Page 263 of The Ascended
Farewells and New Beginnings
Sel dravira en ti.Niv valen, niv asra, niv loyeth. El atanen en ti. Vah serané.
The words echoed in my mind, fragments of Xül's chanting lingering in the space between sleep and wakefulness. He'd repeated the phrase three times while his hands had traced patterns across my back, his touch reverent and purposeful. Words I didn't understand but that seemed to burn themselves into my skin and memory alike.
They'd felt like a prayer. And his mouth had definitely been worshiping me hours before.
I stretched beneath silk sheets that felt cool against my skin, memories of the night before washing over me. The desperate way we'd clung to each other after deciding that this is what we wanted. The whispered confessions in the darkness. The way his eyes had held mine as he'd said those three words that had changed everything.
I love you.
A dull thump pulled me from my reverie. I blinked away sleep to find Xül with his back to me, shoulders rigid, attention focused onsomething on the floor. When I moved to sit up, I froze at the sight of a small puddle of blood near his feet.
"Xül?"
He turned at my voice, his face softening at the sight of me. I noticed his hand had been hastily bandaged with what looked like a strip torn from one of his shirts.
"Good morning, starling," he said, moving toward me. "I didn't mean to wake you."
I shifted to the edge of the bed and reached for his hand, which he gave without hesitation.
"That's a lot of blood," I murmured, examining the wrapping.
"I was careless, just a knick," he said dismissively.
The bandage was already soaking through with crimson, far too much blood for a simple accident.
"Since when does the Prince of Death get careless?" I challenged, raising an eyebrow.
A hint of that familiar arrogance returned to his features. "Perhaps I was distracted thinking about last night," he countered, voice dropping to that dangerous velvet tone that made my skin tingle. "You have that effect on me, Morvaren."
"A papercut did that?" I pressed, unwilling to be diverted by his charm.
His eyes flicked away for just a moment before meeting mine again, his expression shifting to the imperious mask I knew so well. "We have more important things to worry about today than a small cut, starling. The Forging awaits. Your ascension awaits." He leaned closer, his breath warm against my ear. "And I await the pleasure of calling you a goddess."
The deflection was obvious, but the intensity in his eyes made it clear the subject was closed—for now.
"Lyralei and the rest of your team will be here shortly," he said, his voice soft. "They'll prepare you for the ceremony."
I stepped into a robe, tying it loosely at my waist. Xül's eyes tracked the movement.
"If you keep looking at me like that, Lyralei and her team will be waiting a very long time," I warned, though I couldn't keep the smile from my voice.
"They can wait," he growled, stalking toward me. "I'm still the Prince of this domain."
I pressed a hand against his chest, stopping him just inches away. "And what about your lover? Does she bend to your will too?"
A dangerous smile spread across his face. "You've never bent to anyone's will in your life, Thais Morvaren. I’d hardly expect you to start now. It is, perhaps, one of your finer qualities."
"Is that so?" I teased, my heart fluttering at the words still so new between us.
"I could list the others," he murmured, leaning down until his lips nearly brushed mine. "But even immortality isn't long enough for that particular recitation."
He studied my face for a moment, then relaxed. "You know," I said, remembering something. "Lyralei mentioned to me once about how there are some in the realm who don't agree with the old ways." I watched him carefully. "And the Dreamweavers follow Syrena?—"
"Thais," Xül cut me off. "You can't talk about what you know with anyone."
His voice dropped to a whisper, breath warm against my ear. "It's only spoken of in certain places, with specific company. We shouldn't even be discussing it now."
