Page 59 of The Primal of Blood and Bone (Blood and Ash #6)

The ground rumbled with a deep, resonant growl as the land began to break away all around us. It was deafening—the shrieking steel and cascading stone as large sections of the ground lifted. Pockets of smoke and white, ashy clouds rose across the horizon.

A spray of mud and rocks flew up from the sunken riverbed as a bony hand punched through the surface.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I groaned as it tore itself free, its chest heaving as it stood and walked toward the shore.

The feathered one roared, shaking my bones.

“Time for us to go.” The stranger was at my side again, his hand wrapped firmly around mine. I barely felt the shock of energy as a silvery tear opened in the air.

The being’s wings swept back with such force they sent a gust of wind rushing over the ruined land.

He flew toward the one below him as fast as a draken—faster.

They crashed into each other, the impact sending out a shockwave that rolled in every direction and erupted the ground below them.

Chunks of earth and large rocks hurled toward us as a harsh, acrid scent blew back, bringing a searing heat.

Something slammed into me—a rock, a piece of a structure? I wasn’t sure, but whatever it was, it hurt . It knocked the air out of me and snapped my head back. I heard a grunt as I was pulled toward the opening, my body suddenly feeling like it could no longer function.

Darkness closed in at the corners of my eyes as the ground beneath us collapsed, giving way to flames.

CASTEEL

“Are you ready to behave as if you don’t wish for today to be your very last?”

The entire length of my body vibrated with rage as I glared at the motherfucker with the tattooed face.

The son of a bitch had strolled out of the very same opening in the realm Poppy had left through seconds earlier.

I had no idea who he was. We didn’t make it to the introductions, considering he’d lifted a hand and sent me skidding across the chamber floor as the portal closed, sealing me off from wherever Poppy had gone.

I’d lost my shit. Plain and simple. Part of it was due to how easily he’d gotten the upper hand.

I wasn’t used to that. But absolute terror—for Poppy—fueled my fury.

I had no idea where she’d gone. All I knew was that it couldn’t be good based on what she’d been picking up.

And she’d just woken from stasis. I didn’t think she had taken enough blood.

She hadn’t eaten. And I wasn’t sure she fully remembered everything.

She was out there somewhere, without me to back her up, facing only the gods knew what.

So, yeah, I lost my shit. I launched myself at him, starting to shift without any real conscious effort. That’s how far gone I was.

The fucker put a real quick stop to it, though.

He sent me one look with eyes eerily familiar that not only held me completely immobile but also kept my ass suspended with a fine dusting of gold-spotted black fur covering every inch of my flesh, claws protruding from the tips of my now-shortened fingers, and significantly longer canines.

A rough, guttural growl rumbled from my throat as I pushed against his invisible hold. The essence pulsed inside me and then just…sputtered out.

“I guess not,” the pierced-nipple fucker replied with a bored tone, knocking back brown hair as long as Poppy’s from his face.

Turning away, he looked at the dining table.

“What is it about the women of the Mierel bloodline that attracts such reckless men with so little regard for their lives?” Lifting a lid from a covered dish, he smiled at the array.

“Oh! Cheese.” He reached for one of the cheeses I knew Kieran had prepared because it was sliced into small, bite-sized cubes.

“Where is Poppy?” I demanded.

“Not here.”

My chest vibrated with a growl that crawled its way out. “No shit.”

He paused for a moment, his fingers hovering over the cheese before picking up not one, not two, but three cubes.

“That food is not meant for you.”

“No shit,” he parroted.

I pushed harder against the invisible hold. “I’m going to ask you one more time. Where is Penellaphe?”

“Or what?” He tossed the cheese into his mouth.

“Release your hold on me and find out.” I held his stare. “Unless you’re afraid.”

He chewed slowly, his expression giving nothing away. I didn’t pick up anything from him either. “You make such threats because you have no idea what I am. Nyktos, on the other hand, did. But he still ran his mouth.”

“I knew I liked him.”

“Charming,” he murmured. “I can’t wait for you to realize who you are speaking to.”

“Obviously, you’re a god. And clearly, I don’t give a fuck.” The words came in quick, uneven bursts, each one threaded with fury. “And, like I said… That food. Is not meant. For you.”

“A god?” He laughed. “I am no god. And it would be rude of you not to allow me to enjoy this amazing array of cheeses.”

“Bullshit,” I bit out as I continued pushing against his hold. The eather responded, throbbing more intensely. My fingers twitched.

“Do you think a god would be able to do what I’ve done with you?” he asked. “Do you think a god could prevent your wolven from feeling your anger or sensing her absence?”

Well, that explained why Kieran wasn’t beating down the door. However, I didn’t know what a god, especially one as old as I assumed he was, was capable of.

He popped the cheese into his mouth, sending a tight-lipped smile in my direction. “I am no measly god.”

The first moment I could move, I was going to shove every piece of that cheese down his throat.

“And, apparently, neither are you,” he continued.

He swept his gaze over me as his hand moved to the other cloche.

“Who would’ve thought this would be the outcome of a Joining with a Primal?

” He chuckled as if he’d said something funny.

“Oh, wait. That’s right. We should’ve known.

And by we, I’m not talking about you and me. ”

“Figured that,” I spat, pulling on the essence once more as my lengthened canines dragged against my lip. A spasm ran through my muscles.

“ Should’ve is the keyword in what I just said, by the way.

Though I have a feeling some knew exactly what the outcome would be.

” He prattled on, talking about something I gave no fucks about.

“But I imagine, between the heartmates thing,” he said with a dismissive huff, “and throwing a wolven into the mix, it led to more…unexpected developments.” One shoulder lifted.

“And in case you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m talking about the Arae when I say we . ”

If I weren’t already mimicking a damn statue, I would’ve been then. There was no way I’d heard him right.

“Chocolate!” he exclaimed, grabbing a chunk.

I watched him take a bite and moan like a man with a mouth wrapped around his cock. “ You’re a Fate?”

A frown wrinkled his brow as he looked at me. “Why do you sound like you don’t believe me? Is it because I enjoy the finer things in life?”

“Like cheese and chocolate?”

“Nothing finer.” Finishing off the piece of chocolate, he leaned back in the chair. “I see you’ve stopped fighting my hold.”

I had. “I may be an idiot sometimes, but I’m not a fucking idiot.”

“That’s actually a welcome relief.” He stretched out a long leg. “Wish the same could be said about a certain Primal of Death.”

“Doesn’t mean I’m not still pissed.”

“No need to tell me that. Your anger is like tiny claws scratching at my skin.”

My eyes narrowed. Tiny claws scratching? I held my tongue. Even I knew better than to actually fuck with a Fate despite—wait. I stared at him. “Your eyes.”

“What about them?”

I couldn’t bring myself to say it because the implication seemed impossible.

When I didn’t answer, he draped an arm over the back of the chair. “You can see them.”

“No shit.”

“But can you see this?” He tilted his head and pointed at the vine-like tattoo crawling up his face.

“The shit on your face? Yeah, I can see it.”

He eyed me for a few moments. “Only two other beings besides my kind can see what you can. The true Primal of Life and the true Primal of Death.” The hand he had resting on the table began to tap slowly.

“You being able to is one of those unexpected developments. You shouldn’t be able to, Joining or not.

” The skin at the corners of his eyes creased as he squinted.

“Interesting.” He exhaled heavily. “My name is Aydun.”

Like I gave a fuck what his name was.

The look on his face left me wondering if he could somehow hear my thoughts.

“You ready to behave yourself?”

I clamped my jaw tight.

“I’ll take your silence as a yes.” He winked.

It was like someone had snipped the invisible strings holding me in place. Control came rushing back, and I stumbled forward, catching myself as the fur receded and my teeth and fingers returned to normal.

“Huh.” He studied me. “Now that I can see your features…”

I forced myself to take a deep breath, reminding myself of what was at stake. If I provoked him and he lashed out, Poppy would inevitably pay the price. “What about them?”

“You know exactly what. You met said what .”

“Attes,” I guessed. Considering this guy was a Fate, I shouldn’t be surprised to learn that he knew I’d had a meet-and-greet with the Primal.

“I can tell you’re going to be as problematic as him.” His gaze flicked away. “Your Queen did a very, very bad thing.”

Tension returned to my muscles. “What do you think my wife did?”

Aydun huffed. “She crossed the Primal Veil.”

My brows snapped together. “The fuck?”

His eyes rolled, and with those churning colors, it was a strange sight to behold. “Do you think this realm—the one that holds Solis, Atlantia, and even Iliseeum—is the only one? If so, I’ve truly underestimated the arrogance of the Atlantians.”

“Can’t say I ever gave it much thought.”

“Of course not.” He gestured at the other chair. “Have a seat.”

“I’m good.”

“It wasn’t a request.”