Page 71 of Tower of Ash and Darkness
As if she belongs there—not just by his side, but in his world. It feels as though she’s claiming something I’ve never even had the courage to ask for.
As if sensing the shift in my mood, Jason pulls me closer, his hold firm and grounding, but it does nothing to ease the cold that’s settled in my bones.
Casper looms at the edge of the room, his gaze darting briefly to mine before sliding away, as if I were nothing more than a passingthought. It stirs something shameful deep within me, a flush rising rapidly to my cheeks.
I look to him, searching for any sign that he sees me, any acknowledgment, but his attention is already elsewhere. He’s looking past me now, his focus fixed entirely on my father, whose grin stretches across his face in that way I know too well—enjoying the moment, basking in the attention.
Casper walks toward him without sparing me another glance, and I am left standing there, frozen in place. I feel erased, as though I don’t matter. His indifference stings deeper than I care to admit.
I feel Jason’s body stiffen beside me, his hand tightening around mine as he notices my gaze lingering on a man who isn’t him. With a sharp pull, he draws me closer, his grip firm and possessive as the music changes, pulling us into a slow, seductive waltz.
I glance up at him, meeting his eyes for the briefest moment. His expression tightens with frustration, but he doesn’t speak—he doesn’t need to. His body presses into mine as he leans in, his breath warm against my cheek, lingering on my skin, deepening my discomfort. The touch that should feel familiar now feels suffocating, and I can’t ignore the feeling that he’s only a pale substitute for what I truly want.
As we continue to move in time with the music, Jason shifts, guiding my knee to rest atop his. He leans us forward, the hardness of him pressing into my stomach, and I falter, my breath catching in the sudden intimacy of it all.
His hands slip around my hips, urging me to sway with him, our bodies moving as one. The dance, designed to seduce and weave connection, makes me feel the heaviness of my own conflicting desires. I hadn’t meant to captivate him, but as his hands draw me closer, it feels as though I’ve done so without even trying.
The rhythm changes, I can feel Jason’s fingers press against the back of my neck, his other hand wrapping around my knee at his waist, pulling me even closer. The moment becomes stifling, filled with an intimacy I can’t escape.
The music slows as the song ends, leaving us both breathingquickly, tangled its final notes. I step back from his embrace, trying to center myself, but Jason’s hand remains wrapped around mine. I can feel eyes on us, the weight of the court’s gaze turning me into something on display—his bride, his claim, his performance.
My eyes instinctively dart toward my father, who is grinning and applauding, his pride shining through. But in the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of Casper.
His gaze locks onto mine, darker and heavier than ever. The composure he usually wears like armor is gone, stripped away and replaced by something primal. It holds me there, suspended, as though he’s forgotten where he is, who he’s with.
His jaw tightens, the muscles in his neck flexing, and I can feel the tension radiating from him, palpable and consuming. There’s a pull in his gaze, an unrelenting force that reaches across the room and hooks into me.
Then, without warning, the moment shatters.
Casper’s eyes slide away from mine, his expression slipping back into something I can’t decipher as he shifts his focus to my father. The change is subtle but deliberate. A cold retreat that leaves me unmoored. I look away, unable to hold onto the connection any longer, the storm of confusion and frustration swirling inside me. My fingers twitch, and I pull my hand from Jason’s grasp, my eyes darting between my father and Casper.
“Welcome,Ghost,” my father says, his voice smooth and commanding, as if he alone controls the currents in the room.
I feel the shift in power, the cold authority in his words. Casper’s focus remains on my father, his expression a mask once more. And yet, his silence leaves me feeling like a stranger, like I’ve been shut out of something. It stings in a way I’m loath to admit.
But then my father’s attention moves, and I follow his gaze. The woman beside Casper stands tall, exuding confidence, her beauty almost unnatural. The curve of her neck, the cut of her features, the way she holds herself with a power that seems to hum in the air around her—it all strikes me like a blow, leaving me reeling in its wake.
My father steps forward, his voice low with interest.
“And who is this charming creature?”
Without waiting for an answer, he reaches out and places a kiss upon her knuckles. The woman bows before him, slow, graceful, seductive.
“Vanessa, my King,” she purrs, her voice smooth and sultry.
I can’t tear my gaze away from her. She’s perfect as she stands beside Casper. The sting of jealousy rises in me, thick and bitter, but I push it down. I feel small in comparison, a pang of insecurity growing inside me.
Vanessa and my father share a look, one that lingers far too long, charged with something that leaves me feeling invisible, irrelevant. My stomach twists, and I force myself to look away, trying to steady my breathing.
My father’s gaze shifts back to me, his eyes softening.
“You are beautiful, my sweet,” my father says, his voice warm and steady. I force a smile up at him, the feeling of insecurity still rising.
“Isn’t she beautiful, Jason?” My father’s voice slices through the haze, commanding Jason’s attention.
His eyes shift to me, lingering longer than I anticipate. There’s something in his gaze—something that transcends mere admiration. It’s possessive, almost hungry, and the intensity of it rattles me.
“The most beautiful woman I have ever seen,” Jason replies.
