Page 113 of The Ascended
“There always are.” Nyxis’s expression sobered. “But remember, little prince, even the Warden of the Damned needs sweetness in hislife occasionally.” She patted my hand. “Perhaps this one will remind you of that.”
“Unlikely,” I said dryly. “I’m not particularly sweet.”
“The best ones never think they are.” She winked at me before turning back to Xül. “Don’t be a stranger, my boy. Eternity is too long to spend entirely in shadows.”
“That was interesting,” I remarked as we stepped back into the narrow street.
“It was a waste of time,” he replied, though he slipped the package of sweets into an inner pocket. “But traditions have their place.”
“You actually smiled in there. I didn’t think your face could make that shape.”
His eyes locked on mine—all edge, no burn. “Don’t get used to it.”
“Too late. I’ve seen it now. I can’t unsee it.” I matched his stride. “The fearsome Death Prince has a sweet tooth and a surrogate grandmother who calls him ‘little prince.’ My world is forever changed.”
“If you mention this to anyone?—”
“You’ll what? Feed me taffy until I’m ill?” I couldn’t resist needling him, not when I’d finally found a crack in his impenetrable facade. “Does Morthus know his terrifying son once hid under a candy shop counter?”
“He was the one who found me there,” Xül replied unexpectedly. “He wasn’t angry, as I’d expected. He simply sat beside me, tried one of Nyxis’s confections, and told me I was quite an impressive criminal.”
I laughed. I hadn’t expected him to share anything genuine.
I felt so conflicted in these rare moments with him.
He was everything I’d sworn to destroy—a god, an executioner, a being who represented the system that had taken everything from me. And yet. I couldn’t deny the way my pulse quickened when he was near, the way his rare smiles made something twist in my chest.This wasn’t part of the plan. This was dangerous—not just because of what he was, but because of what it meant about me. What kind of person was drawn to darkness?
“But that was a different time,” Xül continued, his voice hardening. “Before I understood my true purpose.” He straightened his shoulders, lengthened his stride, and just like that, the brief glimpse of mortality vanished, my inner troubles along with it.
“We have things to do,” he said, effectively ending this unexpected detour into his past.
We continued our ascent through the city, passing through what appeared to be some kind of market district. Stalls lined the winding streets, selling strange artifacts I couldn’t begin to identify.
A sudden gasp from the crowd ahead made me look up. Suspended above the square hung an enormous viewing portal, easily the size of a building. Through its shimmering surface, scenes played out in rapid succession.
A woman with intricate tattoos—frozen spears of ice pinning her to a tree. Her mouth opened in a silent scream.
Two people setting traps. One triggered his partner’s wire—leg gone at the knee. His partner took his supplies and ran.
These weren’t just any scenes. They were events from the last Trial. My heart stilled.
Five contestants turned on each other over a single golden stag corpse. Bodies in the dirt.
Then, my own face filled the screen. I watched myself forge a star-blade and send it spinning through the air. It struck the man square in the chest, his eyes widening before he crumpled.
I looked away, stomach churning.
“They broadcast all the Trials,” Xül said, noticing my reaction. “Every domain can watch. The viewing portals are everywhere—markets, pleasure houses, residences.”
“Lovely.” I muttered.
“Come,” Xül said, his hand finding my elbow. “We have an appointmentto keep.”
As we reached a juncture between tiers, a Shadowkin attendant materialized beside us, bowing deeply to Xül.
“My lord,” the creature intoned. “The prisoner continues to resist standard questioning. Your presence is urgently requested.”
“Of course it is,” Xül muttered. “Incompetence surrounds me.” He turned to the attendant, his voice hardening. “Tell Vareth I’ll be there shortly.”
