Kolis struck.

There was no other warning.

He turned me so my back was to him, and then his fangs were at my throat, tearing into my flesh just above the band. A scream tore from me as pain exploded. My body went rigid, eyes wide, and the pain…good gods, it was absolute.

I clawed at the arm around my waist—at the air. Kicked at him, at nothing. The agony was too much. With each deep draw he took, a fire ripped through me, tearing my bones from my skin and leaving flames in their place. Spasms of agony seized my chest, my throat, and this—oh, gods—this was it. This was how I would die. He was going to drain me and take the embers. I would be the first to burn, and then the rest of the realms would follow.

I was dying.

I wouldn’t get a chance to say goodbye to Ash, to tell him that I loved him. There was no saving him or any of the gods or realms. I wouldn’t fulfill my destiny. I jerked, my fingers curling inward, nails digging into my palms—into the imprint—

Ash could sense my pain. Feel it. Gods, could he feel this from where he was? He would know, though, when the imprint vanished from his palm. He would know then.

Kolis’s chest swelled against my back as he drew even harder, deeper—

Heat poured into my chest as the embers began to flare faintly, weakly, but the heat kept building and building. And that presence seized me again. That awareness. That voice. The voices.

No. No. No. No.

It wasn’t just my voice screaming. It was hers. Sotoria. All the lives she’d lived. And it was ours that moved my tongue.

“You’re killing me,” I slurred, eyes heavy. “You’re killing me again, after all these years.”

Kolis’s head jerked up. “What?”

My tongue felt useless. Bulky. The ceiling flickered in and out. There was no pain. The only thing I felt now was her anger—our rage.

“What did you just say?” Kolis turned me in his arms. His face blurred. Blood smeared his lips, his fangs. He shook me, rattling my head. “What the fuck did you just say?”

“It’s me…” A laugh that didn’t sound like mine at all parted my lips. “Sotoria.”

Kolis went completely still as his eyes searched my features, looked over my hair, my body. He shook his head, his lip curling, mouth dripping with blood. “Liar,” he snarled.

“It’s…not a lie. Eythos had her soul…” My heart felt as sluggish as my words. “And he placed it with the embers, to be…born again in me. I’m her.”

“There is no way.” He gripped my hair, jerking my head to the side. “Clever lie, though.”

“Your Majesty,” a voice interrupted. Attes. When had he arrived? “A moment please.”

“Are you fucking serious right now?” The tension on my neck didn’t let up as Kolis barked out, “One second.”

“Keella,” Attes said.

Kolis went rigid once more.

“You know that Keella helped Eythos capture her soul so she could be reborn.” His voice was closer. “You know she’s out there, and you haven’t been able to find her, even though you have taken every Chosen—every mortal who bears an aura. Could it be because she has not been reborn in all these recent centuries?” Attes questioned. “Could it be that you have finally found her?”

“This is a trick,” Callum snapped. “Do not trust her, and do not trust this Primal.”

“I know how to kill you, you shit,” Attes growled. “Speak of me again like that, and I’ll prove it.”

A tremor ran through Kolis’s arm as he lifted my head, forcing my face to his. He stared down at me, his eyes widening, the eather swirling and then stopping until only gold flecks were present.

“Think about it, Kolis,” Attes continued. “Your brother was very clever. He could’ve taken Sotoria’s soul and placed it with the embers to protect her and to fuck you over. You know he would.”

Kolis shuddered.

His arms loosened, and I started to fall. He caught me before I hit the floor, going down on his knee as he lifted me to his chest. He cradled my cheek with a shaking hand—then cradled me to him, letting my head fall to the side of his arm. I shriveled at the feel of him, shrank inside myself at the sight of the horror etched onto the false King’s features as he realized who he held in his arms—as he realized who he’d have to kill.

Again.

Kolis shook. He rocked as my gaze drifted to the open doors and the shadowy leaves swaying in the balmy breeze. To the—

To a wolf.

A wolf crouched at the trunks of the trees. A wolf more silver than white.

A silver beast.

Bathed in the brightest moonlight.

Ash.

Author’s Note

Sera is a creation of my imagination, but her thoughts, her feelings, and her actions regarding what she admitted at the Pools of Divanash are something very real. These are complicated emotions and actions I’ve experienced myself. Because of this, I know they may strike a certain chord in readers. Not all of us have a sage, ancient draken letting us know that they’re there for us when we need someone, but if you’ve had the same thoughts as Sera, as I have, there are people waiting for when you’re ready to talk.

Here are some resources that are available all day, every day.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.

Telephone: 1-800-273-8255

For Deaf & Hard of Hearing: 1-800-799-4889

Online chat: suicidepreventionlifeline.org

You are not alone.

Discover More From Jennifer L. Armentrout

A Shadow in the Ember

Flesh and Fire Series

Book One

Available in hardcover, e-book, and trade paperback.

Click here to purchase.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout returns with book one of the all-new, compelling Flesh and Fire series—set in the beloved Blood and Ash world.

Born shrouded in the veil of the Primals, a Maiden as the Fates promised, Seraphena Mierel’s future has never been hers. Chosen before birth to uphold the desperate deal her ancestor struck to save his people, Sera must leave behind her life and offer herself to the Primal of Death as his Consort.

However, Sera’s real destiny is the most closely guarded secret in all of Lasania—she’s not the well protected Maiden but an assassin with one mission—one target. Make the Primal of Death fall in love, become his weakness, and then…end him. If she fails, she dooms her kingdom to a slow demise at the hands of the Rot.

Sera has always known what she is. Chosen. Consort. Assassin. Weapon. A specter never fully formed yet drenched in blood. A monster. Until him. Until the Primal of Death’s unexpected words and deeds chase away the darkness gathering inside her. And his seductive touch ignites a passion she’s never allowed herself to feel and cannot feel for him. But Sera has never had a choice. Either way, her life is forfeit—it always has been, as she has been forever touched by Life and Death.

From Blood and Ash

Blood and Ash Series

Book One

Available in hardcover, e-book, and trade paperback.

Click here to purchase.

Captivating and action-packed, From Blood and Ash is a sexy, addictive, and unexpected fantasy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Laura Thalassa.

A Maiden…

Chosen from birth to usher in a new era, Poppy’s life has never been her own. The life of the Maiden is solitary. Never to be touched. Never to be looked upon. Never to be spoken to. Never to experience pleasure. Waiting for the day of her Ascension, she would rather be with the guards, fighting back the evil that took her family, than preparing to be found worthy by the gods. But the choice has never been hers.