The only one who can save Sera now is the one she spent her life planning to kill.
The truth about Seraâs plan is out, shattering the fragile trust forged between her and Nyktos. Surrounded by those distrustful of her, all Sera has is her duty. She will do anything to end Kolis, the false King of Gods, and his tyrannical rule of Iliseeum, thus stopping the threat he poses to the mortal realm.
Nyktos has a plan, though, and as they work together, the last thing they need is the undeniable, scorching passion that continues to ignite between them. Sera cannot afford to fall for the tortured Primal, not when a life no longer bound to a destiny she never wanted is more attainable than ever. But memories of their shared pleasure and unrivaled desire are a sirenâs call impossible to resist.
And as Sera begins to realize that she wants to be more than a Consort in name only, the danger surrounding them intensifies. The attacks on the Shadowlands are increasing, and when Kolis summons them to Court, a whole new risk becomes apparent. The Primal power of Life is growing inside her, pushing her closer to the end of her Culling. And without Nyktosâs loveâan emotion heâs incapable of feelingâshe wonât survive her Ascension. That is if she even makes it to her Ascension and Kolis doesnât get to her first. Because time is running out. For both her and the realms.
Why You Should Read This Book
Tropes
Trigger Warnings
A Light in the Flame
âI doubt you prefer the taste of eyes more than your steed, but refer to me as an accessory again, and it will be you who feeds on them.â
âShe will die without the love of the one who Ascends herâa love that cannot be ignored. A love that must be acknowledged.â
âYou have no idea what Nyktos has had to give up. What heâs been through. What heâs sacrificed for you, and then for youââ
âAll youâve proven is what Iâve told you before. That one decent and kind bone I have in me belongs to you.â
âItâs clear that you should be the true Primal of Life,â I explained. âNot because it was your destiny, but because youâre good.â
âProphecies can often be confusing, even to those who receive them. And, sometimes, only bits and pieces of a prophecy are known by oneâthe beginning or the endâwhile the middle is known to another and vice versa. But some visions have come to pass, both in Iliseeum and in the mortal realm. Itâs hard to see this since the destruction of the Gods of Divination and the passing of the last of the oracles.
âLove makes anything possible. Makes anyone capable of the unexpected.â
âWhat he means to say is that such a thing, a Primal of both Life and Death, is not meant to exist. It would be unthinkable for the embers of both to thrive in one being. But if they could? The kind of power theyâd wield? It would be truly absolute. They could unravel realms in the same breath they created new ones.â
âThe Primal of Life is the most powerful being in all the realms, usurping all other Primals and gods.â
âI cannot wait to hear your rationale on this. Iâm sure it involves something along the lines of: I do what I want because I can and fuck the consequences.â
âThe powerful, beautiful poppies that also remind me of hope. Those poppies are the hope of life. The power of those embers. Proof that life cannot be defeated, not even in death.â
âFor fuckâs sake, Sera. There is such a thing as being too bold. Too brave.â
âI justâŚI want you to know that I want this. I mean, when I told you before that I wanted to be your Consort, that still holds true. I want this, Ash.â
âHe would burn through the Shadowlands to obtain his graeca.â
âI told you because I knew no other way to tell you what I know to be trueâjust in case you decide to follow this destiny you believe to be yours. It doesnât matter what soul you carry inside you. What does is whether or not Kolis is capable of loving again, even his graeca. And heâs not. Thereâs nothing but rot and decay where his kardia should be. Kolis has no weakness.â
âJust because someone shares the same bloodline as you doesnât mean they deserve your time or thoughts.
âI guess every aspect of oneâs life is somehow connectedâevery choice to do or not do something creates a chain reaction. You canât help but wonder exactly how much is preordained.â
âEither way, I will not play the I-donât-want-you-but-no-one-else-can-have-you game. With you or anyone.â
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