“Exactly. If that gained his interest, it would be a little bizarre.”
“You stabbed me in the chest.” Nyktos inclined his head. “And threatened to claw out my eyes. That didn’t deter my interest at the time. What does that say about me?”
“Good question,” I muttered, not missing the at-the-timepart of that statement. “But you started the whole removing the eyes thing.”
“I didn’t want Attes thinking that either of us would welcome him acting upon his interests.”
My eyes narrowed on him. “I don’t think you have to worry about me welcoming that.”
“Really? Did you not suggest mere minutes before his arrival that you were willing to seek out others to satisfy your needs?”
I gaped at him. “That is not what I said!”
“Actually, I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what you said.”
“It was not—” I cut myself off. “Okay. Now, I’m annoyed. I hope you’re in control of your anger issues because if you don’t let me go, I’m likely to hit you.”
“I’m going to have to risk that,” he replied. “Because we need to talk about the shit Kolis just pulled, and there’s a good chance I won’t remain level.”
“What does that have to do with me staying in your lap?”
“Because if he loses his cool, he could hurt you.”
My head whipped toward the now-open doors. Nektas stood there, and he wasn’t alone. Ector was beside him. I didn’t even want to think about how long they’d been standing there.
“And with you so close to him,” Nektas continued, “he won’t risk it.”
I opened my mouth, but I really didn’t know how to respond to that. At all. So, I said nothing. No one said anything.
“We just ran into Attes,” Ector said, breaking the awkward silence. “Guessing what he said is true. Kolis is demanding you ask for his permission?”
“It is,” Nyktos confirmed, his forearm tensing under my fingers. Remembering his reaction in the war room, I pulled my hand back.
“Fuck,” Ector uttered.
I seconded that emotion as I glanced over my shoulder at Nyktos. “Did you know he could do that?”
“Gaining the King of Gods’ permission was a tradition back when my father ruled.” Nyktos leaned back in the chair, putting a little more space between us. “Primals and gods sought his approval before a coronation, hoping he would give hisblessing. But Kolis hasn’t done it once. Nor has he ever shownany interest in such a thing.” The muscle along Nyktos’s jaw flexed. “But I should’ve expected this—that he’d pull this shit.”
After all, you are his favorite.
“He’ll use this as a chance to find out how the embers of life were felt here,” Nektas said. “I bet he’ll offer that in return for his permission.”
Ector’s amber gaze darted from me to Nyktos. “You can’t let him know the truth.”
“No shit,” Nyktos replied.
“But what will you tell him if that’s the case?” As soon as I finished asking the question, I understood. “Attes said that neither he nor the other Primals had forgotten who your father was or who you were meant to be. Kolis could think it was you.”
“That’s far better than him thinking it’s you,” he countered.
I gaped at him. “No, it’s not.”
“Kolis would know it’s not Ash,” Nektas interrupted. “He’s already tested Ash enough to know that he has no embers of life in him.”
“Tested…?” I trailed off, thinking of the ink swirling over Nyktos’s skin. I knew as Ector looked away, rubbing his hand through his hair. I knew without even asking. Some of those drops represented those that Kolis had killed to see if Nyktos could bring them back to life.
Gods.