Something akin to emotion flashed in the Ancient’s expression, startling me. “No, I am what ensures that balance remains.”

Ash straightened, the skin of his throat turning the shade of shadowstone. “Forcing her to go before the monster who held her against her will is how you ensure balance? Are you fucking serious?”

“He’s serious.” My hands fisted until I felt my nails digging into my flesh. “But it’s still a good question, especially because I’m willing to bet you know exactly what perversions he just spoke of.”

The corners of the Ancient’s mouth tightened, showing the faintest crack in his demeanor. “I will ensure that balance remains by any means necessary.” Those variegated eyes shifted to mine. “That does not mean I enjoy doing so.”

“Do you even know what it’s like to enjoy anything?” I retorted.

“Does Holland?” the Ancient countered softly.

I snapped my mouth shut. How he said Holland’s name sounded an awful lot like a threat.

“You know what is at stake,” the Ancient reminded me.

I did.

Fuck.

The Ancient stiffened. “Speaking of the temperamental creature…”

The office doors flung open, and Nektas entered, his long hair flowing behind him. His stare didn’t leave Ash or me as he prowled past the Ancient, not paying the being any mind.

On the other hand, the Ancient stepped back.

“What is going on?” Nektas asked.

The question was directed at me because Ash… I glanced at him. He was locked onto the Ancient like he was about to do something very unwise.

“Kolis summoned a Fate to broker a meeting between us,” I said. “And only us.”

Nektas’s nostrils flared as he looked at Ash. “Son of a bitch,” he muttered. The ridges across the bare flesh of his shoulders and chest were more pronounced than I’d ever seen them. “And you cannot change it?”

“No,” the Ancient answered. “The summoner sets the terms. If they”—he indicated Ash and me—“had summoned an Arae first—”

“Don’t,” Nektas warned as he whirled on the Ancient. “Do not turn this back on them, Aydun.”

The Ancient’s nostrils flared at his name and sent a ripple of surprise through me.

“They would not seek to waste your time as Kolis would,” Nektas said. “Which is exactly what will come of this.”

Ash’s low growl echoed through the chamber as the shadows solidified behind him. “Nothing will come of this.”

“It doesn’t have to be a waste of time,” Aydun argued, his attention shifting to me. “Do you yearn for war? I do not believe you do.”

I drew back. “Have you been listening in on us or something?”

“Do you?” he repeated.

“No.”

“Why?”

“There has to be a reason?” I shook my head. “I don’t want innocent people to die. Isn’t that good enough?”

“Almost.” The colors spun wildly around his pupils. “The future exists in several threads—”

“Do not start with that thread bullshit,” Ash snarled.

The Ancient’s head snapped toward Nektas. “I understand he cares for her. I know what that bond between them incites when the other is threatened, but you need to get him under control before I do.”

I shot forward, stopped only by the arm Nektas flung out. Essence rushed through me, hot and violent. “You will do no such thing.”

“For fuck’s sake.” Nektas edged me back. “Clearly, you don’t know what that bond incites if you threaten either of them because you just did it.”

“They are testing my patience,” Aydun spat. “And I have been far too tolerant of both of them. So, get the one who is technically a Primal of no Court under control while I try to reason with the Primal who shouldn’t even be a godsdamn Primal.”

Ash lurched forward, but Nektas caught him. My head swung toward the draken as he shoved Ash back. “Stop,” Nektas ordered.

Ash tried to sidestep him, knocking the table over. Glasses crashed. Pieces of eggs and bacon spilled across the floor. Nektas was on Ash, pushing him back again. The settee went flying as Nektas caged Ash in. The sound that came from the Primal would’ve sent anyone running as he bared his fangs at the draken.

Every part of me focused on Nektas. I knew he wouldn’t hurt Ash. He would never do that. But the purely instinctive part of me didn’t like it.

Energy was ramping up in Ash, causing the air to charge. Static crackled over my skin as the essence rose in response. One of the light bulbs exploded, sending fine shards of glass in every direction.

“Stop it,” Nektas repeated, backing Ash up until he had him pinned to the wall by the credenza with his forearm across his chest. “You need to calm down.”

A sound came from somewhere in the chamber. A hiss that was distinctively feline as I stepped toward Nektas and Ash, my hands opening and closing at my sides.

“For the sake of gods everywhere,” muttered Aydun, “why did I have to be the one who answered the summons?”

“I need you to calm down before neither of us has a choice in you doing so.” The muscles in Nektas’s back flexed as he struggled to hold Ash back. “And preferably before the claws come out and Sera tears into me.”

Claws come out…?

I jerked to a stop, only realizing then that I was just feet from Nektas, and my hands…felt weird. They tingled. I looked down, and my eyes went wide.

My nails had lengthened and sharpened. “What the…?”

“I know you’re angry. I know you’re scared,” Nektas said, and that last part caught my attention. “But you go at that fucker over there and you know what will happen.”

“Fucker?” muttered Aydun while I stared at Ash and Nektas. “That was uncalled for.”

Whatever was happening with my hands fell to the wayside as a great sense of foreboding rose. Tiny bumps broke out across my skin. If Ash attacked Aydun, the Ancient would strike back. Nektas would defend Ash. So would I. But the Ancient…

Dread built as I looked at him. He would kill Nektas. My stomach pitched. He could kill Ash because, as Aydun had said, Ash was now the Primal of no Court. His death would impact Iliseeum and the mortal realm, but nothing as severe as what a death of any other Primal would cause.

Fear slammed into me, nearly taking my knees out from under me as the lights flickered wildly. “Ash,” I whispered. “Please.”

Ash’s pure silver gaze shot to me. Our eyes locked. A tense heartbeat passed, and then the shadows under his flesh thinned out. “I’m good.”

“You sure about that?” Nektas still held him back. “Because I’m going to be really disappointed if I let go of you and you go at him.”

“I won’t.” His eyes never strayed from mine. “I’m level. I just need to talk to Sera. Alone.”

“The summons needs to be answered—”

“A couple of minutes isn’t going to hurt anything,” Nektas cut the Ancient off.

Aydun’s jaw hardened as he looked away. “They have five minutes. That is all.”

I bit my tongue, focusing on Ash. The dark tendrils of eather had mostly disappeared.

Nektas released Ash and slowly stepped back. He didn’t take his eyes off the Primal as Ash pushed away from the wall. Neither did I as he stalked forward and clasped the nape of my neck. He pulled me to him, dropping his chin to the top of my head. My arms encircled his waist, and I held him tightly as tremors coursed through him.

“Outside,” Nektas ordered.

There was a pause, and then the Ancient let out a deep sigh. “The only reason I’m following you is because it will only delay things further if I don’t.”

“Yeah,” Nektas drawled. “That and the fact that you know I will rip your arms off and beat you over the head with them.”

My eyes popped open.

Aydun chuckled, and it sounded different. Warm. Real enough that I lifted my head from Ash’s chest. “You know, I’ve seen that happen before. Laugh every time I think about it.”

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Nektas muttered, the door swinging shut and muting whatever else he was saying.