Page 27 of The Primal of Blood and Bone (Blood and Ash #6)

The room was silent except for Poppy’s shallow breathing, a rhythm that seemed too frail and labored.

Concern took hold as I let my senses stretch out toward her.

What I picked up from her was a swirling mixture of fear, anxiety, and something flat.

Emotionless. Empty. I concentrated on her.

It was like peeling back the layers of an onion.

The fear was hers, as was the anxiety and hunger, but what lurked underneath? That cold emptiness? That wasn’t her.

That was him .

Somehow, he’d bonded himself to her. Had gotten inside her—A wildfire of rage tore through me, igniting every cell in my body and stoking the essence in my blood. I was going to kill that fucker. True Primal of Death or not, he would die. He would fucking—

Poppy’s head lifted, her eyes wide again as energy charged the atmosphere. A faint glow of eather pulsed weakly behind her pupils as the splotches of brown and green in her irises began to bleed together.

Shit.

I needed to control myself better. Pulling my senses back, I cut them off as I checked my anger. It took damn near everything in me to calm my ass down.

When I could trust that my voice would be level, I spoke. “You felt that, huh? I’m not angry at you. Never at you.”

The churning in her eyes slowed and then stilled, leaving only the shadows and crimson visible. Our gazes locked, and there was nothing but a cold, vast emptiness in her stare.

I knew at once that she wasn’t looking back at me.

Tension gathered in my muscles. “Is that you?”

Her head tilted.

“Kolis.”

One side of her lips curled up slowly. “I told you once before.” The voice that came out of her was a poisonous whisper, slithering through the air toward me like a venomous viper. The hairs on my arms stood on end. “She has always been mine.”

Instantly, it was as if all my muscles had turned to stone. I saw Duke Teerman in my mind, saying almost the same words. Saw a glint of light in his dark eyes, like dying sunlight flickering in the darkness.

And suddenly I knew.

Somehow, Kolis had been in Teerman. My hand fisted against my thigh as I tried to keep my voice level. “And I told you that she has never been yours.”

The laugh fell against my skin like frozen rain. “Fool.”

I pushed down the rising eather, using what I’d learned while being held captive. I shut down any and all feelings until I was as cold as the thing staring back at me through her eyes. Getting Kolis to talk was far more productive than losing my shit. “How long were you in Teerman?”

Her head tilted to the other side, the movement disturbingly fluid and serpentine. “Whenever I chose to be.”

I didn’t look away. “How?”

That smirk kicked up a notch. “I’m going to kill you.”

The curve of my lips matched hers. “Is that so?”

“But first?” The tip of her tongue swiped over her dry lower lip. “I’m going to take everyone you care about and break them.”

I forced a yawn. “Doubtful.”

He stared back at me through her eyes. “You remind me of someone I once knew.” The other side of the lips tipped up. “He, too, loved her.”

I could feel my fingertips beginning to prickle as my nails lengthened. “Who are you talking about?”

“He was also a fool.”

“ Who? ”

The eyes flickered over me, then narrowed. “Doesn’t matter.”

I actually agreed with the sick fuck. “You killed those Ascended, didn’t you? Fed from them.”

He continued to smile with her lips. And, fuck, it was a grotesque mockery.

“Why am I not surprised that a piece of shit like you can gain strength from blood that is useless to everyone else?”

The crimson bands in her eyes pulsed.

I smirked. “What do you want?”

“What I deserve.”

“And what does that mean? Domination of the realms or some lame shit like that?”

“You’ll see.” That dry-as-bones laugh came once more.

“Why don’t we see now? Have a real chat, face to…well, whatever form you have. I’ll be good. Promise.” I paused, letting the moment drag out. “Unless you’re too afraid.”

“Afraid?” The hiss that parted those lips caused the air to crackle. “You are powerless against me. You’re finite, while I am infinite. You’re nothing.”

“Remember what I did to Teerman?” My upper lip rose, baring a fang. “I’m going to do that to you.”

The smirk faded as Poppy became incredibly still. She winced, a soft whimper escaping as her eyes closed tightly. A shudder racked her body.

Instinct took over, and I moved toward her.

“Don’t,” she uttered hoarsely, pressing her back against the wall. “If you…get too close, he…he may take over again.”

Heart pounding, I forced myself to hold back, even though everything in me screamed to go to her. It fucking hurt not to, but this wasn’t about me and my needs.

I settled back down. “I’m sorry.”

Poppy eyed me for a long, tense moment and then lowered her cheek to her knee. Her lips were slightly parted, her once lush and soft skin now chafed and dry.

Rubbing my hand over my chest, I considered what had just happened while working to keep my temper in check. “Can you…can you feel him?”

She gave a short nod.

My jaw clenched. “Do you know how he’s able to do this?”

Her eyes opened and then closed. “He wanted in, and I…I didn’t have a choice.”

Pressure clamped down on my chest, my heart bleeding. “How did Kolis get in?”

Her features twisted as she inhaled, the pain evident. She turned sideways again and pressed into the wall.

The pain had come on when I said Kolis’s name. I filed that piece of information away as I wet my lower lip. “Do you know who got in?”

“Death,” she rasped.

I exhaled slowly, my thoughts racing. She hadn’t said Kolis. Sure, he was Death, but if he was causing her pain when his name was spoken, there had to be a reason for that.

There must be a reason behind the bizarre shit the fuck had said, too.

She’s always been his? I thought about Reaver and his reluctance to say what Kolis could want with her.

But how could he believe she was his? The fuck had been entombed for hundreds of years.

Possibly even over a thousand for all we knew.

But he’d been in Teerman, which could explain the sick fuck’s twisted interest in Poppy.

But who the fuck was this other he spoke of?

None of that answered what Kolis wanted from Poppy, but I had learned something.

Besides the knowledge that Poppy had never felt pain before when his name was spoken, she’d said he wanted in, and she had no choice. So, how—?

The Rev.

My chest was tight as I inhaled sharply. The Rev had touched her. Could that have caused this? Allowed Kolis a way in through some sort of stolen Primal magic?

Not many living Atlantians even knew how to harness the essence of the gods and turn eather into spells and magic. The Unseen could be included in that group, but they had turned against the gods who once ruled Atlantia. It made no sense that they’d have anything to do with a Revenant or Kolis.

That left the Rev himself. It had to be something he’d done, or something the Revenants were capable of doing.

Millicent.

I needed to talk to her. I also needed to know what Emil had done with the Rev’s bits and pieces.

Just as I was about to stand and call out to the Elemental Atlantian, I heard the faint rumble of Poppy’s stomach. Thoughts of summoning Millicent momentarily slipped to the back of my mind.

“Are you hungry?” Fuck. That was an idiotic question. It had been days—no, longer—since she last ate. Of course, she was hungry.

“For food?” I clarified.

Poppy stared back at me for what felt like a small eternity.

“There is some food here,” I told her, tipping my head toward the table on the other side of the bed. “I’m sure there’s cheese.”

A gleam of interest flickered through her eyes.

A low, raspy chuckle left me. “Of course, cheese would catch your attention.” I felt my lips curve into my first real smile since she awakened.

“I’m going to stand and get you a plate,” I told her, not wanting to startle her.

When she showed no reaction, I slowly rose and started to turn before stopping.

“Or would you like to come to the table?”

Poppy’s gaze lowered.

“I…I’ll take that as a no.” Swallowing hard, I turned and went to the table.

Keeping an eye on her, I was careful not to make much noise as I lifted the lid on the stewed meat and plated a few strips, quickly carving them since I figured handing her a knife wouldn’t be a wise choice. When I saw the selection of cheese, I halted.

Frustration and begrudging amusement intertwined as I gazed at the absurd amount of cheese in front of me. There was no way Kieran hadn’t had a hand in the choices. They were her favorites.

The hollow ache in my chest returned as I added several cubes and poured her a glass of fruit-flavored water. I eyed the silverware. She could do some damage with a fork.

Then again, she could do damage without any sharp, pointy instruments. To me and herself.

The idea of making her eat with her fingers sickened me, though. I’d rather take a fork to the eye. But I had to deal with it.

Picking up a linen cloth, I carried the plate and drink to her. She lifted her head, eyeing what I carried.

“I’m going to put this down in front of you, okay?” I kept my steps slow. Kneeling less than a foot in front of her, I inhaled her scent. Jasmine.

My hand trembled as I placed the plate and glass on the floor. I wanted to stay closer, but I forced myself to back away. I didn’t sit on the floor. Instead, I sat in the hard, uncomfortable chair.

Seconds ticked into minutes as she stared at the food, almost as if she couldn’t comprehend what she was looking at. Or didn’t trust it. I should’ve eaten some in front—

A pale hand plucked up a cube of cheese. I held my breath as it passed between her lips, and then I exhaled softly as she picked up another piece—this time, cheddar.