A Shadow in the Ember (Flesh and Fire 1)

Beside her was a man with rich, brown skin, his sleeveless tunic tailored to the broad width of his shoulders and chest. His dark hair was cropped close to his head. Something about his handsome features and the impassive set of his mouth was familiar.

Aios’s smile increased as they approached. The male glanced in my direction while Bele stepped forward to give Aios a quick, tight hug.

“It’s so good to see you,” Aios said, stepping back and clasping Bele’s arms. “You’ve been gone so long, I was starting to worry.”

The dark-haired goddess laughed. “You should know better than to worry about me.”

“I worry about all of you when you’re gone.” A bit of the joy faded from Aios’s tone, giving me the impression that was true.

“Do I get a hug?” the man asked as Bele stepped back, his dark brown eyes aglow with eather.

“I just saw you this morning, Rhahar.” Aios arched a brow, and I immediately recognized the name. He was one of the gods who’d checked the tombs with Ash. “But do you actually want one?”

“Not really.”

Laughing, Aios sprang forward anyway, giving the god an equally tight hug. I didn’t think the god could look more uncomfortable with his arms pinned straight to his sides, and I couldn’t help but grin as Jadis finally hopped off my feet and ambled toward Bele.

“Hey Jadis-bug.” Bele bent, rubbing the draken under her chin.

“Holy shit, is that Reaver flying?” Rhahar squinted, looking up at the faint star-strewn sky.

“Yes.” Aios glanced over her shoulder as Reaver flew in circles along the edges of the Rise. “He finally got the hang of it today.”

“You must be her,” Bele stated. Pulling my eyes from Reaver, I looked at her. She studied me with open curiosity. “Our soon-to-be Consort.”

There was a snag in my breath, but I nodded. “Apparently.”

Bele’s grin was brief as she placed her right hand over her chest and bowed at the waist. The gesture threw me off. None had done that before.

“You don’t have to do that,” I blurted out as she straightened. “I mean, I’m not really the Consort yet. You can call me Sera.”

“Just because it’s not official doesn’t mean you are not due the respect of your position,” Bele stated and then turned slowly to Rhahar.

Rhahar frowned at her. “What?”

She raised her brows as she pointed one glossy black-painted fingernail at me.

I stiffened, feeling warmth creep into my cheeks. “It’s really not necessary—”

“Yes. It is,” Bele interrupted, looking at me. “If we do not show you the respect of your position, then none of the other Courts will. And if they do not respect you, it is unlikely you’ll survive the coronation, Consort to the Primal or not.”

I opened my mouth, but I honestly hadn’t a clue how to respond to that less-than-reassuring statement.

“You know, she has a point,” Rhahar mused, eyeing me. “News of you has already traveled far and wide. Many are very curious…and confused as to why Ash would choose a mortal as a Consort.”

I still had no idea what to say.

“Okay,” Aios said with a sigh. “This first meeting couldn’t be more awkward.”

“But it’s true. Some of the gods are taking bets on how long she’ll live,” Bele said.

I blinked slowly. “Really?”

She nodded as her gaze dropped to where the shadowstone dagger was strapped to my thigh. “But Rhahar tells me you’re a fighter.”

My attention shifted to him, and I caught sight of Jadis hopping after Reaver, nipping at his tail. I didn’t think I’d ever seen something stranger…or more adorable.

“Heard about how you held your own with the entombed gods,” he remarked. “She can fight.”

“Good.” Bele smiled, crossing her arms.

“Well,” I said, shaking my head. “This coronation sounds as if it will be fun.”

Rhahar’s laugh was rough and dry. “It’s definitely going to be something.”

His laughter struck that chord of familiarity again. I looked at him closer. The proud set of his features and the curve of his eyes resembled… “Are you related to Saion?”

A faint grin appeared. “Saion is my cousin. That is, when I claim him,” he answered, his dark eyes sharp. “By the way, he told me what you did with a whip.”

My eyes widened.

Bele’s head cocked to the side. “What did you do with a whip?” She looked at Aios. “Do you know?”

Aios shook her head.

“She shoved the handle of a whip down some asshole’s throat,” Rhahar answered, and Aios turned to me.

“Really?” Bele’s eyes glimmered.

I shifted my weight. “Yeah, I sort of did that, but he deserved it.”

The smile on Bele’s face grew as Jadis gave a pitiful squawk due to Reaver once more swooping up into the air. There was something else in Bele’s stare, though. Something I couldn’t quite place. “Strange that a Consort would have such a violent streak.”

I stiffened. “Do you know many Consorts?”

“I do.”