Everyone was here.

Despite Ash’s assurances, seeing all of them had been hard at first. I wasn’t just worried that they would think of me differently or be scared of me. I’d also feared they’d feel pity because there was no way that those within the palace had not heard me rage screaming last night.

But while their eyes and words had been compassionate, none of them had acted strangely. Well, except for Bele. She’d patted the top of my head when she passed.

My gaze swept past Nektas to Attes. Drinks had been brought in, but he hadn’t touched the coffee or gone for one of the decanters of whiskey or sherry. Sure, it was early, but I doubted that would’ve stopped him in the past. He also hadn’t said much.

I cleared my throat. “I know our plan is…brutal and not at all what I originally wanted, but this is the only way we believe we can lessen the impact on the mortal realm.”

“Doesn’t sound brutal to me,” Bele said, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear. “Sounds like a good time.”

Lailah and Aios frowned at Bele. “It’s not brutal. It’s actually smart,” Lailah said. And it was. It was what we should’ve done at the beginning. “If we can pull this off, we will have the upper hand when it comes to Kolis.”

“Agreed,” Rhain said, rising. “If you will excuse me, I should go ahead and begin preparing for the Primal summonses.”

“Thank you,” I said. Jadis pushed my hand away, letting me know she was done.

Meeting my gaze, Rhain gave me a small smile and nodded. Jadis peered over my shoulder, watching him leave. I patted her scaled back.

Ash shifted his attention to the oneirou. “You think you’ll be able to do your thing?” Ash asked. I’d told him about what I had thought of when I spoke with Thierran in the library.

“You get Kolis alone?” A lock of black hair tumbled over his forehead. “I will do my thing and then some.”

Ash’s smile was tight as he looked at the twins. “Theon, I want you in the Bonelands while we have this meeting, just in case.” Jadis turned in my lap, stretching her arms toward him and letting out a little chirp. He reached over and placed her on his lap.

“I feel so unloved,” Nektas remarked as his daughter pressed her head against Ash’s chest.

Ash snorted. “Lailah, I want you at the Black Bay.”

The siblings nodded, and Nektas handed a blanket and what appeared to be a nightgown to Ash. As they rose to leave, Lailah sent Attes a worried glance.

He didn’t even seem to be aware that they’d left.

“Saion, Rhahar, you will remain here,” Ash continued, attempting to pull the nightgown over Jadis’s head, but she kept lifting her wings. Nektas grinned.

“Sounds good to me.” Saion looked at his cousin.

Rhahar nodded. “You really think any of them will come at either of you?”

“They’d have to be very foolish,” I commented, scratching Reaver under the chin. Ash finally got the nightgown on Jadis and covered her with the blanket. “They may not have known what I was capable of before, but they do now,” I said without the hint of smugness that would normally fill my tone. But that was before. Now, I knew this was nothing to boast about.

Bele was silent for a moment, surprisingly not responding with one of her customary quips. “They’re not going to be here, right?” She jerked her chin toward Reaver.

The draken narrowed his eyes.

“I will take the younglings to Mount Rhee before the meeting,” Nektas said, propping a bare foot up on the edge of the desk.

I didn’t think I’d ever seen Nektas in shoes.

“I doubt anything will happen,” Ash said, adjusting the little draken in his arms. Jadis was already asleep. “But I don’t want you near the throne room, Aios.”

Aios frowned. “I am not happy with that.”

“I am.” Bele smiled at her, and the look she gave the Primal immediately erased the smile. “We done here for now?”

Ash nodded. “Stay close.”

“Will do.” She rose and took Aios’s hand. “Let’s go so you can yell at me in private.”

Attes actually chuckled at that as he started to stand.

“Attes,” I said. “Can you stay for a few moments?”

“Of course.” He settled back.

“Come, Reaver.” Nektas stood, taking his sleeping daughter from Ash’s arms. “We need to go.”

The draken hesitated, his cerulean gaze darting between Nektas and me. I don’t want to leave you.

Even his voice in my mind was filled with dread. “It’ll be okay.” Bending at the waist, I cupped Reaver’s jaw and kissed the top of his warm head between the horns that would soon grow. “Go with Nektas.”

His heavy sigh echoed in my thoughts, bringing a grin to my lips. He rocked back, extending his wings and taking to the air.

Once it was just the three of us, I got up. As I passed Ash, I briefly stopped to kiss his cheek. His gaze tracked me when I sat in the chair Nektas had occupied.

Attes’s wary gaze slid to mine. “Don’t look at me like that.”

I arched a brow. “Like what?”

“Like you’re worried about me,” he replied. “It makes me uncomfortable.”

“It shouldn’t, considering you saw me having a complete breakdown.”

“Are you going to say that doesn’t make you uncomfortable?”

“It does,” I admitted and felt Ash’s hand on my lower back. “But I am worried about you.”

A ghost of a smile appeared. “There is no need, Sera. I know why you wanted to speak with me in private, and while I appreciate the thoughtfulness, I’ve known this day was coming, even when I didn’t want to know.” He inhaled deeply. “Kyn will not survive this.”

I wanted to look away, but it felt wrong. Weak in a way I couldn’t be.

“No,” Ash said from behind me. “He will not.”

Attes nodded, his lashes lowering. “He…he truly wasn’t always like this,” he said roughly before clearing his throat. “He once lived for times of peace. He had a heart. He laughed and loved. He lusted for life and not cruelty.” His gaze turned distant as if he were seeing far into the past. “His care for the younglings remained through the centuries, the only thing that reminded me of who he used to be. The only hope I had that he could still be saved. Kolis took that when he had you kill Thad,” he said, and my eyes closed. “When I could finally tell him that his youngling draken still lived, it was too late. My brother was gone.”

“I’m sorry,” I said. When I felt his hand on mine, I opened my eyes.

He lowered his head so we were at eye level. “As am I.” He squeezed my hand and then straightened. “But it is what it is.”

Ash’s hand moved in slow circles on my back. “We will need to Ascend someone to take his place.”

“Lailah,” Attes said without hesitation. “She has the temperament, and she’s ready.”

I glanced over my shoulder at Ash. He eyed Attes closely. “And you’re suggesting Lailah because you truly believe this,” he asked. “Or because you want her?”

I raised my brows at Ash’s bluntness.

Attes huffed out a low laugh. “Her being a goddess hasn’t stopped me from wanting her, has it?”

Oh, my.

Ash made a sound that might’ve been a laugh. Or maybe a growl. I couldn’t be sure.

“Besides,” Attes went on, “I aim to rest after this.”

Heart dropping, I stiffened.

“I don’t plan to enter Arcadia,” he said, seeing my reaction. “Not yet, at least. Nor will I go to ground immediately afterward. You will need my aid in the transition. But I will need to rest.” His gaze flickered away. “I need that time.”

“I understand,” Ash said, and so did I, even though it made my heart ache.

“I will assign Theon to oversee things in my place during that time,” Attes added, surprising me once again. “He will do well just to prove he is better than me, and I will be able to rest peacefully.”

I smiled at that. “That’s not the only reason I wanted to speak to you.”

“Is that so?” He lifted a cup of likely cold coffee and drank. “Hopefully, it is a less depressing conversation.”