Page 128 of The Ascended
I nodded—the only movement I could manage. Morthus extended his hands, fingers tracing complex patterns in the air. Reality shimmered, then parted like a curtain, revealing a glimpse of Xül's chambers at the Bone Spire beyond.
"Go quickly," Morthus instructed. "These connections should not remain open long."
Xül's hand closed around mine, his grip firm as he pulled me toward the portal. We stepped through together, the transition so smooth I barely felt it.
As soon as the portal sealed behind us, Xül released my hand and began pacing the length of his chamber.
“Unbelievable,” he muttered, more to himself than to me.
"What does it mean?" I asked. "Thalor and Sylphia together?"
He stopped pacing abruptly, turning to face me. "It means danger. Water and wind. Emotion and secrets." His hands clenched at his sides. "Nothing good comes from that combination, especially not for someone with secrets like yours."
"How am I supposed to survive this?"
His expression was a storm of frustration.
"There's no time to prepare. No useful techniques I can teach you in a single night that would make a difference."
"Then what do we do?" I asked, keeping my voice level.
"You rest," he replied simply. "You'll need every ounce of strength."
I laughed, the sound sharp. "Rest? How exactly am I supposed to rest knowing that tomorrow I'll be thrown into another death trap?"
Xül moved closer. "Stay here tonight," he said, his voice softer than I'd ever heard it.
The offer hung between us, heavy with implications. After what had happened in the garden—that moment of vulnerability—staying would have been crossing a line I wasn't prepared to cross.I'd already shown him too much tonight. And he’d shown me things that confused me even more.
"As thrilling as watching me sleep must be for you," I said, "I'll spare you the tedium and return to my own quarters."
A ghost of his usual smirk flickered across his face. "Your sleeping habits are hardly that fascinating, starling."
"My thoughts exactly." I moved toward the door.
"Thais." His voice stopped me at the threshold. When I glanced back, his gaze was sharp, pinning me in place. "If you want to stay here—if you don’t want to be alone, I can sleep in the chair."
"Don’t be ridiculous." I met his gaze steadily. "I’m perfectly capable of getting through the night."
He studied me for a long moment, and I could see him weighing whether to press further. Whatever resolution he saw in my eyes must have convinced him otherwise.
"Very well," he said finally. "Rest where you choose."
I left without another word, walking through the dark corridors back to my own chambers. Each step felt like both a victory and a loss. I’d maintained my boundaries, kept my pride intact, but the cold emptiness of my room felt oppressive after the warmth of his presence.
As I lay in my bed, staring at the ceiling, I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd made the right choice for all the wrong reasons. Or perhaps the wrong choice for all the right ones.
Chapter 30
Hydrathis
The heat boredown on us as we gathered at the edge of a vast lake. A shimmering expanse of water stretched to the horizon, too still to be natural.
"This is insane," I muttered, squinting.
Marx stood beside me, arms crossed over her chest. "Worried already, Morvaren? And here I thought you were getting comfortable with near-death experiences."
"I'm concerned with whatever lives in that lake."
