Page 155 of The Primal of Blood and Bone (Blood and Ash #6)

POPPY

“We need to talk about the Ascended,” Casteel announced to what he’d coined our Shadow Council.

Though with Vonetta not due until tomorrow now, it wasn’t our full Council gathered to eat and for discussion.

“I was hoping you’d invited us all to supper to talk about the fact that the Queen of the Gods was here in the flesh—live and in person,” Emil stated. I frowned at him.

“We’re not discussing the Queen,” Casteel interrupted.

“But—”

Kieran raised his hand to silence the Elemental. “Please, continue,” he said to Cas.

“Malik showed Poppy and me something this afternoon,” he continued as my gaze moved to Malik.

His presence was a surprise. I’d half-expected him not to show. He was the last to arrive in the Solar, but was here now, sitting at the large oval table beneath the glass dome.

“We met with several Ascended today,” Casteel continued. “Ascended who call themselves the Unbound—those who do not feed on mortal or Atlantian blood but that of beasts.”

Kieran looked at his glass, his shock splashing against my skin like cold rain. I was surprised that Kieran hadn’t been informed before the meal since Cas had retrieved him right after we returned to Wayfair. It left no room for us to speak but definitely gave them time to do so.

“They do not feed at all?” Kieran questioned.

As Casteel explained what it meant, I forced myself to take several bites of the food heaped on my plate. I wasn’t sure how much Kieran and Cas thought I ate.

“And how many of these Unbound do you think there are?” Naill asked.

“Several hundred in Carsodonia,” Malik answered.

Naill blinked slowly and leaned back. “And the Descenters support this?”

Malik nodded.

I cleared my throat. “Before we took Oak Ambler, I offered the Ascended there a choice,” I reminded those at the table.

“They had to agree to no longer feed off the unwilling, be willing to forfeit any and all positions of authority over mortals, and concede to Atlantian rule.” Temporarily , I mentally added, knowing I still needed to discuss with Casteel that I didn’t think we should rule over mortals.

“They didn’t accept the offer,” Kieran stated.

“But the Ascended there likely never knew there was another way to live or that it was even possible. We didn’t know,” I said. “And now that we do, the offer can be made under new terms. They can choose to live as the Unbound or die as the Blood Crown did.”

Silence greeted me.

“I know having death as an option doesn’t seem like much of a choice,” I said, figuring that was what had caused the silence, “but we cannot have the Ascended preying upon the people.”

“If they accept the terms, the mortals will not be happy.”

The one who spoke surprised me. I turned my head to where Tawny sat at my right.

She wasn’t officially a part of the Shadow Council, but she had shown up right before everyone else arrived.

I’d asked her if Gianna might be interested in joining us, which had earned me a very amused look from Casteel, but I figured if anything needed to be discussed that neither should be privy to, we could wait until they left.

But Tawny had declined for the wolven, explaining that Gianna was on patrol in the Luxe.

“They are just learning the truth of the Ascended,” she continued. “And now they will be asked to be okay with them living among them?”

“I…” Casteel said, “actually agree with you.”

Tawny narrowed her eyes at him.

“I don’t expect them to be thrilled, but…” I leaned back and dragged my toes over the stone floor. “But killing them outright is something the Blood Crown would do. We have to—”

“Prove you’re different?” Malik suggested.

I nodded.

“But what about those who participated in the cruelest crimes carried out by the Blood Crown?” Kieran countered.

“They should not be given the option,” I said. “I did not give the Hawleys an option.”

“Thank the gods,” Tawny muttered.

I looked at her. “You knew them?”

“Unfortunately,” she said, lifting her glass. “Met them once. That was enough.”

Considering how they’d behaved with us, I completely understood her sentiment. “We would just need to discover those who have committed such crimes.”

“I have a feeling they will out themselves,” Casteel stated. “Just as Duke Ashwood did.”

He was likely right. The Ascended were…terminally arrogant. The Hawleys were evidence of that.

Kieran picked up a bottle and topped off Casteel’s drink. “You agree with this?”

“I do,” Casteel said, picking up his refilled glass. “I agree with the motivation behind wanting to do so, but I don’t necessarily agree with giving them a choice.”

I set down my glass as the wine turned sour in my mouth. “What?”

“I don’t think they should be given a choice,” Casteel repeated, his gaze meeting and holding mine. “What I thought before stands. I think they should all be killed.”

Malik sat back, his jaw hardening.

“You know I have no love for the Ascended.” Casteel shifted to the side in his seat and rested his elbow on the arm of the chair. “No Atlantian does.”

“That’s not true,” I said.

“Two Atlantians do not represent the whole.”

“I know, but that could change once the Atlantians know it’s possible for the Ascended to live differently.

” I took a deep breath, surprised by Casteel.

He’d been there. Saw and heard what I had.

“And I completely understand why you hold no love for them.” I then glanced at Kieran and the others.

“Why none of you do. I’m not asking for that. ”

“But aren’t you?” Kieran pressed. “You may not be asking him or any Atlantian or person wronged by the Ascended to welcome them with open arms, but you are asking for their acceptance.”

I opened my mouth to deny that but fell silent. Was that what I was asking? I was, but I also wasn’t.

“As Tawny pointed out, you’re asking them to accept those who have done nothing but lie and prey upon them for centuries—something that will be nearly impossible,” Kieran tacked on.

“It’s not impossible. The Descenters are proof of that,” I reasoned. “And yes, the Blood Crown has lied to them.” I placed the fork beside my plate. “Just as they lied to me and Tawny. But I’m not talking about the Blood Crown. I’m talking about the Ascended .”

“They’re not the same?” Casteel countered, swirling the wine in his glass.

“How can you see the Unbound and the Ascended as the same?” I asked them.

Neither answered. I took another deep breath.

“The Blood Crown consists of the oldest of the Ascended—those who were created before the War of Two Kings and immediately after. They knew what they were. They created the lies that manipulated the people of Solis and turned them against Atlantia. They took the second sons and daughters, convincing them that they would receive the Blessing of the gods—second sons and daughters who were taught to believe the Ascended spoke for the gods. Innocent children who had no idea their siblings were being used as cattle for those who’d sworn to protect them. ”

“They’re no longer children,” Casteel stated over the rim of his glass.

“And they grew up to help facilitate those lies.” Kieran set his glass beside his plate. “And strengthen the Blood Crown’s grip on the people of Solis.”

Irritation prickled at my skin as I looked between them. “And what choice did they have?”

Casteel’s brow rose. “Is that a serious question?”

“Yes,” I said, managing to keep my tone level instead of shouting the word at him.

He huffed out a short, cutting laugh as he looked away, shaking his head in disbelief.

“What’s so funny?” I demanded.

“Nothing,” he said, taking a drink.

My stare was fixed on his profile as the seconds ticked by in silence.

I was completely at a loss for what to say.

I didn’t anticipate Casteel being completely supportive despite meeting the Unbound, but I knew he was frustrated and angry, even though he was shielding his emotions.

Was it at the situation in general or me?

I shifted, discomfited by the thought. It wasn’t like we never argued, but the only times I could recall him being angry with me were when I, well, did something rather reckless. And even then, his anger had always been rooted in concern. I ran my tongue along the backs of my teeth.

This felt different.

My heart turned over heavily, and my very next thought was to relent and smooth things over. I opened my mouth…

But the necessary words wouldn’t come as I heard Vikter’s voice in my mind—something he’d said to me when I wanted to spend time with Tawny instead of being squirreled away in a dusty, forgotten chamber training.

“I’m asking you to give the Ascended a chance to choose for themselves, just as we gave the mortals who chose to remain loyal to the Blood Crown a chance to change their minds. ”

“That is not the same thing,” Casteel replied. “The Ascended have killed.”

“So did those soldiers,” Malik commented. The others remained quiet.

Casteel didn’t say anything to that.

“If we decide to give the Ascended a choice,” Kieran stated, breaking the tense silence, “we have to convince everyone to get on board with that. It won’t be easy.”

“Doing the right thing rarely is,” I murmured. I was sure Vikter had said that to me at some point, too.

“That sounded incredibly…adult of you,” Kieran remarked.

I watched the tic in Casteel’s jaw. “I have my moments,” I said.

Tawny snorted quietly.

“You definitely do,” Kieran murmured.

Dragging my gaze from Casteel, I looked at him again. “What do you think?”

Kieran lowered his gaze to the table. “I think you will be challenged if the Ascended are given a choice.” His fingers curled inward. “And I think you will also be met with opposition if they aren’t.”

“That’s not an answer or an opinion,” I said. “It’s just a statement of fact.”

“He feels the same as I do,” Casteel spoke, and my chest clenched. “He wants to see the Ascended burn, but he will side with you.”

I stiffened. “But—”