Page 193 of The Primal of Blood and Bone (Blood and Ash #6)

“I may be submitting, but that doesn’t mean I’m for senseless killing.” I held his stare. “You’re the true Primal of Death. Not a psychotic murderer.”

“Really?” he drawled. “You may be the first to think that in…gods.” He laughed. “How long, Attes?”

“A long fucking time,” the Primal muttered. “But as you can see, she still has some of her original…qualities.”

I stiffened, telling myself not to focus on that. I’d have to ask about it later.

“That she does.” Kolis’s voice dropped, and it took everything to suppress a shudder. “What if I wanted a little senseless killing?”

“Depends on the killing.”

“Like?”

“If it involved a Fate or two, I wouldn’t mind.” I said the first thing that came to mind.

Real surprise shot across his striking features. “Really?”

“I’m not exactly fond of them. For a multitude of reasons,” I said, then decided for some extra realness to add. “Especially Lirian.”

Kolis barked out a short laugh. “Interesting.”

I watched him as he moved along the edge of the dais. If he would just get down here…

“What if I needed proof of your willingness to…submit?” he said, stopping directly above me. “What if I wanted to fuck you in front of Attes?”

A low growl rumbled out of the Primal as I went numb. Completely, utterly numb. My heart thudded. I couldn’t—wouldn’t—let things get anywhere close to that happening. “If you want that, then I misjudged you. And you might as well prepare.”

“For what, Penellaphe?”

“For a fight.” I let the eather surface just enough that I knew he felt the heat of life and the coldness of death. “I may not win, but I know I will hurt you. Badly.”

He went still again, his gaze unflinching. “You haven’t misjudged me.” Without warning, he jumped down, making me jolt. “I would never do such a thing with a woman I loved.”

Something in the words chilled me straight to the bone.

It made me think of what Casteel had said.

“I don’t know, Penellaphe.” Kolis stood several feet from me, the closest he’d ever been in the flesh. “I’m not sure if you can fulfill the offer you’re making.”

His statement caught me off guard. “What do you mean?”

“You’re kind. You always have been. And yes, I know this. I’ve known you for your entire life.”

Yeah, I was going to ignore that. “Do not mistake my kindness for weakness.”

“You see the good in the most rotten beings, demand fairness for the least just, and believe in second chances for those who would only waste them. You’re not like Seraphena.

” He spat her name with venom as a foot of space disappeared between us.

“You’re not conniving. You don’t seek retribution.

You’re not a murderer like she is. So, do not act as if you are. ”

A sharp, stifled burst of air escaped from my nose.

His crimson-streaked gaze narrowed. “Is there something you find funny?”

“You think you know me.” I spoke as I crossed my arms so my left hand was near the hook on the forearm sheath. “Clearly, you do not.”

“Do tell?”

“I do tend to see the good in those others only see the worst in.” I flicked the hook. “I do demand that even those who are unjust are due fairness. And yes, I refuse to live in a world that doesn’t believe people can be better and change if given a chance to do so.”

He leaned back with a low laugh. “It sounds like I do, in fact, know you.”

“But I can also see when there is no good left. I demand justice for the wrongs committed by those who thrive on inequality. And I believe second chances are earned, not freely given.”

Kolis arched a brow in challenge. “And?”

I stepped forward. Only two feet left between us. I slipped my fingers under my sleeve. “But when I do seek retribution, I am more vengeful than those whose blood I share.”

The essence pulsed in his eyes. It wasn’t the only thing I saw in him, though—in the part of his lips. There was also interest. Lust.

“How vengeful?”

Less than a foot. I curled my fingers around the dagger’s hilt. It immediately warmed to my skin. “Trust me,” I said. “You don’t want to find out.”

“I don’t know about that.” His gaze slipped over me as crimson shadows appeared in his flesh. “I think it would be quite enjoyable.”

No, you won’t , I vowed silently.

Kolis’s smile returned, widening. “Attes?” he said, erasing the space between us.

I held myself still as he stared at me. I didn’t breathe in his scent. I didn’t flinch as he folded an arm around my waist. I didn’t vomit in his face as he tugged me against him. I didn’t let myself dwell on the feel of him against my stomach.

“You may want to look away,” Kolis instructed.

I focused only on the dagger as his head lowered.

I was so focused that I didn’t feel his lips on mine.

I was nothing but a weapon—the blade I withdrew as my lips moved against his.

His groan was ragged, and I let my lips curve into a smile right before I bit down hard on his lip in the same instant I thrust my right hand out.

Kolis jerked.

Letting the eather rise, I slammed both hands into his chest and shoved him.

He flew backward, crashing into the side of the dais. He hit the floor on his ass, bracing himself with one hand as his other hovered over his chest—near the dagger I’d shoved straight into his heart.

My heart racing, I wiped the back of my hand over my mouth as Attes shot to my side, the bone dagger in hand. His attention was on Kolis as I lowered my hand. Black and crimson streaks rippled out and spread across Kolis’s chest.

“Ancient bone,” Kolis rasped, lifting his head. There was nothing in his expression. Nothing at all.

“Not just any Ancient bone,” I said. “You should recognize it. After all, it is the dagger Seraphena promised you she would hand to me. Too bad she’s not here to see this.”

“Yes.” Blood trickled from his mouth. “Too bad.”

Kolis gripped the hilt.

I tensed.

Attes stiffened.

“I would’ve loved to see her face.” He yanked the dagger free, his gaze flipping to mine. A wave of shadowy eather washed over the dagger, collapsing it.

My lips parted, and that buzz returned to my ears.

“But your expression will do.” Kolis rose, and fast—too fast for someone who should’ve been mortally wounded. “Ouch.” He ran his hand over his chest. “That stung.”

Had I missed?

No.

I hadn’t. I knew where the heart was.

“Did you really think, Penellaphe, that you knew what I wanted?” He smiled, and there was nothing practiced about it. It was wide and gruesome, blood smeared over his teeth. “I may be, as some would say, unstable. Perhaps even desperate.”

I felt Attes circle an arm around my waist and draw me back.

“Do you really think I’m so desperate, so insane, that I would still love the bitch who helped entomb me for over a thousand years?” Kolis demanded. “I had a lot of time to think things over. To get over it. I’ve moved on, so’lis .”

Oh, gods.

Casteel had been right. He’d been right about Kolis.

I felt the essence rise in Attes as the scent of burnt ozone reached us.

“Where are you going?” Kolis asked. “I still want you—well, I want what’s inside you, Poppy .”

The crackle of the realm starting to open tore through the air. A strange scent reached me, a mixture of citrus and lilac—

“And when I’m done with you?” Crimson and midnight swirled through his flesh as it thinned. “You know where I will go,” Kolis hissed.

I summoned the eather, letting it rush to the surface even as the tear in the realm opened.

The scent of…citrus and fresh air grew, and I knew Attes wasn’t taking me to Carsodonia.

He was taking me to Iliseeum. Because he could cross with the wards.

Kolis couldn’t. The tear would seal behind us, and I knew Kolis would go where he threatened.

To Carsodonia.

To Casteel.

And to Kieran.

I dug in my heels and shoved my elbow into Attes’s stomach, tearing myself free. I locked gazes with Kolis as Attes shouted—

The realm exploded in crimson and night.

What sounded like a clap of thunder came from within me, sudden and sharp, and then…then there was nothing.