Page 192 of The Primal of Blood and Bone (Blood and Ash #6)

Maybe from stasis. Perhaps from before. It didn’t matter.

The fucker was still looking to his left.

I sent a quick glance in that direction.

A woman stood before him, draped—unsurprisingly—in crimson silk.

Her arms were stretched above her, back bowed to pull the material taut against her nearly exposed chest. She appeared to be dancing.

And she wasn’t the only one in the wings of the dais.

Others were dressed the same, their skin displaying the pale and smooth quality of the Ascended.

My gaze shifted back to Kolis. He was shirtless and wearing only white linen pants. A gold band encircled his right biceps.

“Poppy.” Attes’s voice carried a warning.

It struck me then that I didn’t sense a Fate.

“Nice of you to join me, Sotoria.”

Every muscle in my body tensed. Kolis still hadn’t looked at me. “I told you not to call me that.”

“And I told you it’s your name. It is how I knew you.” His head finally turned toward us.

The similarity to Nyktos, his nephew, was clearly seen in the carved jaw and high cheekbones, but Kolis’s symmetrical features were almost…delicate. Perfectly pieced together.

As we stared at each other, it made sense that Death would be crafted to be beautiful. It served as a comfort when death came and a lure when one fought to live.

“You didn’t come with who I hoped,” he said.

“I didn’t.”

Kolis’s eyes were a bright crimson as they drifted behind me. One side of his full lips curved up. “Should’ve expected it would be you.”

Attes moved to the side and into my peripheral vision. “Where is the Fate, Kolis?”

“Around.”

“Bullshit,” the Primal replied.

“You will not speak to the King like that,” a voice rang out.

My gaze snapped to a tall, slender male with hair as pale as Delano’s and eyes the color of an Elemental. But he wasn’t an Atlantian.

He was a god.

“Who the fuck are you?” I demanded as I glanced around the Hall, picking out what had to be at least a dozen or so Revenants dressed in crimson breeches and tunics. I didn’t see a gold or pale-blond head. No Callum. No Millicent. So far.

“Language,” Kolis chided.

My head shot toward him, and his smile widened.

“Varus,” Attes answered. “Varus of Kithreia. Can’t believe you’re still alive.”

“Same goes for you.” The god crossed his arms. “That won’t hold true if you speak to the King that way again.”

“It’s all right.” Kolis tilted his head. “Attes has every right to be…displeased.”

My brows rose.

“Has he told you why he hates me, Sotoria?”

“One could easily guess,” I retorted and saw Attes send me a look that said he was wondering if this was my idea of seduction. “And do not call me that.”

“I bet you couldn’t guess, so’lis .”

“I don’t care,” I said, which wasn’t true. I wanted to know. I just didn’t care to hear it from him.

“Ah, yes. You want to get down to business.” He leaned forward slightly, and I saw faint shadows slide across his neck and bare chest. He lifted a golden goblet from the floor. “To find out why I summoned you.”

“I would like to know where the Fate is,” Attes stated.

“I imagine he is somewhere.”

I didn’t believe him. And based on the tension in Attes, he didn’t either.

Technically, saying that the Fate was somewhere wasn’t a lie.

The stitches in the veil strained, letting a trickle of ice hit my veins.

I cut it off. It didn’t matter. I only needed to get close to him.

And if a Fate wasn’t here, that was better for me.

Maybe I wouldn’t end up in stasis again.

“Where is the woman who claimed to be Isbeth?”

“Your mother? She hasn’t returned from her visit with you.” He took a drink. “I do hope you welcomed her with open arms.”

My stomach twisted, and I barely managed to stop myself from asking if it had really been her. That also couldn’t matter right now.

Kolis’s gaze briefly flickered to my side, his smile thinning as he eyed Attes. “So, where is that…husband of yours?”

“You asked me to come,” I said. “Not him.”

“Actually, if I recall correctly, I said that I would love for him and the wolven to come,” he replied, gaze snapping back to me as he lifted the goblet. “You didn’t obey.”

My skin prickled as if a swarm of biting ants had been unleashed. “That’s because I chose to come. I didn’t choose to obey you.”

Again, Attes sent me a look that screamed I needed to change tack. But based on how my last interaction with Kolis had gone, I doubted he would believe it if I came in fawning all over him.

“What choice did you have when I presented you with an option I’m sure you found distasteful?”

The veil was completely in place when I said, “You threatened the lives of people I don’t know. People who served the Blood Crown. I’m not here for them.”

A single eyebrow rose. “Really?”

“Really.”

Eyeing me, he took another drink. When his hand lowered, a sheen of crimson remained on his lips. “So, where is he?”

“I’m not here to discuss his whereabouts.”

One finger tapped off the side of his cup. “And what do you think you’re here for?”

“Apparently, to see exactly how far my patience can be stretched.”

The curve of his lips faltered as the air charged. “Sotoria—”

“My name is Penellaphe,” I cut him off as I forced myself to walk forward. “You may have known me as Sotoria, but if you have any interest in knowing me now, you will do so by knowing who I am now .”

His head cocked in a fluid, serpentine manner that caused a chill to spiral down my spine. “You want me to get to know you as Penellaphe?”

I lifted a shoulder. “I want to survive.”

Kolis’s gaze flicked to Attes and then returned to me. “Is that so?”

“I know how this ends.” I took a few more steps forward, noticing the ones who tensed weren’t Revenants.

They remained like statues. It was the gods who grew wary.

“My soul won’t be reborn this time. That is,” I continued, speaking words that tasted bitter, “if I do what I’ve apparently done in the past.”

“And what is that?” he questioned.

“Fight this,” I forced my voice to remain level. “Fight you.”

Kolis went completely still. “This is quite the change in attitude since our chat on the Cliffs.”

“It’s not. Not really. What I told you is true. I know what you want.”

“You also said I would not get it.” He leaned back. “Then, you threatened to kill me.”

It wasn’t like I expected him to forget that. “I did.”

“You changed your mind that quickly?”

“No.”

“I’m confused.”

“I have a temper. I often say things I don’t always mean.”

Kolis took another drink.

“And I said you wouldn’t get what you wanted,” I continued. “Which is a fight where you get to destroy cities and people.”

Lowering his goblet, he dragged his fangs over his lower lip. “And what do I get?”

“My submission.”

Kolis’s chest rose, and it didn’t lower. “Your submission?”

I nodded.

“And what part of today has been an act of submission?”

“I didn’t say my submission would come easily,” I told him.

He stared at me and then laughed. “Why would I believe this? When that one joins you?” His idle smile faded. “I know Attes. He would not go along with this.”

“I don’t trust you,” Attes answered. “That’s why I’m here.”

“As if I didn’t know that already. But I didn’t ask you.” The idle grin returned. “I’m waiting.”

My breath hitched as my heart turned over. Kolis’s low chuckle screamed what he thought of Attes’s reason. It was pitiful. We really should’ve fleshed that out.

Attes was closer. “I just told you—”

“I would suggest you allow her to answer,” Kolis stated, his tone easy—friendly even. His smile increased, and it…creeped me out. It wasn’t real. It reminded me of mine as I stood beside the Teermans. It was practiced. Fake.

“Sotoria?”

“Penellaphe,” I growled, my mind flashing to what Casteel had said. Oh, gods, if I was wrong, this would blow up in my face while also being incredibly embarrassing. “It’s because he loves me.”

Kolis’s smile faltered as his gaze darted to Attes.

“Right?” I said, rushing on. “He doesn’t want me to get myself killed or…”

Kolis’s eyes snapped back to mine. Strands of dark eather swirled in them. “Or what?”

“Or worse.”

Kolis’s jaw rolled. “I must admit, I am caught off guard.” He paused. “Did you tell her?”

“Yes,” Attes answered before I could.

“And what did that make you feel?” Kolis asked of me.

Fucking gods, I couldn’t even answer that if I wanted to. All I could do in that moment was convince myself that Attes was simply going along with what I had said. “Nothing,” I said. That also tasted bitter. “I don’t know him.”

“Interesting.” His jaw loosened. “I’m sure that stung, Attes.”

The Primal had no response to that.

“I know you never summoned a Fate.” I filled the silence. “If you had, they would be here. So, I’m guessing you wanted me to come, and you wanted to force my hand by threatening or harming those I care about.”

“Well.” Kolis chuckled, lifting his goblet. “I must be as transparent as glass, Penellaphe.”

I had no idea if him using my name was good or bad.

Kolis finished off what was likely something best not thought about and then leaned forward, drawing his leg from the arm of his throne. He set the goblet down and straightened. “Leave. Everyone but Penellaphe and Attes.”

I dared to take a deep breath as the vampry on the stage scurried off. Doors opened behind us, but I didn’t look. I kept my eyes on Kolis as he stood. His gaze didn’t leave mine as footsteps hurried across the stone. He didn’t speak until the doors had closed.

“Tell me something, Penellaphe.” He walked to the edge of the dais. “What if I don’t believe you?”

I’m not afraid , I told myself as an icy slicing motion cut through my chest. He does not scare me . “What can I do about that?”

“I have a few ideas.” He reached the edge of the dais.

“If it requires the death of the only person besides us in this Hall, we’re already going to have problems.”

He lifted a brow.