“Now, that wouldn’t be wise,” Ash replied, sipping from his glass. “You will remain here.”

His tone and demand stoked my temper like it always did. “You want to know what’s not wise?”

“I’m sure I can guess.” His gaze flicked to me. “You were about to say me making demands of you is unwise.”

“Since you know that, why do you think it’s more unwise for me to go to Attes than you—who wants to skin him alive?”

Bele’s lip curled up on one side. “Thank the Fates, I feel like something very illogical is about to occur—”

“Something illogical always occurs around you, Bele.” Nektas entered through the balcony doors, his long hair resting against his bare shoulders.

Huh.

I had been right about it being him. Had I actually sensed it, or was his presence just a logical conclusion? No. Instinct told me I had sensed it was Nektas.

Eyes that shimmered with ethereal brilliance swept across the table, finding mine. His broad jaw softened with a smile. Stopping behind Theon and Lailah, Nektas placed a fist over his chest and bowed his head and upper body. He spoke in that raspy voice of his. “Meyaah Liessa.”

“She doesn’t like to be called that,” Saion advised.

“I know, but she will allow it of me.” Nektas straightened.

“I will.”

Bele’s lips pursed. “Rude.”

Nektas inclined his head toward Ash and strode around the table. His steps slowed as he spotted his daughter asleep half on top of Reaver. “I hope Jadis hasn’t been too much of a handful?”

I took a drink, raising my brows as several others averted their gazes. Images of Jadis tearing at Ash’s hair and tugging on Lailah’s braids danced in my mind.

“Oh, yeah. She’s been a real peach.” Bele’s tone was as dry as the desert lands near Massene.

“Of course, she has,” Nektas replied with all the confidence of a parent whose child was the apple of their eye. He reached down and scooped up his daughter. She let out a little murmur and wiggled before flopping over his shoulder. He gave her scaled back a tender pat and said, “I feel like I may have walked into the middle of an argument.”

“I would say it’s more of a…heated exchange,” Saion replied.

Raising a brow, Nektas sat on Ash’s other side and leaned back, propping one foot on the table. “About?”

“Sera and I,” Ash said, lifting an arm. A second later, a small ivory blanket shot between Rhain and Saion, coming from somewhere in the chamber. It landed in his hand. “Are not in agreement.”

“As unsurprising as that is,” Nektas began, taking the blanket from Ash and laying it over Jadis, gently tucking it around her wings, “whose side am I supposed to be on?”

“Mine,” Ash and I answered at the same time.

Nektas smirked.

“Ash has suggested using Attes to issue the summons and thinks it’s appropriate for him to speak with Attes, even though he wants to rearrange the Primal’s internal organs,” I explained. “Meanwhile, he thinks I should remain at the palace, polishing the swords or something.”

Rhahar coughed and then took a long swallow of his drink.

“That is not what I expect you to do.” Ash dragged his teeth over his lower lip, sending me a sidelong glance. “I feel rather confident assuming the only thing you would do with a sword is use it.”

“Want to find out?” I suggested with syrupy sweetness.

“Later, when younglings aren’t present,” he replied with a smoky, midnight smile. “I’d love to.”

“Oh, dear,” murmured Bele.

I shot Ash a glare.

He winked.

He actually winked at me before turning his attention back to Nektas. “But I haven’t gotten to the point yet where I explain why it would be wise for her to remain behind.”

“Because she’s newly awakened,” Nektas suggested, jerking his head to the side as Jadis worked a wing free. “And the moment she enters Vathi, her presence would be sensed.”

I opened my mouth.

“Exactly,” Ash confirmed. His teasing smile was gone now. “Kyn will know you are there.”

Hot, prickly anger swept through me, whipping up the essence. “That’s fine by me,” I said as Reaver lifted his head from my leg. “I would love to speak with him.”

Eather lashed through Ash’s eyes as our gazes connected. “As would I, liessa, but as much as it would please me to rearrange his internal organs, we just discussed making no moves until we know who our potential allies may be.”

“We know Kyn isn’t one,” I stated.

“Agreed. But should your first act as Queen be one of violence?” Ash asked.

When it came to Kyn? Yes. But as I tore my gaze from his and focused on the sunlight beyond the balcony doors, I thought about the conversation regarding the entombed gods. Kyn was a different story. But would the other Primals understand that? Or would they view me as just another violent, monstrous ruler?

“Gods, now I’m going to be logical,” Bele said as if it were something contagious. “You are a fledgling Primal, just like me. And you know how much I hated having to lay low, but I did it. I’m still doing it, until there’s no other choice but to take the risk.” Her gaze met mine. “I want nothing more than to take my revenge on Kyn in any way I can, but I know doing so right now is too risky.” She exhaled heavily. “And yeah, I hate having to be logical about it. You may be stronger and stuff, and able to take on Kyn even now, but why risk it over that piece of trash?”

My lips pinched as I sat back. She’d made her point. “Okay. I get it.” I turned to Ash. “But I don’t think you should go alone.”

“I can go with Nyktos,” Lailah offered, drawing a look of ire from her brother and my rabid curiosity. “And make sure they both—”

“Behave?” I suggested. “Like two misbehaving toddlers?”

Now, it was Ash’s eyes that narrowed.

“I wasn’t going to use those exact words.” Lailah rested her clasped hands on the table. “But Attes will be reluctant to allow things to escalate with me there.”

“You have far too much faith in him,” Theon snapped and fisted his hand on the table.

“I can agree with that,” Ash murmured.

“And you never had enough faith in him,” Lailah shot back at Theon. “He’s not like his brother.”

“I can agree with the last part.” I tossed in my two cents, because why not when it felt like the meeting was about ten seconds from descending into chaos?

“Sure, he’s not like Kyn—thank the Fates.” The essence brightened in Theon’s golden eyes. “But he’s no benevolent being. Every time he’s near you, he spends each moment attempting to seduce you.”

I opened my mouth then closed it while Bele and the cousins watched with avid interest. Rhain, however, appeared as if he wished to sink through his chair and maybe even the floor.

“That’s not true,” Lailah hissed, her eyes turning luminous. “And do we really think this is an appropriate conversation to be having right now? On second thought…ever?”

“We have no problem with it,” Saion remarked. “Please, continue.”

Propping his elbow on the arm of his chair, Rhain drew his fingers over his brow with a sigh.

“Lailah is welcome to join me if she wishes,” Ash cut in. “And while she makes sure I behave, I will do the same when it comes to Attes.”

My head just about spun off my shoulders as I turned to him. “You will only do that if that is what Lailah wants.”

“Of course. If that is what she wants,” Ash amended. “Which I imagine she would, considering how levelheaded she normally is.”

Sitting back, Theon huffed as he crossed his arms. “Yeah, real levelheaded when it comes—”

“I swear to the Fates, if you finish that statement,” Lailah warned, “I will knock you from that very chair and into the Abyss.”

Theon’s jaw clamped shut so tightly I almost expected him to snap his fangs in half.

“So, it’s decided?” Rhain dropped his hand onto the table. “Ash will speak with Attes to summon the other Primals.”