Total pages in book: 401
Estimated words: 390373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1952(@200wpm)___ 1561(@250wpm)___ 1301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 390373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1952(@200wpm)___ 1561(@250wpm)___ 1301(@300wpm)
“He…got through for a few minutes.” I raked my fingers through my hair and then dropped my hand. “I got to chat with the fuck.”
Kieran’s head whipped toward me. “What?” He unfolded his arms. “When?”
“A few hours ago,” I answered, my gaze drifting back to the closed door. There was still no sound coming from inside.
“What did he say?” Attes demanded.
“Nothing beyond that he wants what he deserves. Whatever the fuck that is,” I explained. “And threatening to kill everyone I know while trying to get me to let her out.”
“That sounds like him,” Attes muttered. “Could you tell how aware he was of his surroundings?”
I thought about that, my mind flashing to when Poppy had tried to seduce her way free. She hadn’t seemed aware of where she was. “I don’t think he’s very aware. And when he was in control,” I said, tasting the bitter, acidic rise of Kieran’s anger, “he never said my name or anyone else’s,” I told them. Come to think of it, he didn’t seem to sense the essence in me like Attes had either. “But he appears able to make her see and hear things that aren’t there—at least, that’s what it seemed like to me.”
Kieran’s stare sharpened on me as Attes said, “The true Primal of Death has unique abilities very similar to those of the oneirou,” he stated, causing both Kieran and me to stiffen. I remembered learning about the gods of dreams. “He can ferret out a person’s hidden fears and deepest shame, then exploit it.”
“What the fuck?” Kieran rasped, taking an unconscious step back.
“It’s an ability designed to only be used against those sentenced to the Abyss. There was a time when Kolis never would’ve thought of using that against anyone.” A distant glint filled the Primal’s gaze, then vanished. “That time has long since passed. So, while he would have access to those moments, he likely wouldn’t be able to sift through her memories.”
I couldn’t say shit as I stood there, horrified by the idea of Kolis being privy to anything about Poppy, let alone her worst experiences.
“Did anything happen to her while she was in stasis?” the Primal asked.
My fists clenched at my sides. “Not to her, but to me. I was attacked.”
“Sorry to hear that.” His reply was so dry and without even a drip of genuine empathy, that in any other situation, I would’ve laughed. “But I’m not sure how that would impact her.”
“We completed the Joining,” I revealed as I searched for patience I didn’t have.
A crease formed between his brows as he glanced between us.
“You’re unaware of the Joining?” Kieran asked.
“It was likely something that came about after my time,” he answered. “I only woke briefly from stasis once before.”
As Kieran gave the Primal a quick rundown of what a Joining was, I stared at the door. I wanted to check on Poppy, but considering what’d happened the last time I returned, I risked waking her before discovering exactly how this Primal could help.
If he could.
“That could’ve done it,” the Primal said when Kieran finished.
My head jerked toward him. “Done what?”
“When a Primal or god enters stasis for any reason, they are already vulnerable, both physically and mentally. What he told me sounds a lot like the binding that was once done between the draken and the Primals to strengthen both.” He described what sounded exactly like what was done between the Elemental Atlantians and the wolven. “No fusion of life forces, be it through blood or magic, is a one-way street. If one of you is wounded severely enough, she will weaken.”
My stomach churned as his words sank in, confirming what I already knew.
Kieran moved closer, his voice low. “It’s not your fault.”
“I didn’t say it was.” The Primal frowned.
“Casteel,” Kieran said.
I focused on the Primal, making sure my shields were in place. “So, that’s how he got to her?”
The Primal’s head tilted. “Her growing weaker could’ve given Kolis the upper hand, but he’s…” He shifted the strap on his shoulder, and unease settled in my gut. He shook his head. “There are different ways he could’ve gotten in.”
Kieran’s lips pursed as he dragged his hand over his head. “And what are those ways?”
Attes was quiet, his jaw flexing. Again, I was struck by the feeling there was something he wasn’t sharing. It was the same damn feeling I’d had when I asked Reaver what Kolis wanted from Poppy.
“Is there something you want to tell us?” I asked, my hands twitching at my sides.
His gaze slid to mine. “There is nothing I want to say that I haven’t already.”
Yet again, the way he said that…
“Could the Revenant have allowed him to get to her?” Kieran’s head lifted. “You never said if he could’ve been responsible.”
“I know of no magic possessed by a Revenant that could make someone act as a conduit,” Attes said. “But I’ve only been awake for a short time during the age of Kolis’s entombment. So, could such magic exist? Yes.” A thoughtful look crossed his features. “Perhaps Penellaphe knows of something.”