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

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

“Her name is a shadow in the ember, a light in the flame, and the fire in the flesh. The Primal of Life has forbidden us to speak or write her name.” Disbelief flooded me. “That sounds incredibly controlling.” “You don’t understand. To speak her name is to bring the stars from the skies and topple the mountains into the sea.”

“These walls are ancient, and only a few have ever been allowed inside them.” I knew about the chambers underground beneath the Ascended’s homes, but not any tunnels that traveled the length of the city. “I don’t give a fuck about these walls.” “You should.” She looked over her shoulder at me. “Gods walked these tunnels. As did the Primals. They walked other tunnels in other cities, connecting doorways and creating

magical wards made of Primal essence that could keep things out—or in.” I watched her run her palm over the uneven stone, wondering exactly what in the hell she was talking about. “A god born a mortal, carrying the blood of the Primal of Life and the Primal of Death upon Ascension was foretold,” the Handmaiden whispered. “Or so they say—and they say a lot. Either way, she broke those Primal wards when she Ascended into her godhood.” It was clear that she was speaking about Poppy. She rested her cheek against the wall. “And anything that was kept in can now get out.” Eyes not so dull met mine. “Two questions remain. When and where. Not even he knows.” I didn’t even know what to say to any of that, but I caught how her lip curled when she said he. “Who?” “Callum.” “The golden boy Rev?” Her laugh was throatier, more real, and strangely familiar. “He’s old. Real old. Be careful of that one.”

“She’s not,” I snarled. “There’s no one like her.” “You’re actually right when you say that.” Her gaze flicked to me. “But you don’t really know her. I doubt she even knows herself.” Her chin dipped, and her stare chilled my skin. “She carries the blood of the Primal of Life and the Primal of Death.” “I know. She knows she’s descended from Nyktos—” “If you think that Granddaddy is the true Primal of Life and the true Primal of Death, then you know nothing.”

“Nyktos was never the true Primal of Death. There was another before him. His name was Kolis.”

“Vikter told me why no one was allowed to know the Consort’s name, and why those who did were not allowed to repeat it in the mortal realm.” My lips parted. “Okay, I was not expecting that.” Tawny laughed. “Yeah, me neither, but Vikter said that her name is power, and that to speak it is to bring the stars from the skies and topple the mountains into the sea.” I stilled as she basically repeated what Reaver had said. “But only when spoken by the one born as she and of a great primal power.” “I’m…I’m not a Primal,” I said, still not understanding why or how the Consort could be so powerful that no one dared to utter her name in the mortal realm. “I don’t know. I wish Vikter could’ve told me more, but he told me this.” Tawny leaned in even closer then, over the table. “He told me you already knew her name.”