Page 18 of Tower of Ash and Darkness
“You’re late,” my father says, shifting his attention from the map before him. His voice is calm, smooth, and layered with expectation—an expectation that has shaped every step of my life in this castle.
“I wasn’t aware you’d started counting,” I reply, stepping further into the room. My tone is firm but measured—enough to hold my ground without stepping over the line. His lips curl faintly, his delight so brief it’s easy to miss.
He rises from behind his desk, his movements measured as his piercing gaze sweeps over me, resting on the silver bracelet at my wrist before returning to meet my eyes.
“You look every bit the daughter of the Vampire King,” he says finally, his tone low but purposeful. “Strong, poised, anduntouchable.”
I incline my head slightly, the words both a compliment and a reminder of what I’m meant to be.
“And here I thought it was my charm that won you over.”
“Charm is fleeting,” he replies smoothly, stepping closer. His voice lowers, each word deliberate. “Seduction, however, is power. And power, my sweet, is what?”
His words settle between us, heavy and familiar. This is no idle remark. It’s a lesson he’s instilled in me since the day he brought me to this castle, a reminder that power is not merely taken—it is wielded, cultivated, and protected.
“Control, Father,” I say out of habit.
“And what is control, Lailah?” he asks suddenly, tilting his head as he studies me. His voice isn’t harsh, but it carries the tone of a teacher expecting his pupil to answer correctly.
“It’s mastery over oneself,” I say, my voice steady. “And the ability to bend the world to your will.”
His faint smile deepens, approval glinting in his icy stare.
“Good. And what have I taught you about protecting what is yours?”
“That strength without discipline is chaos,” I reply automatically, repeating the words he’s drilled into me for years. “The greatest power lies in knowing when to strike and when to wait.”
“And have you done what I’ve asked of you during your time here?” His tone remains calm, but there’s a razor-sharp edge beneath it. He’s not merely asking—he’s testing me.
My stomach twists.He knows. He must know.
The memory drifts back unbidden, as vivid as if it were happening all over again. The warmth of the summer night had wrapped around me, the air thick and still, humming with possibility. Sera’s laughter had rung out softly beside me as we wove through the narrow streets of the human quarters, the distant buzz of the tavern pulling us forward.
And then there washim.
His dark green eyes had caught mine through the haze of the room, their depth endless, like an ancient forest drenched in shadow. They held me captive, pulling me in, unraveling something I didn’t realize I had tightly bound inside myself.
And his touch?—
I stop myself, forcing the thought away before it can fully form. My hands clench at my sides, the fabric of my gloves taut against my skin.Focus. He’s watching you.
“Yes,” I say, my voice calm, masking the quickened tempo of my heartbeat. “The veil holds strong. No force, mortal or immortal, can breach it without my permission. My magic answers to me. I control it—completely.”
His gaze intensifies, dragging out the silence as though testing the truth of my words. My pulse quickens under his scrutiny, but I keep my head high, my posture resolute.
“Good,” he says at last, his tone as measured as mine.
His faint smile curves like the edge of a blade, satisfaction glinting in his eyes.
“You speak with the confidence of someone who understandswhatshe is. Power, discipline, control… these are not just words for you, are they?”
“No,” I reply smoothly, the hint of a smirk tugging at my lips. “They’re who I am.”
My father’s faint smile lingers, his gaze never wavering. He steps closer, his hands clasped loosely behind his back, radiating effortless authority.
“Have I ever asked something of you that you did not already want?” His voice is smooth, coaxing, yet there’s an edge to it—a challenge disguised as a question.
I hold his gaze, my expression calm. “No.”
