Page 200 of The Primal of Blood and Bone (Blood and Ash #6)

KIERAN

Snow fell from thick, gray clouds, dusting the greenish-brown scales of the draken perched atop the wall encircling Wayfair. I strode across the courtyard, the brown and dried-out grass that had been a lush green just a week ago, crunching under my boots.

Aurelia’s long, slender neck drew back as she lifted her head. A call rang out.

Ignoring the chill biting through my long-sleeved tunic and thicker surcoat, I stopped.

Guards rushed across the frozen ground, sending flurries swirling in every direction.

The heavy, iron and stone gate groaned as it was pushed open.

A lone cloaked figure astride a white mount rode in, the falling snow clinging to the horse’s mane.

The gate was quickly closed to ensure that no one else was allowed near the castle.

We’d learned how badly that could play out.

The horse’s hooves cut through the snow as the rider made their way to where I stood.

Misty, white clouds billowed from the horse’s nostrils as the rider stopped.

They swung off the saddle, landed on the frost-coated ground without a sound, and crossed the space between us, lifting gloved hands and lowering the hood of their cloak.

“Kieran.”

I unfolded my arms and inhaled, taking what felt like the first real breath since…everything had gone to shit. “Father.”

He didn’t hesitate. Didn’t stop to ask about the differences in me that he must sense.

Knowing him, he probably already knew, even though I hadn’t said a word to him about it in the letter I’d sent.

He pulled me to him, folding a hand that always seemed larger than life around the back of my head. “It’s going to be okay.”

A shudder hit me, and for the first time since I was a pup, I almost believed the power of my father’s words alone could make everything okay.

But I knew he didn’t have that kind of power. Not when he’d said the same words when the wasting disease had begun to shorten every breath Elashya took. Not when he’d said them when I learned Cas had gone after the Blood Crown.

But I clung to my father as if I were still that pup who believed in the power only their father could wield.

A raven’s call ended that real quick, though.

My father stiffened at the low, throaty croak that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once, piercing the air with its long and hollow call.

He pulled back, his blue gaze briefly drifting behind me. From where we stood, I knew he could only see Wayfair’s spires and turrets. Letting out a heavy sigh, his gaze met mine. “Where is he?”

That felt like a loaded question. “I’ll show you.”

My father fell into step beside me as we started up the hill. He was silent. Following his gaze, I saw that he was eyeing the burned-out shells of the once-sprawling manors.

“They were empty,” I said. “Mostly.”

His gaze slid back to mine.

“The ones that weren’t? Well, it was no loss,” I said, looking forward. “How is Mother? And Renara?”

“Both are doing well.”

I sent him a quick glance.

“Your mother is worried,” he added, squinting. “She has no way of knowing about everything that has transpired, but…”

But she would sense the loss and the unnatural shift in the realm. All wolven would, no matter where they were.

He cleared his throat. “Valyn?”

My hand fisted as cold wind gusted down the hill, tugging at my father’s cloak. “Burial rites were held for…for what remained.” I forced my hand to relax. “As well as for the others.”

Others.

Like Hisa. Lizeth. Like…

His jaw flexed and then loosened. “Delano?”

Fuck.

My chest ached as I looked away and gave a curt nod.

He was silent for a moment. “Neither Eloana nor Delano’s family are aware?”

“We have not sent word.” What was left of Wayfair’s inner Rise came into view as we neared the crest. “Figured that was news best shared in person.”

“Agreed.” He rubbed at the stubble on his chin. “Can’t wait too long, though.”

“I know.” Gods, did I ever. Nearly three weeks had passed. Damn. That made me think of something. “Have you seen Na’Lier?”

He frowned. “Dominik?”

“Yeah, we were told he was coming to the capital but not why. He should’ve made it by now.”

“I’m sure he’s fine.”

Under normal circumstances, I would think that, too. It would take a lot to kill the eldest Elemental. But it wasn’t improbable.

“Is Netta…?” My father trailed off as Wayfair rose from the horizon, looming above the broken Rise. “Gods…”

“Yeah,” I muttered.

His gaze traveled over the destruction. A good portion of the wall lay in piles of rubble, shattered into pieces no bigger than my fist. What stood was all jagged and broken edges, one strong wind away from collapse.

All that remained of the section that had held back the elms and faced the Cliffs of Sorrow was ash that had either blown away or was lost to the snow.

“Netta is inside,” I answered the question he didn’t get to finish.

“I thought the battle happened in Pensdurth.”

“It did,” I exhaled. “He was…angry.”

“And the castle?”

My gaze lifted to Wayfair. The once-ivory walls were smothered in inky black vines that glittered with the ice that encased each limb and stem. “That’s him, too.”

There was nothing more to be said as we walked through the courtyard. The ashen grass and deep grooves in the earth held my father’s attention. I didn’t pick up much from him in terms of emotion—probably because he didn’t know what to feel.

“He’s furious.” I found myself attempting to explain all of it, even though I’d done so in the letter. “I think he believes that if he had gone with Poppy to Pensdurth, none of this would’ve happened.”

“Maybe he’s right.”

My gaze cut to him. “Seriously? You know Cas. The moment Kolis looked at her in a way that was even slightly offensive, he would’ve lost his shit.”

“Perhaps.”

“That’s it? That’s all you have to say?”

He watched the ravens circling one of the turrets and then looked down. “I see Cas has graciously left the steps bare.”

I snorted. “Care to share what you really want to say?”

“I’ve said what I wanted to.” His steps were quiet while mine thudded off the stone. “And not what you don’t want to hear.”

I inhaled. “I want to hear it.”

“Maybe him losing his shit was exactly what was needed.”

I stopped at the top of the stairs, facing him. “He would’ve gotten himself killed if he’d lost his shit.”

Joining me under the alcove, my father waited for me to continue.

“If you die by Kolis’s hands, it breaks any bond. The Joining wouldn’t have protected him,” I said.

He shifted his attention to the doors. “Where is she?”

What felt like a fist punched through my chest.

Where is she?

My father had asked the question, but all I could hear was Cas’s roar, demanding the same.

That was roughly when the inner Rise had been destroyed.

“Iliseeum,” I said finally.

My father stiffened.

“Attes—the Primal I wrote about—told me. I tried to tell Cas but…” That had not gone well and ended with the manor being destroyed.

And Attes…well, it hadn’t ended well for him either.

I rubbed at my chest. “She was taken there. She was injured,” I forced out in a low voice.

It wasn’t like Cas hadn’t realized that, but he didn’t need the reminder.

Fuck. The city didn’t need the reminder.

“It’s the only thing I can come up with to explain why we’d still be here but not able to feel her. ”

“She’s alive, then.”

She was.

“That’s all that matters.”

It was.

And wasn’t.

I dropped my hand, my jaw working as I reined everything in. We didn’t need two out-of-control Deminyen Primals.

“If she’s in Iliseeum, she’s with family then,” he said, shaking the snow from his silver hair. “That means she’s safe.”

Not trusting myself to speak, I nodded and stepped forward.

“What you were saying about what would’ve happened if Cas went to Pensdurth?” my father said. “He’s never gotten himself killed before.”

True. “But there’s a first time for everything.” I reached for the door again.

“Kieran.”

Hearing the quietness in his tone, I shut my eyes.

He didn’t speak. Several moments passed in silence.

Not even the damn ravens made a sound. “We fucked up,” I rasped, the eather thrumming.

“We shouldn’t have let her go without one of us.

We should’ve been with her. We should’ve—” The tremor in my voice caused me to shut my mouth.

My father placed his hand on my shoulder. The weight was grounding. “You both did what you thought you should’ve done at the time. Just as Poppy did.”

“He didn’t,” I whispered, turning to him. “Cas didn’t do what he thought he should.”

“I know, son.”

I opened my mouth, closed it, and then tried again until I could speak what I hadn’t been able to before. “When Poppy learns about Delano…”

“You’ll be there for her.” He squeezed my shoulder and then dropped his hand.

I would.

Would Cas?

Clenching my jaw, I opened the door. “Fuck—”

I threw up my hand, the essence pulsing hotly down my arm as a flurry of wings and small, dark bodies darted past me. I called the eather back before it reached my fingertips as the ravens veered to my left. My father ducked with a curse.

“Fucking ravens,” I muttered, pushing the essence all the way down. Godsdamn it. I’d rather deal with Reaver than them.

Straightening, my father looked over at me, some of the color leaching from his normally warm olive tone.

“Get used to them.” I walked inside. “They’re everywhere.”