Flames ignited from the torches lining the hall as we passed, casting an amber glow that beat back the darkness.

I walked beside Ash, my hand held tightly in his while he continuously smoothed his thumb over the top of it. The whole time, I kept telling myself we still had a chance to truly stop the prophecy from coming true. We’d entombed Kolis. All we needed to do now was release Sotoria. If so, Kolis would remain where we’d put him, the Ancients would stay in the ground, and Sotoria would be given a choice—something she hadn’t had in far too many years.

Then everything would be perfect. We could relax. Iliseeum would change. So would the mortal realm. Ash and I could have the future he’d spoken of the night in the throne room.

Attes stopped before a door carved from a smooth, glossy shadowstone slab. He placed his hand on the surface, and the door swung open in a silent glide across the floor. Candles along the walls lit the small, circular chamber, casting a soft, flickering glow over jeweled chests of various sizes.

Attes entered first, but he’d only taken two steps before jerking to a stop. The sudden rush of eather inside him charged the air. “No.”

Upon hearing that single word, my skin flashed hot and then cold. And I knew. I fucking knew.

“What?” Ash asked.

“The Star…” Attes staggered past the chests toward a pedestal surrounded by thick candles raised in iron candelabras.

A pedestal as bare as the one in the House of Haides.

“It’s gone.” He threw out an arm in an angry sweep, sending several chests slamming against the walls. “It was here this morning. I check it every day, in the morning and at night. This is impossible.”

Ash’s hand slipped free of mine as he scanned the chamber. “I doubt this is something you would’ve misplaced. So, who else knows about this room?”

“No one,” Attes gritted out, thrusting his hand through his hair. He tugged at the strands. “Absolutely fucking no one. That is why I kept it here.”

“That’s not true,” I said, and they both turned to me. “The Fates know. They see all. It wouldn’t matter where you hid The Star. They would always be able to find it.”

Attes’s eyes widened. “Sure, but why would they take it?”

“Remember what Holland said about some of the Fates wanting to wake the Ancients in a way they believed could be controlled?” I said. “They would need her soul to do that.”

Ash’s gaze swung back to mine, and he cursed.

“Why would they need her soul for that?” Attes demanded, chest rising and falling rapidly as his eather began churning along the flesh of his throat. He stepped toward me, his tone hardening. “What do you know that you haven’t told me?”

Ash was immediately in front of me. “Speak to my wife in that tone again, and you will find yourself unable to speak another word.”

“It’s okay.” I touched Ash’s back. “He’s not angry with me.”

“I don’t give a fuck who he’s angry at,” Ash growled, glaring at Attes. “You’re telling me that you knew just about every damn thing my father was planning, but you didn’t know the actual reason he put Sotoria’s soul into her bloodline?”

Attes’s gaze was locked on the Primal before him. “He put her soul there so she could stop Kolis once and for all.”

“It was never just about him,” I said. “It’s the prophecy. Eythos was trying to circumvent it, hoping Sotoria would be reborn now and marry his son long before the time period Penellaphe saw in her vision.”

“Yeah, I’m really confused since that is what Eythos planned.” Attes took a step back, drawing in a deep breath. “Didn’t work out that way.”

“No shit,” Ash bit out.

Attes ignored him. “You know what? It doesn’t matter.” Jaw flexing, he looked between us. “We need to get that diamond back.”

“And I have a good idea who has it.” Fury rose swiftly in me, and I latched onto it. Essence throbbed heavily in me. “I want a Fate here right now,” I demanded, the power in my voice causing the chests to tremble and the candles to flicker as my will filled the chamber. “I don’t care which of you answers, but you’d better answer right now.”

Shockingly, they answered at once. The air around us filled with energy, causing the flames on the candles to shoot toward the ceiling. Before the empty pedestal, the air distorted.

Just as I had seen it do in the old Temple.

A tear in the realm appeared, and none other than the nipple-pierced Aydun stepped out, his swirling eyes landing directly on me. “You’re summons was grossly impolite. You’re lucky it was I—”

“I don’t give a fuck about how impolite it was,” I hissed, and Ash shifted so he stood in front of me once more. I sidestepped him. “Give me The Star. Now.”

Aydun’s brows rose, and the colors of his eyes stilled, the stars brightening until they cast a silvery glow over his cheeks. “I see that you’re in a highly emotional state. Therefore, I will forgive your impudence this time.”

I opened my mouth.

“Do you have The Star?” Ash jumped in before I could say something way ruder.

The Ancient glanced at Ash. “Do I have The Star? As in, is it in my possession?”

A low growl rumbled from my chest.

Brown hair fell against his sculpted cheek when Aydun turned his head toward me. “I see you’re going to be the reckless one this time,” he noted. “Your anger is misplaced, Seraphena. It was not I who took The Star.”

My hands fisted at my sides. “I don’t care which of you took it. I want it back.”

“It’s too late for that.”

I inhaled sharply. “No, it is not.”

Aydun held my stare. “Yes, it is, and you know it. A part of you has always known that,” he said, and my heart skipped. His voice lowered. “Fate always finds a way, Seraphena.”

A harsh, biting laugh escaped me. “Yeah, because fate keeps fucking things up.”

Aydun arched a brow.

“Okay. I’m missing some vital information,” Attes began. “And honestly, I don’t give a fuck at this point. Eythos had his plans. They didn’t turn out exactly as he’d planned, but Kolis was entombed. He has been dealt with. Sotoria is Sotoria. Sera is Sera. That is old news, and all I want is for Sotoria to be free.” His voice cracked a little on the last word. “For her to either choose peace or live a normal life.” He moved toward the Ancient. “And don’t you dare fucking deny her that.”

“A normal life?” Aydun repeated. “Sotoria has never lived a normal life.”

“Yeah, thanks to Kolis,” I snapped. “And you all messing with her life.”

“You misunderstand, Seraphena.” He eyed me curiously. “Have you never wondered why Sotoria?”

“Of course, I’ve wondered that,” I said, struggling to keep the essence down.

“There was a reason Kolis was so drawn to her. Her bloodline is old and managed to carry just enough essence no matter how many generations passed.” Aydun gave Attes a tight smile. “It’s the same reason you found yourself drawn to her.”

“What the fuck?” rasped Attes.

“Sotoria is a direct descendant of the first mortal created by the blood of Eythos and the first draken,” Aydun said. “And I don’t mean in the way all mortals are descended from the first. Eythos created more than one mortal.”

“Obviously,” Ash drawled.

“He created several, but she descended from the first, who also happened to give birth to the first mortal children—a son, a daughter, and then a second.”

I tensed.

“Sotoria descends directly from that second daughter, born in a shroud. Chosen even before Kolis first saw her picking flowers for her sister’s wedding, just like every single second daughter of her bloodline afterward.” Aydun cocked his head. “Until you.”

My mouth dropped open, and Ash’s head jerked toward me. “You cannot be saying what I think you are.”

“That you and Sotoria are of the same bloodline? Yes. That is what I’m saying. Sotoria was never randomly reborn into anyone. She was always reborn in the Mierel bloodline,” he told us as if it was something we should’ve always known.