can?” I retorted.

Her head tilted slightly as she eyed us. “I approve of your repetitive need to protect her. It’s endearing,” she said. “But unnecessary.”

“Because you’re no threat to her?” I asked, keeping my tone level.

“No,” Poppy said, slipping out of my arms, only to come up against Kieran, who now partially blocked her. Rolling her eyes, she gently shoved him aside. “Because I can handle myself.”

Seraphena smiled at me. “Exactly.”

A moment passed before Poppy said, “I didn’t mean to be rude.”

“You didn’t?” Seraphena countered.

Poppy’s fingers curled against the front of her vest. “I didn’t intentionally mean to be rude,” she amended. I had to fight a grin. My Queen had meant what she said. “But you have been asleep.”

“I was, but I was also there to witness the very first of the Chosen be turned into Ascended by Kolis without choice,” she said, sending a bolt of surprise through the three of us.

“Neither of us has any way of knowing if the Revenants of this age had a choice, but I should’ve been clearer in what I said.

What was done to them is an abomination.

They are not who they were before. They’ve become nothing more than reanimated flesh with no desires other than to serve their creator. ”

Poppy was quiet for a moment. “I don’t know if that is true for all of them.”

“It’s not for a few of them.” Seraphena sipped from her glass. “I know my other granddaughter is not like other Revenants.”

Poppy’s shoulders visibly relaxed. “Good. I think Millicent may…” She shook her head and cleared her throat. “I’m hoping you will be a little more helpful than the last people I asked about stopping Kolis.”

“I assume you asked Holland?” she said with a wry grin as she started to walk again, prowling along the wall. “And he likely said something along the lines of, ‘I cannot answer that.’”

Poppy’s lips curled up. “You must’ve been on the receiving end of that answer.”

Seraphena huffed out a dry laugh. “More than a time or a thousand.” She stopped at the doorway to the Solar, her head cocking to the side. “I’ve never understood what they do and don’t see as interference.”

“Glad I’m not the only one confused by that,” I muttered. “So, any help will be greatly appreciated.”

“You will have to kill him,” Seraphena said, looking at Poppy. “And it will have to be you.” Her gaze shot to mine before returning to Poppy. “And he already knows that.”

Poppy turned to me. “You do?”

“I was told that,” I bit out. “Doesn’t mean I agree with or believe it.”

“Why?” Kieran demanded. “Why does it have to be her?”

Seraphena’s gaze moved from Poppy to me. A moment passed. “Because she is the Primal of Life and Death.”

“And she’s also a badass. We are well aware of that,” I said as Poppy turned back to me. It was my voice. I could hear the shadows in it. “But you also entombed Kolis before.”

“ We did. It took an army, and we lost many in the process,” Seraphena said. “And Kolis is not without supporters. Gods who have hidden their loyalty to him are now awake. Then there are the Ascended and Revenants who will join him.”

My brows rose as she plucked up one of the straps I used for my swords. Watching her, I couldn’t help but think about Millicent, and not because she looked so damn much like her. Also because she had the same habit of picking up and touching shit like she’d never seen the item before.

Then again, so did Poppy.

“If I know him,” she continued, “he will work hard to convince more to come to his side.” She laid the strap down as Kieran shot me a look. “He can also be very convincing. He will gain an army in addition to those he’s summoned from the Abyss.”

“What,” Poppy asked, “did he summon from there?”

“We’re still trying to determine exactly what he freed. That is what we’ve been dealing with, by the way,” she said. “They don’t answer his summonses without making some pit stops along the way. Right now, we know he summoned the sekya .”

“The fuck is that?” I muttered.

She arched a brow. “They go by many names—shrew, ni’mere, furie. They are half mortal and half really large bird.”

Poppy’s mouth dropped open.

“But,” Seraphena stressed, “they have not entered the mortal realm.” She paused. “Yet.”

“Yet?” Poppy murmured. “That’s…reassuring.”

“At least we stopped the lyrue from escaping.”

“Do I even want to know?” Kieran asked.

“They were one of Eythos’s attempts at creating dual life that didn’t go so well.” Her head cocked. “Imagine a wolven unable to control their shifts, with an insatiable hunger for flesh.”

Kieran’s mouth snapped shut.

“Unfortunately, most ended up in the Abyss upon their deaths, which means Kolis controls them—he controls everything that resides there, even the creatures created by the Ancients.”

“I guess it’s a good thing we have one,” I said, glancing at Reaver. He’d gone quiet, just sat there with his chin nearly touching his chest. “And that we have you and Nyktos.”

“But you don’t have us,” she said.

My gaze snapped back to her. “I’m going to need you to repeat that because I’m sure I didn’t hear that right.”

Seraphena grimaced. “You heard me right. We are Primals of a Court. There is only so much we can do—only so much any of us can do.”

I opened my mouth, but Poppy spoke first. “That’s why Rhahar sacrificed himself.”

“I knew that,” Kieran said, and Poppy narrowed her eyes at him. “But there is also the Blood Treaty that says only gods born in the mortal realm will have full power.” He looked back at Seraphena. “I don’t know why you or Nyktos cannot fight, but it doesn’t mean you don’t have any power.”

“Because if they fight in the mortal realm, they will end up destroying most of it,” Poppy murmured, her eyes widening. “That’s why Saion was…struggling to get the leviathan under control. He wasn’t able to use his full power.”

“Correct,” Seraphena confirmed.

Poppy looked at Kieran, her eyes glittering with an adorable amount of smugness. He struggled to remain impassive and not smile in the face of it.

“Was Kolis born in the mortal realm?” I asked.

“He was,” she answered. Of course, he was. “Those not born in the mortal realm aren’t without power. And luckily, I happen to know a Primal without ties to a Court who isn’t a baby Primal like you all.”

“Baby?” Kieran muttered. “Who’s a baby?”

Reaver snickered. I’d thought the fucker had fallen asleep. “She means the three of you. But especially you.”

“Okay, Reaver-butt,” Kieran snapped.

The draken picked up the knife and started flipping it.

“Sorry.” Seraphena’s smile grew as she glanced at me, and fuck if that expression didn’t unnerve me. “It was just something a friend called newly Ascended Primals.”

“You’re talking about Attes,” I surmised.

She nodded.

Poppy tipped her head. “There’s something I don’t understand. Lirian—”

“Lirian?” Kieran interrupted.

“Another… Fate ,” she answered.

Seraphena chuckled at Poppy’s tone. “We call him Lir- ass , and I can tell you know why.”

“Gods, do I ever,” Poppy muttered. My eyes narrowed, and I made a mental note to ask her about that later. “He made it sound like the Deminyen are the only Primals without a Court, but clearly that’s not the case. Attes is one. So was Rhahar.”

“They are not the same. Attes ruled a Court but went into stasis,” Seraphena explained. “Another rose to take his place.” She paused. “Temporarily. But he has not shown any interest in retaking his crown.”

There was a slight pull to Poppy’s brows. “That’s why he’s not considered a Deminyen ,” she said quietly.

“And Rhahar was technically still only a god, even though he was given Primal authority,” she said as if that explained everything.

“When will Attes return?” I asked, glancing at Seraphena.

“He’ll be here soon.”

“I know who he is to me,” I said.

A funny look crossed her features, a mixture of amusement and a little concern. “You do?”

I thought I did.

“You should already know that you can trust him, but just in case he hasn’t earned that right, I can tell you that I trust him with my life, and he hates Kolis with a passion.” Her gaze returned to Poppy, and I thought I saw a slight wince. “And has for even longer than Ash and I.”

“Well, I guess that’s good,” Poppy murmured.

Seraphena studied her granddaughter for a few moments. “You will not be without aid, Poppy. If shit goes south, we will not leave you hanging.” She lifted her chin. “That is a promise.”

Poppy sucked in a shaky breath as she nodded. I could’ve sworn I felt Seraphena’s oath etch itself into my bones.

“There is something we must take care of before I return to Iliseeum,” Seraphena said as Reaver rose. “We must bring Jadis home.”