Page 38 of The Ascended
I thought about that—about a world without tyranny, without the Trials, without the constant threat hanging over anyone who showed even a hint of powers they never asked for. "Then maybe other families won't have to go through what we did."
Thatcher nodded slowly. "Worth dying for."
"Worth dying for," I agreed.
The Aesymar thought they'd captured two terrified mortals.
They had no idea what they'd actually unleashed.
Chapter 10
After the Storm
Well,they hadn't killed us. Yet.
"You two certainly caused quite the commotion," Lyralei said, though she sounded amused.
We'd spent the entire night in that sterile room. Neither of us had slept. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Drakor exploding. Thatcher had spent most of the night staring at his hands like they belonged to someone else.
When the guards had finally come for us this morning, I'd been certain they were dragging us off to be slaughtered. My heart had hammered against my ribs as they yanked us through corridor after corridor, their grip tight enough to bruise. I'd tried to catch glimpses of Thatcher, but they'd kept us separated, different guards flanking each of us.
Until we'd arrived at a door I recognized. And there was Lyralei, standing on the other side with a knowing smile.
They'd taken Thatcher to his own dressing room down the hall, and I'd caught a glimpse of ethereal beings with the same star-filled eyes as my team. More Dreamweavers.
I forced myself to take a breath, to center my thoughts around the pact Thatcher and I had made. Play the part. Learn everything we could. Survive long enough to turn their own knowledge against them. If I was going to gather intelligence, I needed these people to see me as cooperative, even grateful.
"Is he—will they take care of him?" I asked, letting genuine worry bleed into my voice.
"Ember's team is excellent," Lyralei assured, guiding me toward the chair.
"Such a shame." Vesper appeared at my side, eyeing my rumpled, blood-stained clothing with obvious distaste. "That dress was one of my favorites."
"I'm sorry," I said, and managed to sound like I meant it. "Everything happened so quickly."
“At least you’re alive.” He shrugged almost flippantly.
"So," I said, settling into the same chair from before. "I take it Voldaris has opinions about yesterday?"
Novalie practically bounced on her toes, eyes sparkling with excitement. "You have no idea. Everyone is talking about you two. The twins from Saltcrest who?—"
"Who killed Drakor," Vesper finished dryly, beginning to unlace my ruined dress. "Quite efficiently, I heard. One moment he was there being his usual charming self, the next..." He gestured vaguely. "Splat."
I stared at him. "You don't seem particularly upset about it."
"Upset?" Lyralei laughed. "Half the realm is probably throwing parties."
"But he was one of the Legends?—"
"He was a sadistic monster who took pleasure in unnecessary cruelty," Vesper said matter-of-factly, beginning to ease me out of the stained fabric. "If it had been Miria or Kavik, the Aesymar might actually be mourning. As it stands, most are just impressed that someone finally managed to shut him uppermanently."
Novalie sighed, applying some sort of cleansing oil to my arms. "He had a tendency to take things too far. Last Trials, he tortured a contestant for three hours just because he found her answers unacceptable.”
My stomach turned. "She survived?"
"Barely. But healers had to spend a good few days putting her mind back together afterward. Drakor thought it was hilarious."
"And the other Legends just... let him?"
