“I want you to be silent,” Ash repeated, slamming his hand onto another’s face. The silvery energy washed over it, and the thing shrieked. He pushed it aside, and it spun, flailing and falling. “And I want you to think about what you just did.”

I blinked. “Do you want me to find a corner to sit in, too?”

Ash’s head snapped in my direction, and my stomach tumbled. His eyes were brighter than the stars. “Will that help you think better?” He snagged another creature by the shoulder, catching it without even looking at it. “If so, then by all means, find a corner.”

“I am not a child,” I shot back as the creature caught fire and screamed.

“Thank fuck.” He stalked toward the one impaled on the tree.

“Then don’t speak to me like I am.”

 Ash placed his hand against its head as it snapped at him. Eather poured over the creature, obliterating it.

Then he faced me. “I wouldn’t have to if you didn’t behave as one who couldn’t follow through on their promises.” The woods fell silent around us. “What did I tell you about these woods? Did you forget what I said would happen if you entered them?”

“Well, I didn’t forget. I just…”

Ash stared at me expectedly, nostril’s flared and eyes swirling.

“You go into them!” I reasoned. “I saw you come in here twice.”

“You are not me, Sera.” He took a step forward. “Do you know what is in these woods? In the very place I forbade you to travel into? That you agreed to stay out of? Do you know what exists in here that turns the leaves of the trees red?” he demanded, the radiance of his eyes receding.

I glanced at the bodies that remained. “Shades?”

He laughed harshly. “Those things were not Shades. You are standing in the Red Woods, where the blood of entombed gods soaks every root of every tree These are blood trees.”

A chill swept over me as I resisted the urge to climb one of the red trees just to get away from the ground. “Why in the world do you have gods entombed in the ground?”

“Their entombment is punishment,” he answered, and there was no way I could stop the rising tide of horror at the thought. His eyes narrowed. “Punishment most would consider far too lenient for the atrocities they committed.”

I would have to take his word for that. “How did they get free? Does that happen often?”

“It shouldn’t.” Those eyes bored into me. “These haven’t been down there all that long,” he said, and I really didn’t want to think of the others who’d been down there longer. “But all of them are as close to death as they can be without actually being dead. They are usually magically chained and shouldn’t be able to break those kinds of bonds.”

Gods were extremely powerful. I couldn’t imagine what could be used to restrain them. “What are their bonds made of?”

“The bones of other gods and Primal magic,” he answered, and my stomach turned. “They are placed atop the gods and used to bind the wrists and feet. If they fight it, the bones dig into their skin.”

My gaze flicked to the leaves of the tree. “Is the punishment what causes their blood to turn the leaves?”

“In this case, yes.”

I lifted my brows.

“Wherever a god or Primal is entombed, or where their blood spills, you will see a blood tree. It serves as either a memorial or a warning,” he explained. “Either way, it is not land one should ever disturb.”

“Good to know,” I murmured. “But I didn’t disturb the land.”

“But you did,” he stated, his eyes flaring bright once more. “You bled.”

At first, I didn’t understand, having forgotten the scratches. I glanced down at my arm. “Barely.”

“That doesn’t matter. A single drop would’ve roused those who are not so deeply entombed. They are drawn to anything alive, and you, liessa, are very much alive. If I hadn’t come when I did, they would’ve devoured you whole.”

Devoured me…whole? I shuddered, thinking it was probably a good idea I hadn’t mentioned the Hunters. “I was fighting them off—”

“Barely,” he cut me off. “They would’ve overpowered you. And all of this—” He sliced his hand through the air. “All that has been done to keep you safe would have been for nothing.”

I sucked in a heady breath. “Need I remind you that I never asked for you to do anything to keep me safe?”

“There is no need to remind me of such, but dealing with you does remind me of that saying.”

“I can’t wait to hear this,” I muttered, sheathing my dagger.

“The road to hell is paved with good intentions,” he said. “Perhaps you’ve heard that?”

“Sounds like something you’d have embroidered on a pillow.”

The look he shot me said he was unimpressed.

 “What are you even doing out here?” I demanded. “I thought you were busy with an unexpected arrival.”

“I am very busy with that guest. And yet, here I am, saving you,” he replied. “Again.”

I wasn’t sure which part of that statement irked me the most. The part where he referred to Veses as a guest, or the fact that he had saved me. Again. “I really, really want to stab you again.”

One side of his lips curled up. “Part of me would really like to see you try. However, I am busy keeping said guest distracted—”

“Distracted?” I laughed as my heart twisted and dropped at the same time. “How are you keeping your guest distracted in your office? With stimulating conversation and your ample charm?”

His smile turned as cold as his fury. “As I’m sure you remember, my charm is very ample.”

My cheeks heated. “I’ve been trying to forget your overinflated charm.”

“Was it not you who just referred to it as ample?” His eyes flashed a deep quicksilver.

 The heat of anger and something far more potent scalded the back of my neck. “I was being facetious.”

“Sure, you were.”

“I was—”

“I don’t have time for this.” He looked over his shoulder, yelling, “Saion!”

The god appeared between the red-leafed trees, lips pursed and eyes wide. “Yes?” He drew out the word.

Oh my gods, had he been lurking there the whole time? And when did he return?

“Can you make sure she returns to the palace yards as quickly as possible without getting herself into any more trouble between here and there? And when you are done, please find Rhahar. We will need to check the tombs,” Ash said, shooting me a long look of warning. “I would be greatly appreciative.”

“Sounds like a simple enough task,” the god replied.

Ash snorted. “It sounds that way, but I can assure you that it will not be.”

Offended, I stepped forward. “If the woods are so dangerous, why is there no gate or wall to seal them off?”

The Primal looked over his shoulder. “Because most are intelligent enough not to enter the Red Woods once warned.” His eyes narrowed. “The keyword being most.”

“That was rude,” I muttered.

“And what you did was foolish. So, here we are.” Ash turned away and started walking before I could respond. He passed Saion, saying, “Good luck.”

My mouth dropped open.

Saion’s brows rose as he looked back at me. Neither of us moved until Ash had disappeared amid the trees. “Well…this is somewhat awkward.”

I folded my arms over my chest.

“I really hope you don’t make this difficult,” he added. “I’ve had a rather long day as it is.”

I felt a small, incredibly childish urge to run off and make his day much, much longer than it already was. But I had no desire to be on the grounds where gods were entombed. So, I stomped forward like the adult I was.

The god arched a brow, grinning. “Thank you.”

I said nothing as I passed him. He easily fell into step beside me. He was silent for only a few blessed seconds. “How did you end up bleeding?”

“Not sure,” I lied. “Must’ve cut it on the bark. Did you find the missing woman?” I asked, changing the subject.

“No. We didn’t.”