The War of Two Queens (Blood And Ash, #4)

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

“Poppy,” Perry repeated with a nod. “My father, he wouldn’t dare anger the Arae or even the sleeping gods by using such magic.” “The Arae?” It took a moment for the image of Priestess Analia and the heavy tome called The History of The War of Two Kings and the Kingdom of Solis to creep into my thoughts. I remembered. “The Fates.” “Yes,” Perry confirmed. I remembered Tawny and I once talking about them, and the whole idea of beings that could either see or control the outcome of the lives of every living creature seemed utterly unbelievable to both of

And with Casteel, I was always like flesh and fire.

“You are.” Reaver lowered his chin, his eyes opening. “Nyktos was never the true Primal of Death. There was another before him. His name was Kolis.”

“What happened to this Kolis?” Perry spoke up. The Atlantian had been quiet the entire time as he stood with a somber Delano. “Or the other Primals?” “Some of the Primals passed on to Arcadia, a place very much like the Vale but which can be entered without death,”

“Some,” Reaver repeated. “Others were ended. As in they died. Were no more. A figment of a forgotten past. Dead. No longer—” “I get it,” I stopped him. “We all get it.”

“He’s been dealt with. Entombed long ago. None of us would be here if he hadn’t been,” he insisted. “And the only thing that could’ve released him is the Primal of Life. That would never happen. They…they were the kind of enemies that go beyond blood and bone.”

“Wait.” Reaver’s brows knitted and then smoothed as his head jerked toward me. “Holy shit, I should’ve caught on to this. Admittedly, I don’t always pay attention. You all talk a lot and do so in circles.”

“Revenants were Kolis’s pet project. His crowning achievement,” Reaver said. “He used magic to create them—the kind that only worked on them.”

“Because the third sons and daughters carry embers of eather in them.”

only one who doesn’t.” “Everything in every realm descends from a Primal—well, besides the draken. We come from nothing. We just are and have always been,” Reaver said, and I had no idea what to make of that—any of it. “And mortals descend from a Primal and a draken,” I finished for him.

“From Eythos, the first Primal of Life—also known as your great-grandfather.” He pointed at me, and my eyes went wide. “What? Did you think Nyktos was hatched from an egg? He wasn’t.” I hadn’t thought that. I just hadn’t realized there was another before him.

moment, I truly didn’t care. “I am not mortal. Neither am I Atlantian. I am a god,” I reminded them. “And I will not choose between the mortals and the Atlantians when I can choose both.”

He flew up to one of the crimson spires, sinking his talons into the stone, sending a fine mist of dust exploding into the air as he curled his body around the tower. Stretching his neck, he peered down on the courtyard, letting out a deafening roar that caused many of the soldiers to scatter in different directions, and others to stop where they were, covering their heads with their shields. “Find someplace to rest?” Emil looked over at me, his gold eyes wide. “And he chose that?”

“You people and your concerns about nudity is tiresome,” Reaver replied. “I have absolutely no problem with nudity,” Sage announced. “Just thought I’d share.” Reaver grinned.

Kieran’s expression settled into one that could only be described as bland boredom. “I’m unused to seeing you not picking your teeth with your claws.” “I can do that now if it makes you feel better,” Reaver remarked and then bit into the apple again.

“What’s wrong with my clothes?” Kieran demanded. A fair brow rose as Reaver mimicked Kieran’s earlier look. “I don’t believe they will fit me. I have broader shoulders.” “I don’t think so,” Kieran replied. “And chest.” Kieran’s arms crossed. “You definitely do not have that either.” “And my legs are not thin twigs that could snap under a breeze,” Reaver continued.

“You’re just saying nonsense. You both are nearly the same height and size,” I said. “I believe your vision could use improvement,” the draken responded, and I rolled my eyes. “You could use an attitude improvement,” Kieran retorted. “I ate a lot of ham,” I announced to Kieran before Reaver could fire back another barb. Both males looked at me. “A lot. You’d be proud.” “While I’m glad to hear that,” Kieran began, “that was a little random, Poppy.”

Two pink splotches formed in his cheeks. “Um, it’s a book Perry found in the ship cabin you and Cas stayed in, actually.” My eyes went wide as they shot back to what lay in his lap. There was only one book that would’ve been on that ship. That godsdamn journal. “Willa has lived quite the interesting life.” Perry grinned weakly from the bed. “Didn’t know how interesting, though.” “You brought that sex book with you on the ship?” Kieran asked from where he now stood by the window. “I did not bring it with me. Casteel brought it.”

I nodded, easing my hands from Perry as Delano clasped his cheek with one hand. He stopped to press his forehead against the Atlantian’s and then kissed him. With my senses still open, the sweet and smooth taste I hadn’t recognized the first time danced across my tongue. Chocolate and berries. Love.

“A viktor is born with a goal—to guard someone the Fates believe is destined to bring about some great change or purpose. I got the impression that not all are aware of their duty, and they end up being there for that person anyway—like the Fates bring them together. I think other viktors are aware and are involved in the lives of the ones they’re protecting. Once they die, either while carrying out their purpose or from any other cause, their souls return to Mount Lotho.”

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 of Death and Destruction to the lands gifted by the gods. Beware, for the end will come from the west to destroy the east and lay waste to all which lies between,’”

“Whatever. There was this old story my mother used to tell Vonetta and me about a girl who had fallen in love with another who was already mated. She believed that she was far more worthy, and so she prayed every day. Eventually, a god who claimed to be Aios came and promised to grant her what she desired, so long as she gave up something in return—the firstborn of the family. Her eldest brother. So, she had to kill him or something. And she did. But, of course, it wasn’t Aios. It was a demis who had tricked her into killing her sibling.”

“This fable could really use some fleshing out.” “Well, I’m sure the writer of such a story cares about your opinion,” a

“A god who was made and not born. A mortal Ascended by a god but not a third-born and considered Chosen. The few who existed were considered false gods,”

“I see it. I see her staring back at me.” “She must…he’s her viktor,” I heard Momma say in a voice that sounded wet. “Do you understand what that means? Please. She must…”

“I wasn’t speaking to you,” I snarled, letting go of the blade. “Dammit,” he muttered, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He toppled over like a pile of bricks, hitting the floor. The back of his head met the stone with a satisfyingly loud crack. Millicent choked on what sounded like a laugh. “You just stabbed my Revenant.” Isbeth sighed. “He’ll be fine, won’t he?”

“I’ve seen it give others unbelievable strength. But out of all the many, many years I’ve lived, I’ve only seen love stop death once.” “Is that so?” Callum nodded. “Nyktos and his Consort.”

“Who else would I blame? Malec wanted the heartmate trials. He called for his father. Even asleep, Nyktos would’ve heard him. He answered, and he refused,” she told me, and another wave of disbelief crashed through me. “Because of that, Malec Ascended me. And you know what happened next. I don’t just blame Eloana or Valyn. I blame Nyktos. He could’ve prevented all of this.”

My brows rose as Reaver entered the stairwell. His face and clothing weren’t sprinkled with blood. They were drenched in it as he looked up at us from the floor below. Kieran sighed. “Well, I’m glad that wasn’t one of my shirts.” The draken smiled, revealing blood-smeared teeth. “Sorry,” he replied as I sheathed the dagger. “I’m a messy eater.”

Blood geysered as Reaver bit through the knight’s godsdamn spine. My mouth wanted to drop open, except I might’ve vomited if I had allowed it. “Remind me to stop antagonizing him,” Kieran murmured. “Uh-huh.”

Elian Da’Neer. The one who’d summoned the gods after the war with the deities to smooth over relations with the wolven. The very first bonding between wolven and Atlantian resulted from the meeting. Was that why Tawny hadn’t known Malik when she’d been at Wayfair? Because she’d known him as Elian?

Except for killing Isbeth. You want that? It’s all yours,” I said, and she smiled in a way that should’ve concerned me but only made me harden.

“The draken’s snooping around outside, hopefully keeping himself unseen and not burning anything.” My brows rose as I chewed the chunks of vegetables and chicken. Something Poppy said came back to me. “Did he really try to bite you?” “Fuck, yeah, he tried.” Kieran’s jaw hardened. “He isn’t real keen on social skills. You’ll probably find him amusing.”

“Millicent said that to remake the realms, you had to destroy them first. And I think that’s how Isbeth failed with Millicent. She would’ve had to go through the Culling—Ascend into her godhood. I don’t think Millicent survived it.”

“The mist. She didn’t summon it, Cas. She created the Primal mist.”

“The one who flounced—literally flounced—out of the chamber and sat upside down in a chair for no reason at all?” “There are similar mannerisms. The way both of you…move,” Casteel said, and I felt the frown permanently etching onto my face because I didn’t flounce anywhere. “She also has a tendency to…”

“Ramble?” Malik finished for him, a half-grin appearing. My eyes narrowed. “I do not ramble.” Casteel coughed on his drink as Kieran silently hoisted himself onto the counter, his brows lifted. “I do not,” I insisted. “Yes, you do,” Reaver said, entering the kitchen. He glanced at Casteel. “Reaver. Nice to meet you. Glad you didn’t bite me, and I didn’t have to burn you alive.”

this mess.” I was rather conflicted. On the one hand, I was glad to see that Casteel had gotten a lot of his strength back. On the other, he was going to force his brother to slit his own throat.

“Naked Reaver time,” he murmured. Everyone was pretty much used to that. While most of us studiously avoided looking below the face, Sage practically sat front row and made no qualms about sizing him up, no matter what form she was in.

“Holy shit,” Emil exclaimed, stumbling back. “Their mouths. Holy shit. Their mouths.” “Is he just now realizing they’re stitched closed?” Casteel shoved his sword through the back and into the heart of a Gyrm. “Told you it was disturbing.” I knocked a Gyrm’s hand aside. “Touching without permission is not okay.”

“I warned you all.” Emil slammed his sword into the ground and the sound the serpent made when he struck it was not right. It was so wrong. It was an ear-piercing shriek. “What the fuck?” Malik hopped onto a low wall. “You did not give details!” Vonetta shouted, dancing back as Sage pawed at the ground, sending a snake flying through the air. “Once again, you failed to give details!” “All you said was ‘their mouths.’” I gasped, scanning the ground, having lost sight of the little wiggling bastard. “Why? Why are there snakes?”

“Three things.” Reaver held up three fingers. “First off, I need my rest. If I don’t get my rest, I get cranky.” “Who sounds like the sensitive one now?” Kieran fired back. “And when I get cranky, I like to set things on fire and then eat them,” Reaver

“So, these Gyrms were down there for hundreds of years?” Reaver nodded. “That must’ve been really boring,” Emil said. “Again.” Vonetta looked at him. “Understatement.”

“What do you mean?” Casteel’s eyes narrowed. “And can you please stop giving Kieran the middle finger?” “I was actually giving it to everyone, but whatever.” Slowly, Reaver lowered his middle finger.

“You could at least smile,” Kieran said to Malik as Casteel let go of his arm. “At least you have a sword this time.” “Gee, thanks,” Malik muttered as Casteel shot him a look a wise person would’ve shut up upon receiving. “You know, for allowing me to have the bare minimum protection.” “How about you stop bitching and help

“This is not the right time,” Casteel said under his breath, “but I just want to point out that I always said you were not death and destruction.” Kieran shot him a look because it really, really wasn’t the time, and because while Malik’s reluctance to give Malec to Isbeth may not have been rooted in knowledge of what was to come, if we had listened to him…

“And to many, he is still Reaver-Butt.” Reaver-Butt? Casteel stiffened behind me. “Wait.” Kieran blinked. “What?” “It was a nickname he liked when he was very young.” Nektas shrugged. “The point is, he’s not powerful enough to manifest

“Seraphena—the Consort. She’s the true Primal of Life.” “She is the heir to the lands and seas, skies and realms,” Nektas said, speaking softly. But the words…they were full of respect, and they reverberated like thunder in my chest. “The fire in the flesh, the Primal of Life, and the Queen of Gods. The most powerful Primal.” He paused. “For now.”

“It is a complicated journey to how the Consort became the Primal,” Nektas said, looking at me. “But it started with your great-grandfather, Eythos, when he was the Primal of Life. And his brother, Kolis, the true Primal of Death.”

“To make a long story short, Kolis fell in love with a mortal. Scared her while she was picking flowers for a wedding. When she ran from him, she fell from—” “The Cliffs of Sorrow.” My eyes went wide. “Her name was Sotoria, right? That was real? Ian…” I glanced back at Casteel. “Ian told me that story after he Ascended. I thought it was just something he made up.”