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When talk turns to how to find this Delfai and get more information, Nyktos tells Sera he moved the Pools of Divanash to the Vale, where neither he nor Kolis can go. That way, Sotoria could stay hidden. Sera projects her excitement, but Nyktos tells her he won’t allow her to go until after the coronation—for her protection. He can’t stop creatures or other Primals from attacking her until she’s officially claimed.
Sera then asks if removing the embers will have the same effects on her as it did when Kolis did it to Eythos. Nyktos tells her it won’t. The embers will go to him, and he’ll become what he was originally destined to be.
Nyktos explains to Sera what happened to Halayna, Nektas’s mate, and tells her that Nektas was the first draken, the one who helped Eythos create the mortals. Draken can live as long as Primals. Only the Arae are immortal, though the viktors are eternal in a different way given their constant reincarnation.
He tells her that only a few know of the plan to remove her embers—the usual suspects in the Shadowlands—and they know there’s more than one ember in her and support the plan…including her Ascension. Only Nektas knows about Sotoria’s soul, however. It would be too dangerous for others to know about that.
When talk turns to Kolis’s creatures, Nyktos says he doesn’t think the Revenants and the Craven are the same and hopes the missing Chosen haven’t been turned into either of them.
He then explains that if their plan works, he’ll Ascend again, and others will feel that Kolis isn’t the Primal God of Life any longer. And while he is the oldest Primal alive, and they may never be able to kill him, they might be able to weaken him enough to entomb him.
Sera once again asserts that she’s the key, but Nyktos denies it, stating he will never accept that as the truth.
They discuss the Rot, and he says he believes it will vanish if things work out as they hope.
Talk turns to the coronation and the fact that everyone needs someone to watch over them—even him.
Nyktos grabs the Book of the Dead, but before he can do anything, Saion interrupts and tells him there are Cimmerian at the gate. Nyktos asks Sera to remain inside and reminds her she has no protection until she’s crowned, even with the charm Vikter placed on her. He urges her not to push back about his directive.
Heading outside to assess the situation, Nyktos verbally squares off with Dorcan, realizing they must have come from Hanan’s Court because of Bele. A battle ensues, and he kills a Cimmerian who throws a dagger at Sera, then smiles when she kills one attacking him from behind.
He goes to her on the Rise, realizing she’s been injured—he can smell her blood. While he wants to taste her, he tells her to listen for once and stay on the Rise and then goes to deal with Dorcan.
Before he gets there, Saion informs him that Dorcan saw Sera. When they speak, Dorcan tells him that refusing Hanan will end badly for Nyktos. More will come. In answer, Nyktos beheads the Cimmerian.
Afterward, he heads to his office and scolds Sera for risking both her life and Saion’s since he was tasked with protecting her and keeping her out of trouble. Nyktos orders Rhain and Ector to get him some supplies to clean her wound and then tells Sera to listen to the instinct to value her life. He reminds her that it isn’t an insult; he’s just trying to understand how she became the way she is. He asks her what kind of life she led. When asked what he’s sacrificed—referring to what Ector said to Sera while Nyktos was outside—he refuses to answer.
He sees that her wound isn’t deep enough to require blood, so she need not worry he’ll take advantage of her. She reminds him that he didn’t before and that she’s attracted to him.
Nyktos tells Sera that Taric would have tasted the embers when he bit her and took her blood, but vows that no one will feed from her again.
He feels like she wants to murder someone and asks her why. She brings up her stepbrother, and he asks if Tavius hurt her before the day Nyktos came for her. She hedges, but he knows he did. She tells him about Tavius and his proclivities and about Kayleigh, and he realizes that Sera was being punished for him not taking her as his Consort. When he learns what would have become of her had he not come for her, it enrages him. He’s surprised that she defends those who knew and did nothing about it. In a sad turn of events, he realizes that he didn’t give her freedom by refusing her. He says he’s sorry and tells her that his sympathy and apology are there if she ever needs them.
Nyktos tells her she should rest, saying that shadowstone would have killed a mortal or godling, even his blood in her wouldn’t have stopped it. It makes him wonder how else the embers are protecting her…
That night, Nyktos visits Sera in her bedchambers in shadow form, watching as she pleasures herself and reaching out to stroke her with titillating tendrils of darkness, seeking shadow fingers.
It’s one of the most erotic images I’ve ever received via a vision. I’m fanning myself just thinking about it.
Later, Sera asks if he plans to go to war with Kolis, and he tries not to answer. Then he tells her about the Books of the Dead.
Sera goads him, trying to get a reaction out of him by mentioning other lovers. He tells her she will be very selective whom she spends her time with and how, so long as she’s his Consort. Translation: she will be with nobody but him. He then adds that what he did to the murderous gods in the throne room will pale in comparison to what he’ll do to any who dare satisfy her needs.
Suddenly, he realizes they’re about to have company and asks if she has her dagger on her. He orders her to remain on his lap and apologizes for how he’s about to behave.
Attes arrives, arrogance on full display and asking questions Nyktos doesn’t want to answer. He tells the other Primal that Sera is a godling on the cusp of her Culling, then threatens to cut his eyes from his sockets and feed them to Attes’s war horse, Setti, if he keeps looking at Sera as he is.
Attes asks Nyktos why he killed the Cimmerian and especially Dorcan, saying he thought the two were friends.
The other Primal inquires how a god Ascended in the Shadowlands, and Nyktos says it must have been Kolis. When Attes suggests that Nyktos still has embers of Life, he laughs. All the questions and insinuations make Nyktos wonder if Attes came out of curiosity or on Kolis’s behalf. Then, to make an already unpleasant visit worse, Attes informs Nyktos that Kolis is denying the coronation and will be summoning the couple to his Court soon.
Nyktos tells the other Primal to leave before he needs to be carried out.
When he finally goes, Nyktos tells Sera to argue with him to distract him from going after Attes, because if he does, it won’t end well. When she asks him about what will happen in Dalos, he explains that he’ll lie—he’s had to convince Kolis of many things over the years.
He goes on to tell her that Attes was provoking her and explains how. He reveals that only another Primal would be immune to Attes’s gifts, which could out her true nature. He says it could have been worse. Kolis could have forbidden him from taking a Consort at all. While things aren’t good, he once again promises not to let Kolis touch her.
Sera argues with him, telling him that she won’t be the reason for more death. He pushes back and says she never was. He knows she won’t hide, but he won’t put her in danger.
