Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 231436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1157(@200wpm)___ 926(@250wpm)___ 771(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 231436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1157(@200wpm)___ 926(@250wpm)___ 771(@300wpm)
He calls Sera so’lis and wants to talk about the deal they made. He tells her that Nyktos has not been released, adding that he’s not reneging, but Nyktos is in stasis, and that needs to be resolved first.
She asks what that means, and he tells her Ash is young but powerful. So, when he woke, Kolis had to ensure he behaved himself.
Sera asks how he is, and Kolis says telling her would likely upset her. She argues that not knowing will only make her worry more. Kolis says he had Nyktos incapacitated, and he will need time to recover. When Sera reacts, he says it’s not easy seeing her affected so by news of another. He adds that worry practically seeps from her pores.
Warning bells sound for Sera, and she reminds him that she told him she cared about Nyktos. Kolis gripes that it’s all he can think about and mentions watching him in stasis. Sera assumes he was probably seething.
He wonders what inspires her care for Nyktos and her fear for him. He says she wasn’t afraid of him at first, but that’s changed. He then mentions Eythos having heightened intuition and foresight. He says he gets why she seemed frightened after he threatened someone she cares about and saw him as Death, but he doesn’t get the timing of the changes in her.
She is shocked that he doesn’t understand why she’s frightened, and he reasserts that he apologized and said it would never happen again. She realizes she should probably lie but can’t, telling him that his apology and promise don’t make what he did okay. She comes right out and says that he forced himself on her.
He rewords and says that he realizes his display of love was intense. The word disgusts her. He then adds that he realizes he lost control. She says it was much more than that, and it’s not all right. He asks what will make it okay.
She tells him she needs some time.
He argues that his word should be sufficient to make her trust him, and she tells him she doesn’t know him. He gets upset and booms that he’s the King of Gods.
She asserts that his display isn’t helping her fear. He pulls back and then orders her to say something. She begrudgingly utters a thank you.
Sera once again wonders what kind of state Ash is in.
Kolis turns to her and apologizes once more. It almost sounds sincere, but then he shifts to scolding her for using the embers. She argues that Callum provoked her, and he says the essence does not belong to her and is not hers to use. The embers throb in response before he gives her a final warning. Sera vows that as soon as Ash is free, she will become Kolis’s worst nightmare.
When alone, Sera checks for the key and finds it still in place. After dinner, she trains to burn off her excess energy and combat boredom. As she does, she worries about Ash. Rhain. Aios. Orphine. Bele. And the rest. She starts going over and over the should’ve, would’ve, could’ves and vows not to be powerless again.
When she sleeps, she arrives at her lake. Ash joins her again, and they talk about how it doesn’t feel like a dream to either of them. Ash asks her if Kolis has hurt her and says he knows he has—he remembers the last time they were together and the bruises. She tells him she doesn’t want to discuss that. She’s Sera here at the lake, and someone else back in the cage.
He reminds her she’s brave and never afraid, even when she feels fear. He then asks if she can access any weapons, and she tells him about the glass cock. He asks if she told Kolis about what will happen once she begins the Ascension—that only he—Ash—can Ascend her. He urges her to tell Kolis that she’ll die without Ash, saying Kolis will do whatever’s necessary to keep Sotoria alive because she’s his weakness.
He mentions that only the Primal of Life can summon the Fates and makes Sera promise that she’ll tell Kolis and call on the Arae. She does but then asks how she’ll know he’s been released. He tells her that Kolis will make it into a spectacle. She’ll know.
He says he’ll fight for and free her even if it means Dalos’s ruin, then tells her he’s nothing without her, and there will be nothing without her.
She wakes, only to find Kolis watching her sleep. Again. He asks who she was dreaming of and tells her she was smiling. He then says she smells of mountain air and citrus, which shocks her, as that’s how Ash smells to her.
She says she doesn’t remember her dreams, and he instructs that they’ll start fresh. He asks how he can make that easier, saying there’s no limit to what he’ll do for her. He offers her frivolous things, and she tells him she wants out of the cage.