Born of Blood and Ash (Flesh and Fire, #4)

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Nyktos, also known as the Asher, the One Who is Blessed, the Guardian of Souls, the Primal God of Common Men and Endings, the Primal of Death, and, currently, the God of Being Really Fucking Impatient, didn’t want to be standing in the hall outside his bedchambers.

“We bonded to her the moment she was born.” Nektas’s eyes shone a brilliant, luminous blue. “We just didn’t know.”

“There’s no one else for me but you. There never has been,” he said, and my breath snagged, our gazes locking. “And there never will be.” “There is no one but you,” I swore. “Ever.”

“Okay, I might’ve haunted you.” “No shit.” My eyes narrowed. “But I would’ve done it lovingly.”

“Not everyone can always be okay, and if you happen to find that you’re not, you can talk to me. We’ll make sure you’re okay,”

“I would’ve seen the realms burn if I lost you. You may not believe I would’ve allowed that to happen, just as you believe my decency extends beyond you, but it doesn’t. I would’ve gladly seen it all burn.”

“If they awaken,” I said, Primal essence throbbing hotly through me, “they do so as unia and eram. The ruin and wrath of that once-great beginning.”

“That beings who wield control over life and death, the lands and the elements, those who hold within them such unyielding power, can never be in a position to rule,” he said, eather flashing in his pupils. “For they are blood and bone.” “The ruin and wrath of a once-great beginning,” I whispered. A fine shiver curled its way down my spine at the same moment cold fingers of dread pressed into the skin behind my left ear. I thought about what Kolis had sought to become. A Primal of Blood and Bone. Of Life and Death.

“I know you’re angry. I know you’re scared,” Nektas said, and that last part caught my attention. “But you go at that fucker over there and you know what will happen.” “Fucker?” muttered Aydun while I stared at Ash and Nektas. “That was uncalled for.”

Attes stepped closer. “Your eyes. I’ve never seen anything like them.” My ears prickled at the low rumble of warning coming from Ash. A gleam sparkled in Attes’s one good eye, and it had nothing to do with the eather. “They are absolutely beautiful,” he went on as if completely oblivious to the dark energy ramping up on the veranda. “Stunning.” “Thanks,” I said. “I guess they happened because there’s never been a true Primal of Life who was born mortal, so…” I gave a one-shouldered shrug. “No,” Attes said, practically purring the word. “There has not.” “You’re showing a little too much respect,” Ash advised coolly. “Keep it up and you’ll find yourself neutered.”

“You forgot to tell me that a deal was offered.” “I didn’t forget,” Ash replied. “I told you Kolis summoned her. I just never got to the point where details were shared.” I glanced between them. “How much time did you spend punching him?” Thierran glanced up curiously from the glass of wine he was pouring. “Not enough,” Ash muttered, and I rolled my eyes.

From the desperation of golden crowns and born of mortal flesh, a great primal power rises as the heir to the lands and seas, to the skies and all the realms. A shadow in the ember, a light in the flame, to become a fire in the flesh. For the one born of the blood and the ash, the bearer of two crowns, and the bringer of life to mortal, god, and draken. A silver beast with blood seeping from its jaws of fire, bathed in the flames of the brightest moon to ever be birthed, will become one. When the stars fall from the night, the great mountains crumble into the seas, and old bones raise their swords beside the gods, the false one will be stripped from glory as the great powers will stumble and fall, some all at once, and they will fall through the fires into a void of nothing. Those left standing will tremble as they kneel, will weaken as they become small, as they become forgotten. For finally, the Primal rises, the giver of blood and the bringer of bone, the Primal of Blood and Ash. Two born of the same misdeeds, born of the same great and Primal power in the mortal realm. A first daughter, with blood full of fire, fated for the once-promised King. And the second daughter, with blood full of ash and ice, the other half of the future King. Together, they will remake the realms as they usher in the end. And so it will begin with the last Chosen blood spilled, the great conspirator birthed from the flesh and fire of the Primals will awaken as the Harbinger and the Bringer...

Bele’s eyes narrowed on me. “Are you flirting with Aios? Right in front of me?” “Yes. That’s exactly what I’m doing while married to a Primal of Death.” I pinned her with a dry look, catching the glimmer of amusement in her silver eyes.

“Does he really need to do all of this?” I asked. Nektas smiled. “He does like to make an entrance.”

“What I didn’t expect was what I would see when I saw you.” The way he said that caught my scattered attention. “What…what do you mean?” “You were shining. Gold. Silver. You were ethereal.” His palms coasted across my waist. “It was as if the moon and the sun had finally come together. I saw you, only you, and you were the most beautiful being I’d ever seen.”

“I say this with the deepest respect possible,” Bele replied. “Fuck you, meyaah Liessa.”

I rose, not as the true Primal of Life but as a Primal of devastating ruin and wrath.

“You are who I fell in love with, Sera. Every part of you. Not just the easy stuff but the complicated, messy aspects, too. I love each part of you equally. You will always be what I cherish most, liessa.” Clasping my cheeks, he kissed the top of my head. “Nothing will ever change that.”

She took a breath, and I could no longer breathe. “You’re with child. Two of them.”

“Liessa.” Ash tilted his head, pressing his cheek against the side of my head. “Don’t cry. Please. It kills me when you do.”

“I’m just checking the positioning of the uterus,” Kye explained, his voice steady as he pressed around my pelvic bone. “Usually, this is done along with an internal exam—” Ash’s eyes narrowed, and a blast of cold air radiated off him. I scowled at him as Kye’s light, yellowish-brown fingers trembled slightly. “But that seems unnecessary at the moment,” Kye said, his gaze moving to mine as he unfolded my shirt. “Let’s talk about your breasts—” A low growl came from where Ash stood to our left. “Nyktos,” I hissed.

Nektas sighed. “Ash, you’re right.” Ash’s smile was smug when I muttered, “You were my favorite draken.” “I’m going to ignore that,” Nektas continued.

“The awakening of the Primal of Blood and Bone,” I surmised. “Yes, and what Eythos learned convinced him of who that Primal would be.” My fingers dug into my knees. “Do I even want to know?” A wan smile appeared. “Sotoria.”

I knew why Ash was growling. It was the whole keep-away-from-my-pregnant-wife thing, which made me so grateful that Kars was in the Callasta Isles because he’d surely get himself killed. But with Reaver, I had a feeling he was picking up on Ash’s tension and responding to it.