Page 181 of The Primal of Blood and Bone (Blood and Ash #6)

My fingers spasmed as I dragged in a breath, then immediately regretted it as I stiffened. Roses . I smelled roses. You want me to bring her into Seraphena’s Temple?

We really don’t have a choice.

I stared at her bowed head, knowing he was right.

But I couldn’t move. My heart thumped against my ribs as fury at the monster before me and disbelief that she was here coiled tight around blade-sharp sorrow.

Because this could be my mother. It all swirled into a knot I wasn’t sure I could untangle. Cas?

My Queen?

My chest twisted sharply. It can’t be her. I killed her.

I know.

It was hard to breathe. But…she smells like roses.

It doesn’t matter, Poppy. Whatever that thing is, one truth remains. She’s nothing to you. His response was immediate. And I know you won’t allow her to think, for even a second, that she has affected you. Get her inside, and we’ll figure it out. I know you can do it.

My hand fisted, and I inhaled through my nose. He was right. I was too strong to show this thing any bit of me. “You will start walking toward the front doors of the Sun Temple. You will not speak or look at anyone. Do you understand?”

Chin still lowered, she nodded. “Yes.” Thick lashes swept up, and her dark eyes met mine. “My Queen.”

Stepping aside, I extended my arm. She dutifully started forward, head down and hands clasped.

No sway to her hips. I hadn’t been sure she knew how to walk in a way that wasn’t like she was engaging in some illicit activity.

Either this wasn’t her or… Or she was doing what she had done for centuries.

Acting. The beleaguered mistress. The broken lover.

The benevolent Queen. The loving caregiver. All acts.

Aware that Valyn and Attes trailed behind me, I followed her. I didn’t look at the crowd. I couldn’t get distracted by what I knew I would see on their faces—confirmation of how poorly I had handled myself.

Heavy clouds gathered overhead filling the air with the scent of rain. Their shadows seemed to follow us as we climbed the wide steps. As we passed under the colonnade, the doors swung open.

She stopped before me. “Penellaphe?”

“What did I say?” I halted behind her.

“I know what you said. I listened,” she replied, looking over her shoulder at me. “Now, it’s your turn to listen.”

Essence rose, pressing against my flesh as I stopped myself from picturing my hands around her throat.

“If I don’t walk back out of here,” she said softly, “this city will be a tomb by the time the sun sets.”

A chill swept down my spine.

She strolled forward, and I warned myself not to react. The moment she stepped inside, a soft whoosh echoed around us, and the torches along the exterior wall and framing the doors flickered and went out.

It was almost as if Seraphena was displaying her displeasure. I winced, mouthing, “ Sorry .”

Then I said out loud, “Valyn?”

“Yes, my Queen?”

“Make sure the people are safely returned to their homes.”

He hesitated for a moment. I knew he wanted to follow us, but I would not allow him to be around whatever this thing was.

His armor creaked softly as he gave me a rigid bow. “Yes, my Queen.”

Exhaling slowly, I entered behind her as Attes followed. My gaze swept past the pillars and across the darkened cella to Casteel. He stood on the dais in front of the throne, arms crossed over his chest and impossibly still. He wasn’t alone. At his side was a fawn-colored wolven.

Kieran .

He stood impossibly still, head lowered, and bright-blue eyes fixed on her.

The doors shut behind us.

And just like that, the thing before me dropped its act.

Her tinkling laugh echoed through the cella. “There you are. Both of you.” She proceeded forward, her hips swaying. “I was starting to get worried.”

Casteel’s lips curved up at the corner. Unfolding his arms, he hopped down from the dais. Kieran followed, his claws scraping off the stone. “I’m sure you were.” His steps were slow, measured. “I would like to know what you did to the soldiers to allow you entry.”

“Versus cutting off my head?” she mused. “I can be very convincing. As you should know, Casteel.”

Kieran’s lip lifted as he growled.

She tsked softly. “Now, now. We will have none of that, will we, Penellaphe?”

Casteel’s gaze lifted to mine.

“She says if she doesn’t walk back out of here alive, the city will be a tomb by night,” I told them.

He showed little reaction to that. “Pretty sure you’re dead.”

She glanced around as she trailed slender fingers over the pillar’s golden veins. “Are you?”

“Yes,” I answered.

The hem of her gown glided over the floor as she turned. “If I am dead, then what am I, as I stand here before you?”

“An annoyance?” I suggested as Kieran crept forward, no longer making a sound as the powerful muscles in his back rolled under his fur.

“That’s not very nice, Penellaphe.” Something flashed in her eyes. “I raised you better than that.”

“You didn’t—” I stopped myself, my chin lifting. This wasn’t her. It couldn’t be. She had to be something else. Another god? One like a changeling? But the vadentia was silent. “What are you?”

“Do you think you and the true Primal of Life are the only ones who can restore life?” she questioned. “He, the true King, resurrected me.”

“From what?” I demanded. “You were nothing more than ash by the time I was done with you.”

“And we rise from ash, don’t we?”

Casteel’s eyes narrowed as eather briefly pulsed in his eyes. Luckily, she was focused on me—well, who was behind me. I stepped sideways so I could still keep an eye on her.

“You…” Her dark gaze moved slowly over Attes. “You, I have not seen before.” Her lips tipped up as she extended a slender arm, her other hand trailing down the swell of a breast.

My eyes rolled so far back that they nearly fell out of my head.

“It is an honor to meet you,” she said.

Attes arched a brow, keeping his hands to himself. “Can’t say the same.”

She eyed him for a moment and then let out another peal of laughter. She lowered her hand. “You are why I’m here.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of white in the hall at the end of the alcove.

I reached out through the notam , finding the springy, fresh imprint. Stay unseen, Delano. I don’t know what she is or if it is her.

“Is that so?” Attes replied as Casteel held out his hand, motioning for Kieran to stay back.

She doesn’t smell right , Delano said.

To me, she smelled like Isbeth: roses. But wolven had a much more heightened sense of smell. What does she smell like?

Rot , he said.

I stiffened.

“The true King is not pleased by your presence,” she said.

“The one you call the true King is nothing but an impostor,” Attes stated. “One who knows I don’t give two fucks what pleases him.”

“But he cares about what pleases you.” She paused as her gown dragged over the step. “Attes.”

Tension bracketed the corners of his mouth. It was the only sign that what she’d said had sparked something in him.

“And you should know better than anyone not to interfere,” she continued. “But here you are again.”

“And here you are, on Kolis’s behalf,” Attes countered. “Was he too cowardly to come himself?”

“He’s quite busy.” Her head tipped, sending thick waves sliding over her shoulder.

“But you know what would’ve happened if he had come.

After all, he made you a promise he has yet to fulfill.

” She drifted along the edge of the threshold, letting her gown fall over the steps.

The scent of roses turned my stomach. “And he will.”

Attes’s lips thinned and eather streaked across his silver eyes.

I had no idea what they were talking about as I glanced at Casteel. He watched them with a frown.

“But your presence has, let’s say, escalated things.” Her gaze slid sideways to me. “There’s no need to march your armies north to Pensdurth, my dear.”

My spine went rigid.

“Someone’s been talking,” Casteel murmured, slowly climbing the steps.

Raising a brow, she gave Casteel a once-over.

It struck me then that she seemed to have no reaction to the eather in him.

Would a demis normally feel that? No , the vadentia answered.

Demises were not true gods. Their ability to sense the essence was little better than a mortal’s.

So, if she wasn’t a demis, if she wasn’t Isbeth, then what was she? Because she didn’t feel like a god.

“Who?” Casteel demanded softly.

“The same as always.”

My mind immediately went to our failed plans regarding Oak Ambler.

Isbeth had known we were coming. She had prepared for it.

It could’ve been because she’d simply thought ahead or because someone had told her.

However, not many knew about our plans, and those who did never would’ve risked their King or Atlantia.

Casteel’s smile was easy, but I felt the tension gathering in his muscles. “That’s not an answer.”

“No, it’s not.” Her gaze returned to mine. “Kolis wants to speak with you.”

“Kolis can go fuck himself,” Casteel replied.

Her laugh was low and throaty. “And he would love if your husband and”—she glanced at Kieran and winked—“your dear friend would join you.”

A fine shiver erupted along the nape of my neck.

“And you.” She nodded toward Attes. “He would really love for you to join Penellaphe for a chat.”

The shiver spread down my back as her gaze returned to mine.

“You have until noon tomorrow.”

“Or?” I asked.

“Or this city will be owned by the dead,” she said with a beautiful, red-lipped smile. “And that is no idle threat.”

“He’s not that powerful.” I stepped toward her. “Not after being entombed for so long and only just awakening.”

“Penellaphe,” she chided. The muscles beneath Kieran’s fur rippled. “He’s been well taken care of for centuries. He’s only been recently freed. There is a big difference between the two.”

My body flashed cold, and my gaze darted to Casteel. That was not what we’d understood. “Why would we believe that?”