Page 180 of The Ascended
"The infamous Thais Morvaren," he said, his voice curling around my name. "I’m Axel. I've watched your progress through the Trials with great interest."
The warmth in my veins made colors more vibrant, sensations more acute. His pupils contracted to thin slits.
"Should I be flattered or concerned by your attention?" I asked, the words flowing easier than they should have.
His smile revealed teeth too white, too perfect. "Both, perhaps. We don't often see mortals with your... resilience." His fingers brushed against my wrist, lingering over my pulse. "Most break long before they reach this stage."
"I'm not most mortals," I countered, aware of how his body had subtly moved closer to mine.
"Clearly." His gaze traveled over my face. "One might wonder what makes you different."
"Perhaps I'm just stubborn," I said.
Axel laughed. "Elaren is filled with the stubborn. Their bones litter the paths to ascension." His hand moved to toy with a loose strand of my hair. "No, there's something else that burns in you—something that refuses to be extinguished."
"You speak as though you've seen many Trials," I observed, trying to reclaim some control of the conversation.
"I've watched countless mortals reach for divinity," he replied, his voice dropping lower. "Some sought power, others immortality." His fingers traced the edge of my jaw, feather-light. "What do you seek, Thais Morvaren?"
The question hung between us. I wasn't sure I remembered the answer myself.
"Survival," I finally managed.
"An honest answer. Most lie, even to themselves." He stepped closer, until I could feel the chill emanating from his skin. "Survival is the most primal instinct—the one that outlasts all others. It's a worthy foundation."
The music shifted around us, its rhythm becoming more insistent, more commanding. The other guests moved with increasing abandon, as though the notes themselves were pulling away their inhibitions.
"They're all watching you," he murmured, his breath cool against my ear. "The Legends, the other contestants. They wonder how far you'll go, what limits you'll test." His fingers traced patterns on my bare shoulder, leaving trails of ice rather than heat. "I wonder too."
"And what about you?" I challenged, emboldened by whatever substance flowed through my veins. "What do Legends seek when they've already achieved immortality?"
Something hungry flashed in his eyes. "Diversion," he said simply. "When you've lived centuries, novelty becomes the most precious commodity of all."
He extended his hand, palm up—an invitation. "Would you honor me with a dance, Thais Morvaren?"
I hesitated for a moment, but finally agreed. And then he was pulling me toward the center of the floor, his hands sliding right into place—the same places that Xül had touched only days ago. The comparison was involuntary, immediate. Where Xül's touch had burned, Axel's chilled.
Dancing wasexhilarating. I felt weightless, untethered. Axel spun me wildly, and I leaned my head back, feeling my hair cascade around me. Joy bubbled up inside me, threatening to overflow into laughter I could barely contain. When he pulled me back against his chest, the contact was electric—a current of sensation that rippled through my entire being.
His hands gripped me tighter as we moved through the steps.
"You’re so beautiful." he murmured, his lips close to my ear. "It would be such a waste if you don't make it to ascension."
I felt like this should worry me—speaking about my mortality so openly—but in this moment, I couldn't seem to care. Death seemed like a distant concern, a problem for another version of myself. I merely nodded, agreeing with his assessment.
From the corner of my eye, a dark mass pushed through the crowd. Before I could turn my head, I was being pulled into someone else's arms. The scent of cedar and citrus overwhelmed my senses, so familiar it made my heart stutter. I nearly pressed myself against him without thinking, my body recognizing his presence before my mind could catch up.
"Dance with my fiancée for a moment, will you? I need to speak with my contestant." Xül's voice was cold, but his touch branded my skin.
I blinked several times, trying to clear the pleasant haze from my mind as I looked back toward Axel, who was now spinning Nyvora around. Both glared at us with confusion, perhaps irritation. In a few strides, they disappeared behind other dancers.
"What do you think you're doing, starling?" he asked, no humor in his tone.
I looked up at him, confused by his anger. "What areyoudoing, Warden?" I struck back. "Why aren't you dancing with your fiancée?"
I couldn't fight the petulance in my voice, nor did I try.
His eyes darkened. "I'm going to have to speak to those stylists of yours. You're practically naked," he said, pointedly not looking at me now.
