The way Holland’s eyes glimmered told me he either suspected what we were up to or had already seen it all in one of those many threads. “That is all?”

I nodded.

“I will go to him immediately,” he said. “I can’t say how long it will take before he agrees.”

“He’ll agree,” I stated.

Holland’s gaze lowered with a sigh. “If you are speaking of Sotoria’s soul, he will.”

From the settee, Attes’s lip curled. I stepped out of Ash’s hold before the other Primal could say something that would add to his troubles. “I know you can’t stay, but I…I wish you could.”

That softness returned to Holland’s features. “As do I.”

“Before you leave,” Ash said, “I do have a question about Aydun. He knew we had entered an eirini before but made no mention of that. Seems odd that he wouldn’t have reminded Sera, especially considering she just rose as the Primal of Life.”

Holland grimaced. “I wish I could say for certain why Aydun failed to mention it.” Holland’s gaze searched mine. “But he should have. I am sorry he didn’t.”

“It’s not your fault.” Something crossed my mind. He had mentioned inciting the ire of the other Ancients. My stomach pitched. “Will you get in trouble for answering the summons considering our history?”

The colors slowed in his eyes. “Some of the others were not pleased with my intention to do so, but if I were in the wrong, the realms would have prevented me from doing so. The others know this.”

“I am never going to get used to the idea of the essence as some sort of living entity capable of critical thinking,” I admitted.

“Interesting,” Ash remarked, kicking off tiny warning bells. “If the others are aware of this, why would they still be unhappy with you answering the summons? It can’t just be your history with Sera.”

“That is…a complicated question.” For the first time since I’d learned of Holland’s true identity, he looked uncertain how to answer as he stared at Ash. “One that may have crossed your mind.”

I turned to Ash, frowning. “What has crossed your mind?”

He folded his arms over his chest and eyed the Fate. “We have both questioned the methods of how the Fates right the balance.”

“We have.”

“As have I,” Attes remarked. “If anyone cares to know.”

“Well, I’m not sure I believe that it is always the essence itself intervening,” Ash continued. “And I’m sure that is something you’ve thought.”

I had, and it immediately made me think of that damn prophecy and what Keella had shared.

Ash smiled tightly. “We also know the only way Kolis ever had knowledge of The Star was because a Fate told him about it. Of course, it could have been done as it was suggested.”

Delfai had mentioned that Kolis might have used someone the Fate loved to manipulate them into giving him what he wanted. That would be on par with Kolis’s past behavior, but Ash was right. How the Fates—the Ancients—intervened often made no sense. Tension crept into my muscles. There were times when actions to right the balance almost seemed to be in Kolis’s favor, creating another situation that would tip the scales again. Until recently, we didn’t know why they would do that. Now, we knew they wanted to wake the Ancients—clearly, not all of them wanted that, but why would any of them want to do that? That was what Ash was getting at by his question to Holland.

I met the Ancient’s stare. “We know why some of the Fates have been intervening. They want the Ancients to wake up.”

As Saion let out a low whistle, Rhain looked like he might fall over.

“That is a question I cannot answer.” Sighing heavily, Holland sat on the edge of the settee. “And not because I know the answer and cannot say, but because I don’t.”

“It wasn’t a question,” Ash pointed out.

Holland looked up. “You’re right.”

When that was all he said, I drew a hand over my face and briefly squeezed my eyes shut. I knew there were things Holland couldn’t say, and I really had no idea how Penellaphe dealt with the vague non-answers. “So, theoretically, let’s say someone out there wants the Ancients to wake. Why? Because they want to see the realms destroyed?”

“I don’t think anyone wants complete and utter destruction—”

“Even if the destruction isn’t complete, it will be damn near close to that,” I cut in. I mean, look at what I did as a baby Primal.

“I know, but theoretically, some could view the Awakening as inevitable and seek to control it,” he said, then shrugged. “Some could believe it is the only way to save the realms.”

“Why would anyone theoretically think that?” Ash demanded.

“Perhaps those who have been in a deep sleep have lost some of their bitterness. It’s hard to tell if that would be the case, but it’s not impossible.” Holland rested his hands on his knees. “And if not, theoretically, there could be a few who would see the Awakening as a restart.”

“You mean a purge,” Ash corrected.

“One where the numbers of mortals and even the gods are greatly reduced and far more manageable to be controlled,” Holland finished.

“By the Ancients themselves,” Ash surmised. “So, it’s possible that some of the Fates want to return to the way it first was.”

What Ash didn’t know was that the Fates were the Ancients, which made his theory all the more plausible.

“Theoretically speaking, yes,” Holland corrected, and I rolled my eyes. “And the way it first was, wasn’t bad. Your draken can tell you that.”

“Yeah, but look how it ended,” Attes reminded him.

“I can’t even fathom how any of the Fates would want this—would want to take this risk,” I began.

“A theoretical risk,” Holland tacked on.

I ignored that. “It’s…” My eyes shot to Holland’s. “It’s Kolis, isn’t it? All he has done, has caused. That is what they want to restart.”

“Kolis’s actions have cost the realms much,” Holland stated quietly. “And it would take twice as long to undo what he has done.”

“How would the Ancients’ Awakening cost the realms less?” Rhain demanded. “They’re beings of absolute power.”

“And absolute power corrupts,” I tacked on. “Just as it did before.”

Holland nodded. “But those who do not seek power remain uncorrupted by it.”

Ash huffed. “It’s really that simple?”

“Yes.” Holland looked at him. “Even though Primals are not absolute, the power you wield is enough to taint and infect. You both know that, but I do not fear that kind of power ever corrupting Sera.”

I stiffened. “You know that’s not true. It has.”

Ash looked at me sharply, but Holland spoke before he could. “What you did in Lasania was not due to any corruption of power. It was pain, pure and simple. I do not fear corruption from you because you do not want power. You never have.”

I shifted from one foot to the other. “That’s true. It doesn’t mean I won’t be a…a more responsible Primal of Life,” I quickly added as I glanced at Attes and the others. “But I am better suited to be in battles than I am to decide them.”

“It’s not a question of you being better suited,” Holland said. “It’s only what you have experience in. That will change.” He paused. “But you will never hunger for power. Even though those who came before you ruled, none hungered for it. It is not in your bloodline.”

Tiny bumps erupted over my skin as I held Holland’s stare. My bloodline. It started with the Silver Knight. “Is my…bloodline special?”

“Your bloodline was chosen.”

I knew that from what Keella had shared, but it made me think of future bloodlines. Our children. Their children.

Suddenly cold, I shook those thoughts from my head. “What do you think, Holland? Would you theoretically risk waking the Ancients to fix everything Kolis has wrought upon the realms?”

Holland leaned back, running his hands over the thighs of his loose white pants. “I think you know the answer to that, Sera.”