Page 185 of The Primal of Blood and Bone (Blood and Ash #6)

“I don’t understand,” Malik stated. “If Kolis wants to become the Primal of Life and Death, I assume that requires…” His gaze shot to Casteel as the dagger stilled in his hand. “Things to go sideways. At least for Penellaphe,” he added.

“Poppy,” I corrected.

“So, does Kolis think he can…do what? Convince you to go along with that?”

“I have no idea what Kolis thinks,” I replied. And, gods, that was the truth.

Malik stared at me and then looked at his brother. “I don’t like this.”

Casteel didn’t respond, likely because it was unnecessary. None of us liked this.

“Again, Kolis likes to put on a show that builds anxiety and fear,” Attes said. “This wouldn’t be the first time he’s done something like this while asking for something he knows will be refused.”

“He sounds…lovely to deal with,” Vonetta muttered.

“You said the Fate is there in case things go sideways,” Kieran broke in. “What exactly does that mean?”

“It normally means no one can be harmed or worse,” Attes answered.

“Normally?” Casteel repeated, his gaze fixed on the blade as it twirled over his knuckles.

Attes sighed. “Yes, normally. I don’t know how the rules apply in this situation.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, loosely clasping my fingers.

Attes’s gaze briefly met mine. “You are not a Primal of a Court, and I do not know if that changes things.”

Kieran’s gaze slid to mine as his mark brushed against my thoughts. I assume your vadentia is silent?

Unfortunately , I sent back. If it did change the rules, then whatever shield the Fate provided would be irrelevant.

But then, why would he summon one? What would be the point?

Gods, I hoped it was Lirian.

“Poppy wasn’t the only one summoned,” Casteel stated. “Kieran’s presence and mine were also requested.”

Valyn stilled. “All three of you—the King, the Queen, and the Advisor to the Crown?”

“Actually,” Attes began, “that is not what was said.”

The blade ceased spinning, and Casteel’s gaze shot to Attes. “I was there.”

“Then you know what was said. Penellaphe was requested.”

“Poppy,” I corrected, this time with a sigh.

“And?” Kieran stated.

“And your presence and his was tacked on,” Attes said. “The words were that he’d love it if you joined her. That is not a direct invitation.”

“Not to sound repetitive, but…” Casteel paused. “And?”

“It means none of the rules the Fate’s presence should guarantee applies to you or him,” Attes shared. “As you two were not summoned. She was.”

I sucked in a sharp breath.

“ And ?” Casteel repeated with a tight-lipped smile.

“Is that the only word you can speak now?” Attes snapped.

“I have a whole vocabulary of words I could be using, but they’d be wasted,” Casteel replied. “Whether or not these protections—ones you’re not even sure will extend to Poppy—cover us doesn’t matter.”

“We’re going,” Kieran finished.

Tension crept into every muscle as my fingers twisted together. None of the protections… Gods, was that not confirmation of what I’d known the moment Kolis said he’d love for them to attend?

“Casteel,” his father started.

“I don’t want to hear it.” Casteel started flipping the blade again.

“I know you don’t.” His father wasn’t swayed. My eyes met Attes’s. “But in no situation should the three highest-ranking members be present for such a meeting.”

“The three of us were present for the battle at the Bone Temple,” Casteel pointed out.

“That’s different,” Valyn said, his voice steady.

“Is it?” Kieran asked. “Because it makes no sense.”

A muscle ticked in Valyn’s temple.

“Besides.” Casteel shifted, slouching slightly. “The kingdom would not be without guidance. Vonetta is here.”

Vonetta’s stare darted between the three of us. She looked like she was about to speak but thought twice about it.

Valyn took a deep breath. “I strongly advise that you not do this.”

“You can advise all you want.” His thick lashes lifted as he pierced his father with a look that held a warning. “It won’t change anything.”

“No.”

The table fell silent again.

Then Casteel’s neck turned. “What?”

“I said no.” I spoke louder. “If you two accompany me, you will not leave.”

The dagger halted between two fingers.

That wasn’t the only reason they couldn’t go, but it was the main reason. I knew I had to get close to Kolis. That meant going along with his…desires to an extent, despite what Seraphena had said. And that would never happen with either of them there.

Kieran leaned forward. “Poppy—”

“There is no other reason for why he would’ve phrased the summons like he did.”

“Pretty sure I just made it clear that whether the protection extends to us or not doesn’t matter,” Casteel replied, his tone flat.

“I know, but…” I looked at Attes. “What happens if I make a move against Kolis to defend either of them?”

“You will be…put in a time-out,” he answered.

“Time-out?” Emil repeated under his breath.

I inhaled through my nose. “Which means, he can harm the two of you, and if I intervene, I will be punished—and I will intervene.”

“He won’t get a chance to harm us,” Casteel stated.

I stared at him. “I don’t think you’ve been listening—”

“I’ve been listening,” he interrupted. “If these rules don’t protect us, they also don’t apply to us.”

My gaze flicked to Attes.

He nodded. “He would be correct.”

“That still doesn’t change things,” I said, untangling my fingers. “I don’t know Kolis well, but I know enough. He’ll goad you—both of you.”

“He will,” Attes confirmed.

“And he’ll say things that…” Pressing my lips together, I rose, unable to stay seated. “He’ll say things that you will react to.”

Casteel’s gaze followed me as I moved behind the chair. “You think I don’t know that?”

“I think you do—both of you.” I glanced at Kieran, who’d gone quiet. “But I also think it’s completely different once you hear him.”

“When did you hear him?” Vonetta asked.

“Before you…woke up for real?” Delano questioned, earning a confused look from her.

“No.” I exhaled roughly. “It’s a long story. I’ll have to tell you all later. But trust me, he will say stuff to provoke a response.”

“How about instead of asking them to trust you,” Casteel said, his voice low, “you trust us to keep our cool?”

“I do trust you, but—”

“There should be no but following that statement,” he cut in.

I gripped the back of the chair. “You don’t understand, Cas.”

“I don’t understand,” Malik chimed. “Yeah, again. But why wouldn’t you want them there? Why would you argue to go alone?”

“She won’t be alone,” Attes said. “I will go with her.”

A muscle flexed in Casteel’s jaw.

“And that would be allowed?” Malik asked.

“It was not requested that she go alone.”

Malik’s gaze moved between us. “This still doesn’t sound wise to me.”

“I’m not going there just to listen to whatever nonsense Kolis has to say.” I turned and stepped off the dais. “I’m going to kill him.”

Naill twisted in his chair to face me. “Wouldn’t that be in direct violation of the rules?”

“That’s the point.” One of them. “The Fate will put me in…a time-out.” The edges of the tunic snapped at my knees as I began to pace. “I’ll survive that, right?”

Attes didn’t turn around. “You’re a true Primal of Life and Death. I don’t even know if a Fate can kill you. At least, not one.”

Oh.

I hadn’t even considered that.

“But you’ll likely end up in stasis…for a time,” he finished.

The sharp rise of eather came from where I had been seated, both icy and hot.

“I don’t see the point in this conversation,” Casteel stated.

“What would you do the moment the Fate moves to put me in stasis?” I demanded to the back of his head. “Would you allow it?”

Casteel didn’t respond.

I looked at Kieran. “You?”

He stared at me with an almost desperate look in his eyes. “Poppy—”

“Neither of you would allow it,” I interrupted. “I don’t know if they can kill either of you, but I do know you would attack them. And I cannot—I refuse—to allow that.”

“You refuse?” Casteel’s voice was soft.

“Yes. I refuse.” I made another pass between the pillars. “The last thing I need to worry about is what is going to happen to you while I’m there to kill the true Primal of Death.”

“And what if there is no Fate?” Casteel shot back. “What if this is just a trap?”

My stomach dove. “That’s…possible. But he won’t kill me.”

“How can you say that?” Vonetta asked.

“Because I can. I know.” I kept moving as the eather thrummed in my chest. “I’ll have to—”

“Explain it later?” Delano finished, his brows raised.

“Yes. Later. After I deal with the asshole,” I said.

Emil frowned as he leaned forward. “You guys did the Joining, right?”

I inhaled deeply, really wishing that hadn’t been brought up with Casteel’s father present. “Yes,” I clipped, refusing to look in Valyn’s direction.

“Then even if Kolis attacks one of them—”

“Death by Kolis’s hand or by his will severs any bond,” I stated, and for the third time, the table went silent. “They will have no protection.”

“That doesn’t matter,” Casteel stated.

“It does.” I stopped behind him. “The point is, I will survive—”

“The point is you think we won’t be able to control ourselves,” Casteel bit out. “Or is it just me you think won’t be able to, even if it jeopardizes you?”

My brows snapped together. “That’s not what I’m saying.”

“That’s exactly what you’re saying—what you’ve been saying,” Casteel fired back. “You don’t trust that I will do the right thing.”

Air hitched in my lungs. “And I don’t understand now, just like I didn’t understand before, why you would say that.”

Casteel didn’t respond.

“Can you explain it?” I asked, my heart thumping.

“I’m sure Kieran can.”

“What?” My gaze shot to Kieran. He shook his head, his eyes closing. “What are you talking about?”

Nothing but silence ensued as everyone began shifting uncomfortably in their seats.

“Casteel,” I said. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but you have to understand—”

“As I said,” he interrupted. “I understand perfectly.”

“ What do you understand?” I demanded, my patience wearing thin as unease and anxiety bloomed. “And how about you actually turn around and look at me when you explain it?”

“I understand ,” he stated. With a charge of eather, the bloodstone dagger vanished in a ripple of shadowy essence streaked with crimson.

“Gods,” muttered Vonetta.

“I understand,” he repeated, rising to face me, “that you do not believe I’m capable of doing what is needed, no matter what that might be—no matter how hard or difficult it could be.”

My confusion continued to rise as I looked at him. “I’m really not following.”

“Let me ask you something, Poppy.” Casteel walked onto the step. “If you felt like you couldn’t control your power, if you felt yourself becoming unstable, would you come to me?”

“I think this meeting should be adjourned,” I thought I heard Kieran suggest, but my heart was pounding too loud to be sure as I stared at Casteel.

He came down the last step. “Would you trust that I could keep you level? That I would be able to stop you from losing control?”

My chest stuttered. “Yes,” I whispered.

Casteel inhaled sharply. “That’s a lie, Poppy.”

“No, it’s not—”

“If it was true, you never would’ve ,” he cut in, slicing his hand through the air, “asked Kieran to be the one to put you in the ground.”