“What he and the other Primals feel is an echo, but what you’re sensing is our imprint,” he said. “There’s a difference. Only the true Primal of Life and the true Primal of Death can pick up on our imprints and use them to communicate with us.”

My brows shot up. “You mean like I can talk in your head.”

“Part of me wants to tell you no.”

“That’s rude.”

“But yes, if we open ourselves to it,” he said. When I started to speak, he cut me off. “Let’s talk about this more when we’re not standing in the mortal realm.”

Blinking, I jolted. Good gods, for a moment there, I’d actually forgotten what I was doing and where I was. Nektas’s grin showed he knew.

“Come on.” I sighed, tabling my new discovery for later. I edged around the bench and followed the darkening path. “I’m thinking we’ll be able to find Ezra in the dining hall.” At least, I hoped so.

Passing another statue of Maia, we walked out onto the main pathway. The golden light of the veranda peeked through the sweeping branches heavy with pink blossoms.

“There appear to be guards ahead,” Nektas commented.

I could see their shadowy forms standing at the open doors. “I’m not sure if any of them would recognize me.”

“I find that hard to believe,” he said. “With your hair and freckles, you have quite recognizable features.”

I lightly dragged my fangs over my lower lip as my steps slowed. “I…I wasn’t seen a lot. I usually used the servant’s stairs and halls, and honestly, half the guards here probably thought I was a servant, so it’s quite possible none of them would recognize me. And I doubt they would just let me enter the dining hall.” I thought about the last time Ash and I had visited. “Most of the guards don’t even know my name.”

“That’s…” Nektas trailed off. When I looked over my shoulder, I saw that his jaw was set in a hard line.

“Just the way it was,” I said, facing forward.

“More like unacceptable.”

“Yeah,” I sighed. “That, too. But because of the deal, I guess it was easier to keep my identity hidden so no one had to explain why I wasn’t available to marry or wonder what happened when I eventually disappeared.”

“As if that was the only option,” Nektas noted, his gravelly voice flat.

It wasn’t.

But it had been the easiest for my mother. My shoulders tightened as I focused ahead. We had far more important things to think about at the moment. “When we were here last, Ash basically scared the guards into leaving us alone.”

Nektas laughed. “Sounds about right.”

I smiled as I stopped near the last of the autumn-blooming cherry trees. “I don’t think I’ll have the same effect,” I said, speaking low. “So, I guess I could use compulsion.” My lip curled at the thought of that.

“I think you underestimate your presence if you think you won’t have the same impact.”

I looked back at Nektas and arched a brow.

His head lowered. “You’re the true Primal of Life, Sera. What would the guards do if you showed them that?”

“Freak out?” I glanced back at the veranda.

“That and allow you to go wherever you want.”

I thought that over. “Ash didn’t really reveal who he was when he was here.”

“You do not seem to like the idea of compelling someone.” Nektas picked up on that. “If you like, I can scare them as Ash did.”

I snorted. “I don’t know if we should do that.” I squinted. “I guess I could just compel them not to see us. I mean, that’s not like making them do anything, right?”

Nektas hesitated. “I suppose.”

“You don’t sound entirely convinced of my thought process,” I pointed out.

“You have a unique thought process.”

“That’s a nice way of putting it.”

“But I think it would be wise for our presence to go largely unnoticed so we do not cause a scene,” he added, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. “So, yes. Do not compel these guards by compelling them.”

I rolled my eyes.

“There is a third option,” he said. “Allow them to see you. As Ash said, they will know you are at least a god and would likely allow you to dance on their backs if that is what you wished.”

“Good point,” I muttered. “I keep forgetting that.”

“Understandable.”

I got myself moving. The gardens were quiet as I glanced back at Nektas, realizing only then that he was dressed as he normally was—meaning he only wore loose black pants. No boots. And no shirt.

I hoped no parties were being held.

Lifting the tree’s lower branches out of the way for him, I walked out from the coverage, and the two guards came into full view.

Once again, I was happy to see that neither wore the obnoxious puffed waistcoats or pantaloons. Their tunics and breeches were still plum-colored, but their new uniforms were leagues above the former.

“I’ll tell you what,” one guard said as he turned to look over the garden. “That one is an odd snob—shit.” The guard reached for the sword at his waist as he limped forward with a wince. Tension bracketed his mouth, turning the corners white. “Stop right there.”

“The fact that I made it to the steps without either of you noticing is kind of concerning,” I remarked, glancing at the second guard. I recognized the fair-haired man in his third decade of life. Jamison was his name. “Don’t you think?”

“Listen here, miss, I don’t know where you come from, but…” Jamison’s eyes went wide the moment Nektas appeared behind me. His head tipped back as Nektas came up the steps. “Dear gods, you’re…enormous.”

“Thank you,” Nektas replied.

“Enormous or not,” the other gaunt-faced guard cut in as I opened my senses to him. His name came to me. Wil Tovar. That was all I allowed myself to know about the slender, dark-haired mortal. “Where is the rest of your clothing, my man?”

“Mortals.” Nektas laughed softly. “Always so preoccupied by the flesh that they don’t see what is right in front of them.”

“Mortals?” Jamison repeated with a chuckle, sharing a long look with the other guard. “I think my man has been in his cups tonight.”

Tovar’s laugh faded as I reached the top of the steps and stepped into the light of the lamps lining the wall. Our eyes met, and the man staggered back. “Good gods,” he gasped.

I smiled. I probably shouldn’t have seeing how Tovar paled, but it wasn’t often that I incited that kind of response.

I’d have to think long and hard later about why that amused me.

“What is your problem?” Jamison frowned. “Maybe you’re deep in your cu—”

“Shut up, you prick,” Tovar hissed, bowing his head.

“Don’t call me a prick, you fuck.” Jamison moved toward Tovar, his cheeks flushing.

“Look at her.” Tovar lowered himself, his face contorting as he pressed a hand to his side. “Look at her eyes, you fool.”

Jamison turned to me as I arched a brow. He squinted and then went rigid. “Oh…” His mouth fell open. “Shit.”

“The security here is impressive,” Nektas drawled from behind me.

I almost laughed, except these two shouldn’t be entrusted with guarding a bale of hay. “The bowing…” My lips pursed as they both dropped to their knees, Jamison moving much faster than Tovar—he seemed pained by his movements. “Is not necessary.”

“We are s-sorry.” Tovar’s voice quaked. “We didn’t know.”

“Yes.” Jamison’s head bobbed frantically. “Please forgive us. We did not mean to disrespect you.”

Whatever humor I felt vanished as I stared at the two clearly frightened men. Their response wasn’t exactly shocking. Most mortals behaved this way when confronted by a god. I could only imagine what they’d do if they knew I was a Primal.

Nektas frowned as he stared down at the two men. “It has been a long time since I have been around those in this realm,” he said, drawing a quick peek from Jamison. “I do not remember them behaving this way.”

“How did they behave before?” I asked.

“With joy upon seeing a god,” he answered. “Not nearly sick with fear.”