“It does when I have no problem with it,” he remarked. “And I also know that when it’s something you think I may not agree with, you will consult with me first.”

He was right, but still. My eyes narrowed on him. “Are you being so understanding because I should be dead instead of alive and standing before you, making reckless oaths?”

“Making exquisitely reckless oaths,” he corrected, brushing strands of hair back from his face. “And perhaps that has played a role in my understanding.”

I huffed out a short laugh as I turned back to the Rise. One of the guards shouted to another, reminding me of what had just occurred. “By the way, something different happened a couple of moments ago. You see that guard there?” I straightened, pointing at Eamon. “I looked at him and knew his name—knew more than that. Like I knew his life.” My head swung back to Ash. “His soul.”

“Godsdamn,” Ash murmured, his jaw loosening. “My father could do that, even after Kolis took the embers. It was the only ability of the true Primal of Life that remained.”

“I think it’s a part of the vadentia growing stronger.” At least, that’s what I thought based on what Nektas had shared with me. “I’m kind of surprised it’s happening already.”

“I’m not.” Ash picked up a strand of my hair, eyeing it quite seriously in the sunlight. “Is that what you were thinking about when I arrived? I could sense your unease.”

I tensed. You’re safe, now and always. I sucked in a short breath at the memory of the nightmare. My gaze flew to his. I’d dreamed of hearing his voice last night. Hadn’t I? It hadn’t been real. At least, I prayed it wasn’t and that I hadn’t woken him.

I cleared my throat. “I’m really getting annoyed with that talent of yours.”

“I know.”

That was all he said. He waited, and I had a pretty good idea what he was talking about.

It wasn’t nothing.

Feeling my stomach twist sharply, I looked away, searching my mind for a reason. My gaze landed on the crimson leaves of the Red Woods. Seizing on that, I said, “No. Something else happened,” I lied far too smoothly. “I was looking at the Red Woods and thinking about the entombed gods. That intuition thing kicked in,” I told him, sharing what I’d felt. “I was seconds from waking them and…”

His fingers slid down the strand of hair. “And what?”

“And killing them before Kolis could, like…summon them,” I admitted.

“Why didn’t you?”

My head cut toward him. “Is that a serious question?”

He raised a brow. “It is. As the true Primal of Life, you could’ve done it. And you would be within your rights to do so, whether any of those gods have changed or not.”

I gaped at him. “If I’d done that, it would’ve been an entirely different kind of recklessness.”

“Not to sound repetitive, but whether or not it was reckless wouldn’t matter. You are the Queen. If you wish to wake all the entombed gods, that is your prerogative.”

“Just as whatever Kolis decided to do was his?” I countered. “He was within his rights to do a lot of shitty things just because he was King.”

Ash curled my hair around his finger as he said, “And because he was King, did it make what he did right?”

“Obviously not.”

He stared at me, waiting…

“What? Why are you—?” Then it hit me. Rolling my eyes, I sighed. Considering what I’d gone through with the riders, I should’ve figured it out a lot sooner. “I didn’t do it because I knew it wasn’t right, even though it really felt like it was.”

“Glad you figured that out.” He tugged on the strand. “I was starting to get worried.”

“Shut up.” My glare dipped to Reaver as he made a low huffing sound. “Your laughter only encourages his nonsense.”

Reaver plopped his head against my leg.

“I get the point you were making,” I said. “But I think you also keep forgetting something.”

An eyebrow rose. “Is that so?”

“You are my King—the King. I decreed it. That means it’s not just me making decisions. I don’t have supreme power or whatever.”

“That is right.” His silver eyes glimmered.

“I’m beginning to think you didn’t forget that and just wanted to hear me say you’re my King.”

One side of his lips tipped up. “Maybe.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“Ridiculously in love with you.”

My heart felt like it tripled in size, and I wanted so badly to show him, with words, my body, and even my tongue, just how much I loved him. The desire to do just that was strong, but I had to be stronger. Responsible. I also didn’t want to traumatize poor Reaver.

“Do you think that some of the entombed gods have had a change of heart? Or were you just trying to make a point?” I asked.

“Not all the entombed gods committed unforgivable crimes, Sera. Some made bad choices. Some acted upon Kolis’s orders because they were given little choice.” Eather glowed faintly in his eyes, and I was reminded of Attes stating nearly the same thing. “A few were likely far less guilty than I am given the crimes I’ve committed.”

My heart twisted as I whispered, “Like what?”

His fingers stilled. “Kolis didn’t tell you?”

I shook my head. “He didn’t tell me anything about you, and that is the truth.”

Ash was quiet for a few moments, then dropped my hair. I wasn’t surprised he hadn’t elaborated, but I was disappointed. He never went into detail about the things he’d done. All I knew had been learned from others. But how could I hold it against him when I wasn’t sharing everything with him either?

I couldn’t.

“I can’t believe how different the Shadowlands already looks,” Ash noted, coming to the railing. “It’s a miracle.”

It did feel that way. “How long do you think it will take before all the grass comes back?”

“Not sure. Could be days. Maybe even weeks,” he said. “If the rivers return, it would be faster.”

“I imagine quite a significant rainfall would be needed for that to occur.” With more and more gods arriving in Lethe, I wasn’t sure we had the time to allow nature to run its course. A rush of something akin to restlessness surged through me. “Several rainfalls.”

Ash made a sound of agreement.

“And who knows when that will happen? Unless the Shadowlands once had a rainy time of year, and we are about to enter it.”

“We had one, but that season is months away,” he said as he briefly looked over his shoulder. “We’ll be encroaching upon winter.”

Stroking Reaver’s head, I remembered what he’d said about how the winters had once been full of snow, and while that would help fill the dried riverbeds, I doubted it would be enough. Plus, the grass would likely die again by then, this time naturally. Which meant we were months from seeing the Shadowlands truly come alive.

Disappointment filled me, even though there were far more important things to be concerned about. But seeing life return to the Shadowlands felt equally important. So much could happen between now and then. There was no guarantee that any of us would be in the right state of mind to enjoy the miracle of life returning. My chest tightened. Gods, there was no guarantee that any of those residing in the Shadowlands would even be here then.

Throat thickening, I looked at Ash, tracking the striking lines of his face. I wanted the residents of the Shadowlands to have that experience now. I wanted him to enjoy that beauty. But it felt like…more than that. As if there was another reason it was so important, but one I didn’t know.

Pressure immediately clamped down harder on my chest. The response was silly, but other than Aios, I hadn’t seen any of the other Shadowlands gods, and despite the honor they had shown me when they believed I was dying, I had no idea where I stood with most of them now. I hadn’t made the greatest first, second…or tenth impression with them. They would support me, but I was sure it was mostly because of their loyalty to Ash.