The Ascended (The Aesymarean Duet, #1)

by Bree Grenwich

"I built walls not just to keep others out,"

"but to keep something of myself in. Something they couldn't take or change or control."

But you... you just see me. The good and the terrible alike."

"What kind of spell have you cast, starling?"

"I was wondering the same about you."

"But I should never have threatened you." His arms tightened fractionally. "Not you."

The servant's gaze lingered on me longer than they should have. Xül noticed immediately. "Eyes elsewhere,"

Xül moved closer. "Stay here tonight," he said, his voice softer than I'd ever heard it.

This manifestation of my own fear thought it could consume me.

"Is that such a bad thing?" I argued. "Fear holds us back."

"Fear keeps you alive," Thatcher countered.

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

And gods help me, it felt like freedom.

"Look at me, starling," he demanded.

This was possession, pure and primal.

"now be a good girl and let go."

Words. That voice. His voice. "Release her."

You stay with me."

"Please," Xül whispered, and that single word held more emotion than I'd ever heard from him. "Please, Thais. Stay."

"In the meantime," he repeated. "I won't leave you like that again. I promise."

"Thank you," I said softly. "For saving my life. Again."

"Always, starling," he replied, the nickname sending an unexpected warmth through me. "Always."

His finger traced the golden section. "The Aesymareans." Then the silver. "The Esprithe." The greenish-blue. "The Ehlistrea." Finally, the black section. "And the Vaerhuun."

"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."

"I think the world would be poorer without Thais Morvaren in it."

His hand caught mine, refusing to let go. "He's not your partner."

I glared at him. "Neither are you."

"Just because I don't want the eyes of the entire pantheon devouring what's before me doesn't mean I don't enjoy seeing it."

"Why did you bring me here?"

"Because I'm tired of pretending,"

"Pretending what?"

"That I don't want you."

"This," he said, his voice dropping to a register that vibrated through my bones, "is the only honest thing in this entire realm."

want you, Thais." His thumbs traced the curve of my cheekbones. "Now."

"You have no right to be jealous,"

"None whatsoever,"

"And yet here I am, burning with it."

"don't you dare stop."

I seized his arm, physically dragging him away from the phantom family that had never been ours to keep.

"When I watched you, Thais, I so badly wished it was me."

I kissed you on that beach because I wanted to.

I pressed my lips to his.

“I’m trying to figure you out. You said you wanted to kiss me, yet you’re acting like this.”

"Because I can't have you,"

"Because every time I look at you...

"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."

"So tell me—do you still think I'm hiding from what I want?"

"Take what you want."

"Stop tal...

"Make me,"