Page 21 of A Reflection of Dusk and Dawn

The gold flecks in Jasce’s eyes flash like fiery embers.

“Jasce.” I bring myself even closer, desperate to soothe the rage simmering beneath his skin. “Calm down,please.”

The anger in his gaze dims slightly, but the tension in his jaw remains.

“I promise you, Aleksander will not win,” I say, hoping that Jasce believes me. “I won’t let him. I’ll find a way to break the binding.”

“You cannot stop him, Annora. That’s the way it works. He controls your magic, and he controls you,” Jasce says, his words etched with bitterness.

My heart tightens painfully in my chest. “I refuse to think there isn’t a way out.”

Please, Olah.

Help me find a way out of this nightmare.

I beg of you.

“Do you understand what he could make you do?” Jasce asks, his tone thick with anger.

“I do. But Jasce, listen—”

“—no. You listen.” He continues, his words full of sincerity that I don’t want to hear. “Aleksander wants power. He’s always wanted it. And now that he has you, he won’t hesitate to use you to get what he wants.”

My legs weaken, and I tighten my grip on Jasce’s surcoat, longing for him to sweep me from this place. But he can’t. Nobody can.

This is somethingImust figure out.

And unfortunately—veryunfortunately—he’s right about Aleksander. Right about what he could force me to do.

“I could hurt people.” My throat tightens as I add, “I could hurtyou.”

“Look at me.” Jasce cups my chin, tilting my face up to meet his eyes. “That’s not going to happen.”

Footsteps echo above us, reminding me that Jasce isn’t safe here.

“Go.” My voice breaks. “Please, Jasce. I can’t watch them hurt you.”

“I won’t leave—”

“—you have to.” I shove him toward the hidden passage. “Go. Now.”

His shoulders stiffen, muscles rippling beneath his surcoat.

“I love you,” I say as I push him again. “And I need you alive.”

He turns, frames my face, and crushes his mouth against mine. Then, he tears himself away, disappearing into the shadows of the passage just as the cellar door creaks open.

“There you are.” Tahira’s voice carries down the stairs as she appears at the top. “I’ve been searching everywhere for you.”

I gulp in a quick breath and will my breathing to steady as Tahira descends the steps.

“What are you doing down here?” she asks.

“I needed...” My mind races, searching for an excuse. Any excuse. “…a moment alone.”

She reaches the bottom step and stops near me. “Asha wants to see you.”

Ice spreads through my veins as I imagine Asha discovering Jasce.

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