“Kolis is aware that you’ve taken a Consort.” A muscle flexed in his jaw. “And His Majesty has decided to deny your right to a coronation.”
Chapter 15
The very air in the room seemed to stop. Kolis could…he could do that?
“Has he now?” Nyktos’s voice was soft—too soft.
“He has,” Attes confirmed. “Since there hasn’t been a coronation in many years, he wants it to be more…traditional.”
“What does that mean?” I asked, my mouth dry.
Attes inclined his chin. “It means that Nyktos must gain Kolis’s permission to crown a Consort.” His gaze flicked to Nyktos.
My lips parted. “Son of a bitch.”
The wisps of eather swirled in Attes’s eyes as his grin returned. He dipped his head, dropping his voice. “Did you just call the King of Gods a son of a bitch?”
“Uh…”
Attes laughed even as Nyktos’s body went icy against mine.
“And when does he expect me to do this when the coronation is to be heldtomorrow?” Nyktos demanded.
Attes’s grin faded. “There will be no coronation tomorrow. Instead, Kolis will summon you—both of you.”
It felt like the office disappeared around us. My heart started pounding. I attempted to rise, but Nyktos’s arm remainedfirm around me.
“When?” Nyktos bit out.
“When he is ready.” Attes smiled, but there was no warmth to the curve of his lips. No dimple. “That was all he said.”
“So, it could be tomorrow or a week or month from now,” Nyktos surmised.
“Basically.” Attes sat forward, his shoulders tensing. “You know, I think he would’ve done this even if a god hadn’t Ascended here. After all, you are his favorite.”
His favorite? I had a feeling Attes meant the exact opposite by saying that.
“Yeah.” Nyktos leaned back. “I think it’s time for you to leave.”
“As do I.” The Primal of Accord and War rose. He looked at me. “It was a pleasure to meet you.” Primal eyes lifted to mine. “If you find you’d rather spend your time in a warmer bed and climate…”
I stared up at him, somewhat dumbfounded. “Thank you for the offer, but not interested.”
“Too bad.” A dimple appeared in his right cheek. “But if you ever change your mind, all you have to do is call for me. I will answer.”
“Leave.” The promise of violence hummed in that one word. “Before you have to be carried out of here.”
Attes bowed in our direction, then left. The doors closed behind him. Neither Nyktos nor I moved or spoke for several seconds, but the temperature in the room had dropped even further. The arm around my waist and the hand against my thigh hardened. Shadows had bled to the surface of his flesh, and the breath I exhaled formed a misty cloud once more. I thought I saw tiny bursts of silver light throughout the space.
Shivering as the frigid air seeped through the gown, I touched his arm. Like I had the night of the draken attack. “It’s…it’s cold,” I whispered, my lips beginning to tingle.
Nyktos’s hand slid out from between my thighs, but the arm around me tightened. “Argue with me.”
“What?” I whispered.
“Argue with me,” he repeated, his voice full of smoke and ice. “Distract me. Something to stop me from going after Attes and taking my anger out on him. That will not end well for theShadowlands or Vathi, and that’s the last thing we need.”
I twisted toward him. His eyes were nearly pure silver orbs. His jaw was as hard as the shadowstone walls. Churning darkness had blossomed across his cheeks. Eather lit the veins beneath his eyes, and the hardness in the stare fixed on the doors beyond me told me that he wasn’t exaggerating in the least. So, I did the first thing that came to mind.