Page 42 of The Ascended
"The other Morvaren."
Really? He couldn't even say my name? I stiffened as annoyance slithered through my veins.
"Well," said a woman in white and gold, the colors of the domain of light and order, no doubt. "That's an oddly hypocritical choice, considering you were just arguing that contestants should be sorted into placements that suit them." Her voice was sweetly poisonous. "What will a star-forger do in the depths of Draknavor?"
Xül finally sat, gesturing carelessly for me to join him. "Well, it would seem we're not following proper protocol today, Meriela," he said, sarcasm lacing every word. "I suppose you’ll have to make do with whatever's left."
She pursed her lips but said nothing more. At least I'd avoided her. Because the way she was looking at me now told me everything I needed to know. I had been her number one choice. And where shewanted to take me was the last place I wanted to be. The domain of Olinthar himself.
I walked to stand behind Xül's chair, anger and dread warring in my chest. Being this close to him was overwhelming—whatever energy radiated from him slithered across my skin.
I tried to pay attention to the rest of the selections, but my mind was spinning. This was not good. Not good at all. For me or for Thatcher. We were supposed to be working together, gathering information. I’d hoped we’d at least have mentors that shared some form of connection. Instead, we'd been split between two Legends who clearly despised each other.
I glanced at Thatcher and our eyes met briefly. He didn't look worried at all—if anything, he looked pleased. Satisfied, even. Like this was exactly what he'd wanted.
I narrowed my eyes, not understanding his reaction. Why was he not as concerned as I was?
Then I felt it—a whisper down the bond between us, so faint I almost missed it.
Who knows a father better than his son?
Chapter 12
Draknavor
The last Legendmade their choice, and before the blessed contestant had even reached their mentor, Xül was standing. He brushed past me without so much as a glance, his wrist flicking upward in a subtle gesture.
The air... split.
I stumbled backward, my heart slamming against my ribs as reality simply tore open in front of me. Like someone had taken a knife to the fabric of the world itself.
The tear hung there, suspended in empty air. Xül kept walking without looking back, and his servants filed in after him—beings draped in deep crimson and black, their faces hidden beneath hoods.
I supposed I was meant to follow like some obedient pet. But if he couldn't be bothered to speak to me, to acknowledge my existence beyond a dismissive gesture, then I wasn't going to pass up what might be my last chance to see my brother.
We'd never been more than a few miles apart. Not once in twenty-six years. Even when one of us went out on the fishing boats or traveled to neighboring villages for trade, we were always within reach. The longest we'd been separated was maybe a day. I had noidea what kind of strain being domains apart would put on our bond. How was I going to survive without him? He had been my anchor for my entire life. My other half.
Through our connection, I felt the same desperate ache echoing from him.
I moved around the table, dodging servants and gods and the lingering contestants. I saw Chavore out of the corner of my eye, moving to speak with Kavik. Good a time as any. So I moved faster. Straight towards Thatcher.
“Your mentor has a flair for the dramatics,” he said.
“Tell me about it.”
“Just try not to piss him off.” He smiled wearily.
I couldn’t help but smile myself. We both knew that was unlikely. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
I wrapped my arms around Thatcher, and I had to bite back a sob of relief. He was solid and warm—still my brother, still made of salt and sand and rip currents, just like me. Despite the fancy clothes that made him look like he belonged in this realm of gods and monsters.
"I don't know when I'll see you next," I whispered against his shoulder, so quietly that only he could hear. "But I love you. And we’re going to make it through this."
He squeezed me so hard my ribs hurt, like he could somehow press his strength into my bones and make me invincible. "I love you too. Try not to let them break you."
I wanted to laugh at that. Break me? Xül had no idea what he was dealing with. But even through all my bravado, I was terrified. Terrified of being alone, of failing, of whatever awaited in the domain of death.
I soaked in the feeling of safety, of being whole, before the sound of someone clearing their throat cut through our moment.
