Page 151 of The Ascended
Understanding dawned, cold and terrible." But Thatcher would never—" I stopped, the denial bursting from me with such force that Xül actually took a half-step back. "No. You don't know my brother."
"Thais—"
"No." I met his gaze, steel in my voice. "You don't understand what we've been through together. What we've survived. Thatcher won’t be controlled by any of the Twelve."
"That might just get him killed, then, Thais. That’s what I need you to understand," he said.
For a heartbeat, I teetered on the edge of full disclosure. The truth pressed against my lips, demanding release. I almost told him everything—our plan to kill Olinthar, our strategy of playing along until the moment was right, the vengeance that drove our every breath. That if this journey brought our death, at least we would go together.
But I couldn’t tell him that. This trust we’d started building would always have its limitations. Lines I would never cross.
Xül looked at me for a long moment. Words hovered on his lips, but whatever it was seemed to evaporate.
“We must resume training tomorrow, starling. I won’t allow time to get away from us again.”
Chapter 36
Burning Skin
Dawn crept across Draknavor.I stood at the edge of the black sand, watching as the last of the stars faded. A breeze swept in from the obsidian sea, carrying the tang of salt.
My muscles still ached from yesterday's expeditions—first to Memorica, and then to the ruins.
I rolled my shoulders, trying to ease the tension that had settled there. Sleep had eluded me most of the night, my mind too full of terrible possibilities. Of Thatcher, transformed into a weapon. Of his power being used to reshape reality. And of the way Xül had looked at me in those ruins, his expression unreadable as I'd defended my brother, as I'd stepped back from the edge of confession.
"You're early, starling."
The voice slid down my spine. I didn't turn.
"Couldn't sleep."
Xül moved to stand beside me.
"I imagine not," he said, studying me with those mismatched eyes. “Don’t think our brief excursion to the ruins somehow made me forget how you performed in the trial.”
"I got the keys, didn't I?" I turned to face him fully, crossing my arms over my chest.
"Yes," he agreed, the corner of his mouth lifting. "Though if you're going to be foolish enough to get rid of your self-preservation again, your powers better be strong enough to get you through it. That contestant nearly had you. If Marx hadn't shown up..." He clicked his tongue.
"I'd still be there in the depths," I finished for him, unable to deny the truth of it. The memory sent a shiver through me. "Lucky for me, she did."
"Luck," Xül scoffed. "Luck is for those without skill or power. And you harbor both of those, so you shouldn’t need luck."
I raised an eyebrow. "Is that concern I hear, Warden?"
Xül sighed, breaking the tension. "You have all the potential in the world, Thais, but you still haven’t reached your peak."
"Then teach me," I demanded, turning back to him. "That's what you're supposed to be doing, isn't it? Not lecturing me about my near-death experiences."
His eyes darkened as he studied my face, a slow smile spreading across his lips. "Very well. Let's see if we can channel some of that restless energy into something productive."
“Let’s.”
Xül stepped back, gesturing toward the sky. "Show me your sword, starling."
I raised my hand, reaching for the fading stars above. The familiar thread of power hummed through me as I connected to the distant celestial bodies. One star pulsed in response, its light intensifying as I pulled.
The starlight streamed down, hot and bright, coalescing in my palm before extending outward. The sword formed—a blade of pure, brilliant light.
