Page 7 of A Spark in the Ash

And slowly, just barely, Jaxon’s flames grow smaller. The intensity of his light lessens just a bit.

A curse slips out over my lips.

I want to smile. I know Ascelin is fighting the urge to celebrate his accuracy. But we have to keep up this show.

“I…” I trail off as I stare at Jaxon. Jaxon blinks, and then his eyes slide over to me. I think it’s there, but I’m not entirely sure. I think I see more clarity. “I’m not going to stop working for it.”

There. Hope. I don’t doubt it when I see it in Jaxon’s eyes.

I reach a hand out and press my palm to the glass, lining up with his hand.

“Well, neither am I,” Ascelin says. There’s a challenge there. There’s determination there.

He tightens his grip on my hand, and he begins pulling me away.

My eyes flick to Jaxon’s, and his widen. His entire face flinches, and rage takes him over once more. He bellows out a protest, and his flames pulse brighter and bigger.

I’d be disappointed by that part. But this is my Jaxon, and I know him.

He’s got a temper. He has fight in him.

So that is why I have to believe Ascelin’s idea is going to work.

We’re going to draw him back to himself with jealousy. A little bit of fake competition.

Jaxon roars in protest once again as Ascelin and I step into his bedroom and close the door.

“Holy shit,” I breathe as my heart rate spikes. “This…Ascelin, you were right. I think this is going to work.” My breath comes in and out quick and my heart is pounding with excitement.

He gives me this controlled, suppressed smile. “Well, I remember the way he looked at you before he manifested. I figured a guy like that wouldn’t take too kindly to another man giving you that kind of attention.”

He was right. “I mean…it wasn’t a lot. But I saw it. He reigned it in, just a tiny bit for a few moments.”

“Then I think we know what to do,” Ascelin says. “We ramp up the act over the next few days.”

This makes me nervous. What level will it take to make Jaxon jealous enough to gain control? And what is going to happen when we open the vault? Jaxon might just kill Ascelin the second he gets out.

For a moment, I’m worried he might be angry with me for going along with this. But I remember all the ploys he’s pulled, and how easily he and I faked being more than what we were for the sake of getting what we needed.

Oddly, I think he’ll get it.

But still, there are a lot of unknown factors in this.

“Thank you,” I say as I still in front of Ascelin. “I don’t think you get enough credit. You’re such a good person. I…I just think you’re amazing, and I want you to know that. You’re going to find the right one for you someday.”

He offers me a little smile, and I can tell he hopes what I’m saying is true.

I step forward and wrap my arms around him. And it feels nice when he embraces me as well.

I feel like we’ve finally come to a truce.

I feel like I have my friend back.

“You sure you can handle this?” Ascelin says. His chest rumbles with his rocky voice. “Letting me do what it takes? It’s going to make you uncomfortable, Serena.”

I take in a breath. I know this. It’s going to be uncomfortable, because for the last few years, it was real for him. But I find myself simply appreciative. “I can do this. For him, for us, I can do anything.”

Chapter Three

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