From where the Temple was positioned. I could see beyond the tips of the trees to the bumpy, uneven hills dotted with darker shades of green that led to the sandy dunes Kolis had spoken of.
There were large outcroppings of dull white rocks there, some long and slender, and others rounder. They didn’t look like bones to me, but as my gaze lifted to the sparkling blue waters of the cove, I saw ships. Dozens of large vessels, their black sails down. Movement to the right of them caught my eye. On the bluffs on the other side of the cove, another black and brown draken lifted its head. Was that Crolee? Ehthawn and Orphine’s cousin? I hadn’t seen the other draken since I’d first arrived in the Shadowlands.
My gaze lowered to the dunes below, focusing on the deep shadows under the bluff. I squinted, seeing movement. Every so often, something silver glinted in the sunlight. Armor. Soldiers.
I rose and turned, swallowing a gasp.
Saion was right in front of me, bowing deeply. “Consort, we’ve missed you.”
My grin turned wry. I didn’t think he lied. I liked to believe that Saion and I had moved past the threatening-my-life part of our relationship, but the only thing the gods had probably missed was the absence of the drama my presence caused.
“We are also glad to see you here.” Rhahar joined his cousin. “We knew Nyktos wouldn’t return without you.”
“More like she wouldn’t return without me,” Ash corrected, having appeared beside me in that silent, quick way of his.
Rhahar’s brows lifted. “Is that so?”
“It was she who took Kolis down for the count,” Bele chimed in, having hauled herself up onto the stone base. She was carving a…where had she gotten an apple? “Not our esteemed, fearless leader.”
My lips pursed.
“Damn,” Lailah murmured, her hand resting on the hilt of her broadsword. Eyeing Ash, her smile spread. “I’m going to need details.”
“She also freed me,” Ash told them. “I stand here because of her.”
“As do I,” a quiet voice added.
Kars turned, stepping to the side to reveal Rhain as he said, “I don’t think many of us would be standing here if not for you.”
Feeling like my face was likely the color of Rhain’s hair, I shifted from foot to foot as I heard several shouts of affirmation.
“That is still something we all have questions about,” Kars stated.
My gaze shot to Rhain. He hadn’t told them about the deal? My grip tightened on the diamond as relief swelled inside me. Rhain hadn’t been conscious when Kolis made his demands, but it would take no leap of logic to work out what it likely entailed.
“It…it was nothing,” I said, unsure of what I was responding to or whom. “I only did what any of you would do.”
Rhain nodded as he looked away. My gaze snagged on Ash. He watched me in a way that further confirmed my belief that he knew.
“Okay. I think we need storytime. Oh!” Bele swallowed a piece of apple. “Still haven’t found any boots. Not a lot of opportunities around these parts.”
“It’s all right,” I told her.
Ash’s head cut to the right. “Storytime will have to wait.”
“Got to be Attes,” Bele said, frowning as she eyed the horizon. “Feels like more than just him.”
My stomach dropped as Rhain asked about Attes. All I caught of Ash’s response was that he could be trusted. I should’ve been listening, but I…I couldn’t feel Attes.
There was no hum signaling another Primal’s arrival.
I could still feel the essence thrumming faintly inside me, but that was probably a bad sign.
“Sera?” Ash questioned softly.
Inhaling deeply, I fixed a smile on my face and I looked up at him. Before anything could be said, Ehthawn pushed off the roof, sending plumes of dust falling as he took to the sky. On the horizon, I could make out the shape of wings—large wings stretched wide.
Rhahar and Saion stepped forward as a unit, both reaching for their swords.
“There’s no need for that,” Attes’s voice rose from the steps. “It’s only Aurelia. She will harm none of you.”
“Yeah, well, can’t blame my people for being wary.” Ash shifted his stance so half of him blocked me. At his side, his hand fisted as there was a round of hasty bows that neither Ash nor I joined in on.
Bele didn’t either.
She cut off another chunk of apple and popped it into her mouth.
I pressed my hand against Ash’s back as Attes crested the top of the stairs.
“I can’t.” Attes glanced out to sea as his draken grew closer to Ehthawn, who rumbled a low warning. Attes’s jaw tensed. “I hope your draken is just overly friendly.”
Well…
“Ehthawn will not strike at Aurelia unless he’s given reason to,” Ash advised. “But it’s not him you’re really worried about.”
Nektas snorted smoke from where he remained on the cliff.
Attes tilted his head. “I assume Seraphena is all right and still in possession of The Star?”
“The what?” Bele murmured.
“I am.” I sidestepped Ash, looking behind him and seeing no one. “Keella?”
“She’s here.” Attes did a double-take as he spotted Elias. “I had her give us a couple of minutes just in case we needed them.” He looked pointedly at Ash. “Hopefully, those minutes aren’t needed.”
“They’re not,” Ash replied, folding his arms over his chest. “Yet.”
“They won’t be needed.” I shot Ash a look as Ehthawn veered toward who I assumed was Crolee.
“It’s nice to deal with someone reasonable.” Attes’s smile softened the scars on his face.
A growl came from a much, much closer source.
Attes’s smile kicked up a notch as he ignored the warning of violence building in Ash. The Primal of War and Accord scanned those on the Temple as his draken flew overhead, her scales a mix of green and brown in the sunlight.
“Um,” I murmured as the draken cleared the Temple, dipping low. The end of her spiked tail skimmed the side of the cliff directly above Nektas, sending a shower of dirt down on him.
Wait. Wasn’t that the draken Nektas had visited to get information from? And hadn’t Reaver said he thought Nek was sweet on her?
Nektas grumbled, shaking off the dirt as he raised his head. Eyes narrowing, his head swiveled, thin wisps of smoke wafting from his nose. Aurelia tucked her wings to her sides, landing on a cliff above and off to the side of Nektas.
She was larger than both Ehthawn and Crolee, but Nektas dwarfed her as he rose onto all fours, baring his teeth—
Aurelia was fast, stretching out her neck and snapping at Nektas as the frills around her neck vibrated.
I tugged on the back of Ash’s shirt. “Should we be worried about this?”
“Should we? Probably,” he replied dryly. “Since this is their idea of flirting, and it tends to get a bit…aggressive.”
“Kind of like how you two flirt,” Saion tossed out as he strode past us.
“Rude,” I muttered.
Ash chuckled, sending a little quiver of surprise through me. Normally, he would’ve threatened Saion, or at the very least, shut him up with a glare, but the Ash I’d first met in the mortal realm? He was more relaxed, more playful. I was seeing a bit of that now, his more teasing nature—
Nektas yelped as Aurelia nipped his neck when he got too close. He jerked back, his chest rumbling.
“Just think,” Attes neared us, “if they hook up, we’ll be kind of related.”
“What a thrilling prospect,” Ash stated.