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Kolis tells Sera how he went to Sotoria’s family when she left him—he means when she died while running from him—and apologized. He tells her the parents were frightened and cowered. Only Callum remained unafraid. He tells her that they talked, and Callum shared details about Sotoria, saying she was strong and fierce and always looked out for him.
Kolis continues, saying he—Callum—grieved her death and felt responsible. When Sera asks why he would feel that way, Kolis tells her that Callum was supposed to be with Sotoria but was instead screwing the baker’s daughter.
Sera asks how Callum became a Revenant, and Kolis tells her how Callum used a small knife to cut his throat. He tells Sera how he held them both as they died, adding that he couldn’t allow him to perish, so Death gave life.
She asks for clarification, wondering if Revenants are demis. Kolis tells her they’re not and then adds that they’ll discuss it more when there aren’t more pressing matters to attend to. Kolis tells Callum to go on ahead.
He calls Sera so’lis and wants to talk about the deal they made. He tells her that Nyktos has not been released, adding that he’s not reneging, but Nyktos is in stasis, and that needs to be resolved first.
She asks what that means, and he tells her Ash is young but powerful. So, when he woke, Kolis had to ensure he behaved himself.
Sera asks how he is, and Kolis says telling her would likely upset her. She argues that not knowing will only make her worry more. Kolis says he had Nyktos incapacitated, and he will need time to recover. When Sera reacts, he says it’s not easy seeing her affected so by news of another. He adds that worry practically seeps from her pores.
Warning bells sound for Sera, and she reminds him that she told him she cared about Nyktos. Kolis gripes that it’s all he can think about and mentions watching him in stasis. Sera assumes he was probably seething.
He wonders what inspires her care for Nyktos and her fear for him. He says she wasn’t afraid of him at first, but that’s changed. He then mentions Eythos having heightened intuition and foresight. He says he gets why she seemed frightened after he threatened someone she cares about and saw him as Death, but he doesn’t get the timing of the changes in her.
She is shocked that he doesn’t understand why she’s frightened, and he reasserts that he apologized and said it would never happen again. She realizes she should probably lie but can’t, telling him that his apology and promise don’t make what he did okay. She comes right out and says that he forced himself on her.
He rewords and says that he realizes his display of love was intense. The word disgusts her. He then adds that he realizes he lost control. She says it was much more than that, and it’s not all right. He asks what will make it okay.
She tells him she needs some time.
He argues that his word should be sufficient to make her trust him, and she tells him she doesn’t know him. He gets upset and booms that he’s the King of Gods.
She asserts that his display isn’t helping her fear. He pulls back and then orders her to say something. She begrudgingly utters a thank you.
Sera once again wonders what kind of state Ash is in.
Kolis turns to her and apologizes once more. It almost sounds sincere, but then he shifts to scolding her for using the embers. She argues that Callum provoked her, and he says the essence does not belong to her and is not hers to use. The embers throb in response before he gives her a final warning. Sera vows that as soon as Ash is free, she will become Kolis’s worst nightmare.
When alone, Sera checks for the key and finds it still in place. After dinner, she trains to burn off her excess energy and combat boredom. As she does, she worries about Ash. Rhain. Aios. Orphine. Bele. And the rest. She starts going over and over the should’ve, would’ve, could’ves and vows not to be powerless again.
When she sleeps, she arrives at her lake. Ash joins her again, and they talk about how it doesn’t feel like a dream to either of them. Ash asks her if Kolis has hurt her and says he knows he has—he remembers the last time they were together and the bruises. She tells him she doesn’t want to discuss that. She’s Sera here at the lake, and someone else back in the cage.
He reminds her she’s brave and never afraid, even when she feels fear. He then asks if she can access any weapons, and she tells him about the glass cock. He asks if she told Kolis about what will happen once she begins the Ascension—that only he—Ash—can Ascend her. He urges her to tell Kolis that she’ll die without Ash, saying Kolis will do whatever’s necessary to keep Sotoria alive because she’s his weakness.
He mentions that only the Primal of Life can summon the Fates and makes Sera promise that she’ll tell Kolis and call on the Arae. She does but then asks how she’ll know he’s been released. He tells her that Kolis will make it into a spectacle. She’ll know.
He says he’ll fight for and free her even if it means Dalos’s ruin, then tells her he’s nothing without her, and there will be nothing without her.
She wakes, only to find Kolis watching her sleep. Again. He asks who she was dreaming of and tells her she was smiling. He then says she smells of mountain air and citrus, which shocks her, as that’s how Ash smells to her.
She says she doesn’t remember her dreams, and he instructs that they’ll start fresh. He asks how he can make that easier, saying there’s no limit to what he’ll do for her. He offers her frivolous things, and she tells him she wants out of the cage.
He thinks that means she wants to spend time with him, so it makes him happy. She asks him what he plans to do about the embers, and he tells her he’ll take them and Ascend her, not knowing she is already on her way. She asks what Ascension will mean for her, and he says she’ll become an Ascended. Sera can only think about the woman she killed.
She then asks what will happen when he Ascends, and he tells her he will ensure loyalty in both realms.
After breakfast, Kolis frees her. They walk, and Elias joins them. Sera asks if it’ll be night anytime soon, and Kolis says it will be in about a week. He explains that it’s only night once per month, which is the equivalent of three days in the mortal realm. Sera’s shocked that she’s been there for three weeks already. Kolis tells her that she slept for several days after her escape attempt.
Looking at the city, Sera remembers telling Ash that it was beautiful and him telling her that it is on the surface and from a distance. She asks Kolis how many live within the City of the Gods, and he says there aren’t many. When she asks what happened, he tells her they’re dead. She thought he killed them, but he tells her it was the Fates. She then asks about the current scent of death, and he tells her that was him. Some gods disappointed him.
Kolis walks away, and Elias reminds Sera to be careful how she speaks to Kolis, warning her that he’s easy to rile. She thanks him.
The false King returns, and they continue their walk. Sera sees all the alcoves, and Kolis tells her she looks perplexed. She replies that it’s just a lot of sex. He asks if it bothers her, and she says it doesn’t; it’s just a lot. He explains that being near Death makes the living want to live. And what better way to capture that feeling?
They get to the Council Hall, and the embers hum within her, making her nervous. He asks her why, and she says it’s the crowd. He tells her she needn’t worry. When she says she knows, he takes it as her thinking she’s safe with him.
