The Ascended (The Aesymarean Duet, #1)

by Bree Grenwich

For the quiet aftermath, when the battle ends and we must face what victory has made of us.

In the beginning, there were only the Primordials. Beings whose thoughts shaped reality itself, who breathed life into nothingness and painted existence across the Abyss.

From their dreams came oceans and forests, mountains and stars. From their whispers came mortals. From their pride came the Aesymar, divine children who carried fragments of their makers’ power.

This was the secret that could destroy everything—the power I'd been born with, the reason we could never leave Saltcrest.

It was the first time I'd said his name aloud in years. The King of Gods himself, ruler of the Twelve Aesymar, master of light. The creature who had sired us.

Behind us, a star blazed across the heavens, burning bright before vanishing into darkness. I didn't need to turn to know it had fallen.

“The walls you've built around that power are starting to crack. And alcohol doesn't strengthen walls, Thais. It tears them down."

"No what ifs." His voice was firm. "You are my daughter. Mine. In every way that matters. And I am proud of the woman you've become. Proud of your courage, your kindness, your wit."

"I love you both," he said, his voice carrying clearly through the silent cave. "Remember that. Always remember that."

Sulien's last words echoed in the darkness. I love you both. Remember that. Always remember that.

Maybe he finally understood what I'd always known—that I was a poison.

The god was gone. Completely, utterly gone, as if he had never existed at all. And my powerless brother had killed him.

He paused at the base of a sweeping staircase that curved up into shadow, turning back just enough to deliver his parting shot. "I simply couldn't care less."

I was Thais Morvaren, wielder of stars, and I had come here to learn how to kill a god.

If the Prince thought he could ignore me, he was about to learn exactly how wrong he was.

"Heroes die screaming. Only killers ascend."

"You think you could break me?" "Break you?" His laugh was cold. "Breaking would be such a waste. I'd much rather watch you bend."

"You enjoy playing with fire, don't you? Seeing how close you can get before you burn." His thumb brushed the corner of my mouth. "Before I make you burn."

"Yes, starling," Xül said.

The formal seal, the precise handwriting, the date that was only seven days away. "We only have a week." "Your powers of observation are truly remarkable."

"But books don't share the judgement of the living."

"Right. Do you practice being this insufferable, or does it come naturally?" "Natural talent."

"And it serves me well. I find you far more entertaining when you're irritated."

"Entertaining," I repeated dryly. "Every girl's dream." "I could t...

"Survive, starling,"

"Who do you think?" My face flared red, betraying me "You⁠—" "Relax. I was perfectly gentle." His eyes glittered. "And I took my time."

His hand circled my wrist. "Your body doesn't lie as prettily as your mouth does."

"I recall your vehement resistance to any form of obedience," he replied, his eyes glinting with mischief. "But by all means, starling—" he stepped closer, a playful smirk tugging at his lips "—allow me to give you a quick lesson so you don't embarrass us both when you inevitably kneel before me."

"You know," he said, his voice dropping lower, "it's easy to joke about, but I'm beginning to think you have no idea how to properly kneel at all."

"Oh, I’ve found myself on my knees more than a few times,” I shot back. "But I have standards when it comes to those I deem worthy of such devotion.”

“She can wield the stars?” Nyxis asked, delight crossing her features. “No wonder you chose her.” She leaned across the counter toward me, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “He used to watch the sky for hours as a child, you know. Even in a domain like this, he always loved the stars.”

“So,” Morthus said finally, his voice carrying through the chamber like distant thunder. “The wielder of stars has come to the city of shadows.”

“That death is meaningless without life,” she replied simply. “That one defines the other.”

“There’s often a difference between fable and truth,” I ventured.

"I can't believe I'm telling you any of this," he murmured, his voice low and rough. "What kind of spell have you cast, starling?"

"I was wondering the same about you."

"Do I have permission, starling?" He leaned closer, his scent filling my lungs. "Can I make you burn?"

"No." His voice turned sharp. "You don't get to leave. Do you hear me? You stay here. You stay with me."

"I know, starling. Just hold on. Stay with me."

"And in the meantime?" I asked. "What do we do?" "In the meantime," he repeated. "I won't leave you like that again. I promise."

"Speaking of which—you'll need to learn to dance." "I can dance." "No," he said. "Court dances are specific, formal. They have rules, patterns." "I assume you'll teach me?" I asked, pushing my plate away. "Of course," he said,

"This isn’t a game to me, Thais. Perhaps it was in the beginning. Before I knew you—before I knew who you really were. But it's not anymore. And you’re perfectly aware of that."

"You're the most honest person I've ever met. Even when it costs you. Especially then."

“Gods–” I whimpered. His laugh was dark, almost cruel. "I’m right here." His fingers skimmed up my inner thighs, stopping just short of where I ached for him most. "No need to call out."

As I slid down against the cold wood, the tears I'd been holding back broke free at last, falling silently in the darkness of a room that had never felt so empty.

"And what would you have me say?" he demanded, a sudden heat in his voice. "That I've noticed your body? That I'm not blind to the way you move, the way you look at me? What good would that do either of us?"

"Fine. I kissed you on that beach because I wanted to. Is that what you want to hear?"

"Because I can't have you," he said through gritted teeth. "Because every time I look at you, I want to—" He stopped mid-sentence, dragging his hand down his face. "You have no idea what you're playing with," he finally said.

"You want to know what I am?" His voice dropped to a whisper that caressed my every nerve ending. "I'm a man who's been hard for you since the moment I laid eyes on you. I'm a man who's spent every night since then stroking myself to thoughts of you."

"I'm a man who dreams about having you spread out beneath me, begging me to fill you, to claim you, to make you mine in every filthy way I can imagine." His eyes burned into mine. "So tell me—do you still think I'm hiding from what I want?"