“Good job. Want more?” I asked, not worried about feeding her strawberries since Ash gave her all the food under the roof when he thought Nektas wasn’t paying attention.

Jadis nodded. She watched avidly as I cut several more strawberries in half, holding on to my arm and humming. It still took a couple of seconds for her to remember what to do and trust the utensil, but by the time we got to the last strawberry, she was no longer hesitant, and I felt Ash’s and Reaver’s presence again.

“Jadis,” Ash called as he strode toward the table and couch. “You haven’t even acknowledged me yet.”

Jadis squawked excitedly, then threw herself against the arm I was using to brace her and keep her upright.

Feeling like second best, I grinned as I let her go. She scampered across the couch and then stood on her hind legs, stretching her arms up.

“I’m still your favorite.” Ash gave me a wink as he picked Jadis up, holding her to his chest. “Knew it.”

Jadis pressed the top of her head to his cheek, her eyes squeezed shut.

Reaver quietly approached. His skin was no longer ruddy, but his eyes were puffy as he peeked up at me through dusky lashes. “Hi.”

“Hello,” I replied, and then we…

We just stared at each other.

I honestly had no idea what to do with children, especially upset ones, other than distract them with food. I didn’t think that would work with Reaver, but when I looked at him, I was reminded of how close he’d come to dying due to Veses. He’d been keeping me company when she arrived and had gone after her in an attempt to defend me—something draken weren’t supposed to do. She’d attacked him viciously enough to deliver a near-fatal blow, and I could still feel the panic of seeing him lying there in his mortal form, unmoving.

So, I got over my awkwardness and patted the seat next to me. “Sit with me?”

Reaver nodded and hopped onto the couch beside me. He kept his chin lowered and his hands clasped in his lap.

“Hungry?” I asked.

He shook his head.

“Damn.” I sighed. “I was hoping I would get to teach you how to use a fork.”

“I know how to use a fork.”

“You sure?” I grinned as he glanced over at me, and I could see through the strands of his blond hair that his brows were furrowed. “I’m exceptionally skilled at teaching one how to use utensils.”

Those serious, now-jewel-blue eyes met mine. “I can pretend I don’t know how if you’d like.”

I laughed. “That won’t be necessary.”

“Good,” he said, shifting his stare to his hands and then back to me. “I really didn’t mean to interrupt you two.”

“It’s okay. I’m glad you did. I missed you all—” My chest hitched as I remembered standing in the Bonelands, thinking I might die before I got to see them again.

Reaver wiggled closer. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.” Clearing my throat, I glanced at Ash. He was filling a glass of water as Jadis, now draped over his shoulder, chattered in his ear about something to do with… “Grass—green grass.”

“You can understand her now?” Curiosity filled Reaver’s voice.

“I…I think I can. I swore I heard her earlier, and this time, I just kind of have a feeling about what she’s saying.” I sent Ash a smug look. “Either that or I’m hallucinating.”

“Likely the latter,” Ash teased.

I snorted. “Someone sounds jealous.” Wanting to distract Reaver and brag, I said, “Did you know that it took Ash actual days before he could understand the draken?”

Reaver looked between us while Ash raised a brow. “I didn’t.”

“Apparently, it’s not taking me that long,” I boasted.

“You’re such a quick learner,” Ash stated dryly.

I grinned. “I actually thought Ash was lying when he said he could understand you all.”

“He never lies,” Reaver replied solemnly, and Ash’s grin spread. “She’s really excited about the grass. She’s never seen it green before.”

I focused on Reaver. “You haven’t either, have you?”

Reaver shook his head. “It’s different.” He sat back a little. A moment passed as he looked between Ash and me. “Did you really miss us?”

“Very much so.” I pushed the now-even-more-tangled hair back from my face. “And I was worried about both you and Jadis. I…” I swallowed, dropping my hands to my lap as I whispered, “I was also afraid.”

Mashing his lips together, he blinked damp lashes. Chest squeezing, I extended an arm. After a second, Reaver closed the distance between us and pressed himself against my side.

Folding my hand under the soft strands of hair at the back of his head, I closed my eyes. “But like Ash said, we’re safe. We’re good. All of us. And we’re going to stay that way.”

“Promise?” Reaver asked in a rough whisper.

“Promise,” I swore, kissing the top of his head.

Tension eased from Reaver’s thin body as he relaxed against me and quieted as I idly ran my fingers through the soft strands of his hair. Some time passed, and the release of all the emotion that had been building up in Reaver must’ve exhausted him. He fell asleep and ended up using my leg as a pillow.

I kept threading my fingers through his hair, worried that he’d wake up if I stopped. Sleep was always best after a good cry.

My mind wandered over everything it would take to make the promise Ash had made to Reaver happen as I listened to Ash’s footsteps and Jadis’s waning chatter. Even without the prickly sense of knowing, I feared I knew where this was headed.

And yes, it was a real, cold, cutting fear. Because no matter how many gods or Primals decided to stand with us, I knew lives would be lost.

I did what I didn’t want to. I thought about Kolis. There were moments when he was like how he must’ve been before bitterness and envy rotted him from the inside. Before that fateful day on the Cliffs of Sorrow when he saw Sotoria. But whoever he had been that allowed Eythos to continue loving him so irrevocably was long gone. His rot had decayed him so thoroughly that it ruined even his best intentions.

He was truly a monster now.

Kolis wouldn’t bow out. He thrived on ultimate power and authority. Got off on it. Without it, what did he have? Bitter truths and tainted memories?

But I knew Kolis wanted to avoid war. That was what I’d been about to tell Ash before the young draken arrived. Kolis wasn’t completely irrational. He knew what was at stake. He also didn’t want to fight in a war he believed he could lose.

And if we got the majority of the Primals to back us? Would he back down then? Maybe a little. Perhaps just enough to give us a chance to take him down.

Ash’s shoulder brushed mine as he sat beside me. Jadis was passed out against his chest, one of her scaled cheeks resting just above his heart. I lifted a brow as I saw that the little draken was all but swaddled in what appeared to be one of Ash’s sweaters.

“Just in case she decides to shift into her mortal form. It’s been happening less and less, but I don’t think she’s quite grown out of it,” Ash said, his voice low as Jadis wiggled in her sleep, managing to poke one clawed foot free of Ash’s sweater as he glanced down at Reaver. “How he was earlier? I haven’t seen him like that since his parents died.”

My attention shifted back to Reaver’s sharp features and the slight parting of his lips. “I promised him we would all remain safe,” I admitted.

“We will.”

I nodded as I smoothed my hand over the crown of Reaver’s head, but I knew I shouldn’t have made any promises.

There would be a fight.

Would it only be between us and Kolis, or would it become the war Attes spoke of and Kolis swore he wanted to avoid?

Either way, lives would be lost.

And we wouldn’t be able to keep everyone safe.

“You just missed Ash,” I said, holding the bedchamber door open for Nektas. “He took Jadis and Reaver to the chamber they normally sleep in.”