Page 70 of The Ascended
His sudden gentleness made me want to snarl. I wasn't some fragile thing that needed reassurance, and we both knew these touches meant nothing. He wanted me intact long enough for me to ascend. Fine. I needed him to train me so I could claim my revenge. Simple. Clean. What I didn't need was for him to pretend it was anything more than a simple transaction.
"I'm fine," I repeated, the lie bitter on my tongue.
His expression shuttered instantly, that beautiful mask sliding back into place. "Ready?"
"Yes."
“Verdara awaits.”
He carved reality open and gestured me through.
We werein a clearing in the middle of the woods.
Portals opened around the clearing in flashes of light. I spotted Marx immediately—she moved with that sinister gait that had surprisingly become familiar to me now. We shared a nod of acknowledgement as Aelix materialized beside her.
And suddenly, my mind was not entirely my own.
The bond blazed to life, and I was moving before thought couldcatch up. Thatcher. There—across the clearing, dark hair catching the dappled sunlight.
I crashed into him hard enough to steal both our breath, his arms wrapping around me like coming home. But he'd changed. Muscle corded beneath his shirt where softness had been.
"Well, someone's been eating their vegetables," I said against his shoulder, drowning in the scent of him beneath Bellarium's fragrant oils.
His laugh rumbled through his chest as he pulled back, flexing dramatically. "You noticed? Chavore's been working me like a draft horse."
"I can tell." Relief flooded through me.
Footsteps approached, and I looked up to see our half-brother walking toward us. He moved with the same confident grace he’d shown at the Proving as he clapped Thatcher's shoulder.
"Your brother's quite the natural," Chavore said, extending his hand with a smile. "A pleasure to formally meet the infamous sister."
Looking at him was like staring into a warped mirror—same bones, same bearing, same blood singing beneath the skin. My stomach churned as I shook his hand. And my eyes fell back to where the two of them stood. Too close for comfort.
Someone's gotten cozy, I sent through the bond.
You know what they say. Keep your enemies closer, came Thatcher's amused reply, though he added aloud, "I've only told him the good things. Running out of material fast."
"Oh, I'm sure." I watched Chavore's laughter as ice slithered down my spine.
"I'll give you two a moment," Chavore said, squeezing Thatcher's shoulder again. "Good luck in there. Both of you." Then he was gliding away toward Elysia and pulling her against him.
My eyebrow climbed. "Well, that's interesting."
"Yeah..." Thatcher's voice carried layers. "By the amount of time she spends in Bellarium, you'd think she doesn't have a blessed to prepare."
It was then that I felt the eyes on us. Other contestants peaking around their mentors. Thatcher must have felt it too, because he glanced over his shoulder.
Well that’s only mildly concerning, I mused.
Thatcher’s gaze fell back on me.Can’t tell if they’re afraid or sizing us up.
I mean, you did explode a god. Word gets around.
He snorted, but I caught the flicker of pain across his eyes. Shit. I probably didn’t need to remind him of that.
A presence materialized at my shoulder. Xül. And suddenly his hand was sliding down my back, past my waist, fingers grazing the curve of—gods, was he really?—
I jerked away from him, heat scorching my cheeks, too flustered to notice anything but the lingering path of his touch.
