A Shadow in the Ember (Flesh and Fire 1)

“I really hope the phrase reborn doesn’t mean literally.” Aios rubbed her hands over her upper arms. “Because I don’t want to think about Kolis having found some way to create life.”

“And that it might some way, possibly, involve you.” Bele jerked her chin toward me.

“Thanks for the reminder,” I muttered, but it did make me think of the question I’d thought of while in Gemma’s room. “Why hasn’t Kolis come to the Shadowlands? Why didn’t he come himself when I brought Gemma back?”

“He hasn’t stepped foot in the Shadowlands since he became the Primal of Life,” Bele answered. “I don’t think he can. Don’t look too relieved by that,” she said, catching the breath I exhaled. “As you saw, he doesn’t need to come here to make his presence known. And we don’t know for sure if he really can’t.”

I nodded, thinking over what Gemma had shared. “So, Kolis definitely knows about the ember of life—he may not know how it came into creation, but he knows it exists. And he thinks he can use it somehow, which I’m guessing Eythos didn’t take into consideration.”

Aios tipped her head back. “At this point, I doubt even the Fates know why he put the ember of life in your bloodline.”

I stiffened as what she said struck a chord of familiarity in me. Frowning, I searched my memories until I…I saw Odetta in my mind. “The Fates,” I whispered. “The Arae.”

“Yes.” Aios looked over at me. “The Arae.”

My heart started pounding as I twisted toward her. “My old nursemaid, Odetta, told me that I was touched by Death and Life upon birth—she claimed that only the Fates could answer why. I always thought that Odetta was being, well, overdramatic because how would she know what the Fates may or may not have said or known? But what if she was speaking the truth? What if the Fates do know? Is that possible?”

“As far as I know, the Fates don’t know everything.” Bele pushed off the wall, her eyes lighting up. “But they do know more than most.”

“Where is Odetta now?” Aios asked.

“She passed away recently.” An ache cut through my chest. “She should be in the Vale. Can the draken somehow reach her?” I asked, remembering what Nyktos had said. “Wait. If the Fates know what Eythos planned, then wouldn’t Nyktos have known that, too? And gone to them?”

Bele laughed. “The Primals cannot make demands of the Arae. They cannot even touch the Arae. That’s forbidden to keep the balance. It wouldn’t have crossed Nyktos’ mind. I doubt it would’ve even crossed Kolis’s, and he usually has no care for rules, whatsoever.”

“We need to find Nyktos,” I said, looking between the two of them. “He needs to know about these reborn and Odetta.”

“Do you know where he is in Lethe?” Aios asked as she started walking. I followed.

“I do, but I’m on guard duty.”

“Then we take her with us.” Aios looked over at me. “You’re going to behave yourself, right?”

I sighed. “I don’t understand why everyone expects me to do something—” I cut myself off as both of them looked at me. “You know what? Don’t even answer that question. I will behave myself.”

“Nyktos is going to be so irritated,” Bele muttered as we reached the spiral staircase and started down the steps.

That he would be. I didn’t want to return to my chambers, to be left with my thoughts and the hollowness I felt, but… “How much trouble will you be in?”

“None once he hears what we have to say.” Her palm glided over the smooth railing.

“You only say that because you’ve never done anything to anger him.”

“True.” Aios laughed as we rounded the first floor and the vast foyer came into view. “But what’s the worst he will do?”

Bele snorted. “His disappointment alone is unbearable—”

The massive doors to the foyer swung open without warning, slamming into the thick shadowstone walls.

Bele jerked to a halt in front of me, throwing out her arm and blocking Aios from going any farther. “What the hell?”

I stopped behind them as a figure walked through the opened doors. Everything in me stilled as I took in the faint, radiant aura surrounding her.

The goddess, Cressa.

Chapter 42

Cressa wore a different gown, one the color of the peonies that had been scattered across the Sun Temple’s dais. Under the bright light of the chandelier, the fabric was nearly translucent. I could see the indent of her navel, the darker hue of the tips of her breasts, the—

Okay, I saw a lot of her.

What I saw didn’t matter. That bitch had been there when Madis slaughtered that babe. My hand slipped to my right thigh, only to come up empty.

“What in the hell are you doing here?” Bele demanded.

Cressa’s gaze swept toward the stairs, her rosy lips curving into a smile. “Bele,” she said, and I saw red at the sound of her voice. “It’s been a while.” Her chin tipped down. “Aios? Is that you? You look…well. I’m sure Kolis will be thrilled to hear.”