That red…

It was the shade of blood.

And that gold?

My head swung back. I searched those on the floor below, looking for that sheen of polished stone and gold…gold hair. My breath left me as I realized it wasn’t some fancy headpiece I’d seen.

It was a crown.

One shaped like a small jade tree carved from stone the color of blood and streaked with gold.

And it sat upon golden hair that fell in cascading ringlets.

A cluster of gods at the center of the floor parted as the female strode forward—more like glided—toward the dais. She wore a lacy ivory gown that clung to a lithe figure, showcasing an impossibly narrow waist while revealing the large swells of her breasts.

My heart pounded as I lifted my gaze to full lips the color of dewy apricots, and a delicate nose set in a smooth complexion that was only a little paler and less creamy than I remembered. Disbelief thundered through me.

No.

There was no way.

But it was her, walking toward us, her slim hips swaying.

The Primal Goddess of Rites and Prosperity.

Veses.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Veses was free.

Worse yet, the fucking goddess who had extorted Ash into allowing her to feed from him, who had touched him, likely forcing him to feel unwanted pleasure in the process, and who had kicked Reaver, nearly killing him, didn’t look all that bad for someone who’d spent time in a dungeon.

Other than the pallor of her skin, Veses looked as beautiful as ever.

Pure, unfettered rage erupted within me, flooding every part of my being with an indomitable force as Veses halted before the dais. Silver eyes darted from the Primal behind me to mine. Our gazes locked. Her nostrils flared as she scrutinized me.

Then the corners of her lips tipped up.

And the bitch smiled.

In my mind, I heard her say, “There had to be a reason he’d be willing to do anything for you.”

Common sense clicked off. I was nothing but a storm of violence that wanted to destroy her. The embers sparked to life. Fists unclenched and muscles throughout my body tensed as I prepared to unleash a tempest of fury. I was going to rip that crown from her head and shove it through her chest instead of her eye as I’d done with the dagger before.

Feeling the Primal essence swell inside me, I leaned forward and started to rise—

A presence stirred near the embers as the arm at my waist dug into my stomach. Breathing heavily, I froze. A sudden rush of anxiety flooded my system—a nervousness that, for once, didn’t belong to me.

Sotoria.

I was feeling her apprehension and…fear. Why would she…?

Slowly, I remembered the obvious. Where I was. Who I was with. I was in the Council Hall, surrounded by gods and Primals, sitting on the lap of the false King, seconds away from tapping into the embers.

 I warned you not to use it lest you wish to be punished.

Shit.

There was no doubt in my mind that Kolis had felt the surge of power within me, and Sotoria—oh, gods, her unease. She’d likely been aware when Kolis spoke about how he hoped I didn’t remember what’d happened when she displeased him in the past.

She clearly remembered.

Double shit.

Willing myself to calm down, I focused on my breathing. I wanted to inflict a disturbing amount of pain upon Veses badly enough that I doubted any punishment wouldn’t be worth it, but I couldn’t think of just myself. There was also Sotoria. I needed to get myself under control.

A hundred different thoughts raced through my mind as the Primal goddess bowed so deeply I half-expected her breasts to make an appearance. How had she gotten free? Had anyone been harmed in the process?

“Your Majesty.” That throaty, sultry voice of hers was like dragging nails against stone.

“Veses,” Kolis acknowledged. “Come forward.”

Light glinted off the blood-red crown as the Primal goddess straightened. My fingers twitched as the skirt of her gown parted with each step, teasing at long, toned legs. Her gaze didn’t stray to mine as she neared. She was focused entirely on Kolis.

“I have not seen you in a while,” he stated, the fingers resting on the arm of the throne tapping slowly. “Where have you been?”

Oh, that was a loaded question.

I gave no reaction, even though my stomach dipped. I had no idea how she would respond or what Kolis’s response would be if she spoke the truth.

 “I was…inconvenienced,” she answered.

“Is that so?”

She nodded. “There was trouble in my Court that required my attention—a group of godlings and gods I learned were plotting a coup.”

Veses was lying straight through her pearly white teeth and fangs.

Surprise flickered through me, then faded in sudden understanding. Veses had sensed the embers of life and had come at me, believing that Kolis would be enraged that Ash had hidden me. As much as it killed me to admit it, she had been trying to protect Ash from Kolis’s wrath.

I’d hated acknowledging it before, but Veses cared for Ash in her own twisted way. The fact that she would lie now was further proof of her desire for him, fueled simply by the fact that she could not have him. And it had actually grown into some sort of fondness.

Yet she supposedly wanted Kolis.

Who didn’t want her.

I smirked.

 “Traitors? The realm seems to be filled with them these days,” he remarked. “And what has happened to these traitors?”

“They have been dealt with but were questioned first. That is what occupied my time. I wanted to make sure their plotting did not extend into other Courts,” she lied—so damn smoothly. “Some were reluctant to talk, but in the end, I’m confident no others were involved.”

“Well, it is a relief to hear that a coup has ended before I even became aware of it,” he remarked. “You are such a dutiful servant.”

Veses stiffened, having heard what I did: a hardening in his warm tone.

“Yet you somehow still managed to fail me,” he tacked on.

Veses’ delicate, pale brows furrowed. “Failing you is the last thing I will ever do.”

She actually sounded like she meant that.

Kolis’s fingers kept tapping. “But you did.”

I glanced to where I’d last seen Attes. Another god now occupied the pillar the Primal had been leaning against. I scanned the alcove as my heart kicked against my ribs. I didn’t see him.

Pressing my lips together, I refocused on Veses. I wasn’t sure if the other gods were paying attention. More drinks had arrived. Some of them were the purple radek wine, and there was a lot more…activity in the alcoves. Phanos was paying attention, though. He watched the drama play out with a bemused expression.

“Then I apologize for however I have failed you,” Veses said.

“You apologize before asking how you’ve failed me?” Kolis chuckled, and the sound caused tiny bumps to spread across my skin.

Veses’ throat worked on a swallow as she smoothed her hands across the waist of her gown. I had no clue what Kolis was getting at, but it was clear that she was treading into dangerous waters. Her nervousness bled into the air.

“How have I failed you, Your Majesty?” she asked, her gaze flicking to me.

That didn’t pass Kolis by. “Do you recognize her?”

“I’m not sure,” she said.

“She lies,” I said, unsure why as her stare shot back to me. I smiled.

Actually, I was lying to myself now. I knew exactly why I’d spoken up. Veses wasn’t just lying to protect Ash. She was also safeguarding herself. After all, the deal she’d made with Ash was to keep my existence unknown to Kolis in exchange for Ash allowing her to feed from him.

“Do tell,” Kolis murmured.

It would’ve been wise of me to keep quiet. Exposing Veses could expose Ash, but my pettiness and spitefulness had their claws in me. “She saw me in the Shadowlands.”