Page 190 of Tower of Ash and Darkness
“Well, you look like you got the fuck?—”
Gwyn’s swift hit to Alias’s stomach silences him, the words vanishing as he stumbles back.
Casper growls deeply, and the smallest of smiles tugs at the corners of my mouth.
“Shit—okay, I deserved that.” Alias straightens, rubbing his ribs with exaggerated flair, then tosses a wink in my direction. “Speaking of violent women…Vanessa’s still gagged. Still starving. Real sunshine these days.”
Gwyn groans.
“Why are you like this?”
He shrugs, pulling an apple from his bag.
“I figured our princess might want to know her greatest admirer is still alive. Miserable, but alive.”
A smile touches my lips, and I shake my head at Alias’s antics. But when I glance toward Casper, the warmth fades from my lips. His gaze heavy and distant, haunted by something he’s struggling to voice.
“What is it?” I ask softly.
“King Sarris found the stone,” Casper says, his voice low.
The gravity of it sinks in, and my jaw clenches as I look away, the earth beneath me seeming to shift.
“Where’s Jason?”
My voice cracks the stillness, but when I turn to Callum, his expression betrays nothing—only the silence of his uncertainty.Before I get an answer, Casper moves, his hand embracing mine, pulling me into motion. We move quickly, scrambling over rocks as the path ahead twists and turns.
Around the bend, I see Jason and Celaena standing by a horse, illuminated by the glow of torchlight. My brows furrow as Jason’s eyes scan me, searching for signs of injury, concern written across his face. He steps forward, but before he can reach me, Casper is there, stepping between us like a wall. His body is tense, his posture rigid, and the air between them crackles with energy.
Jason meets his gaze, a silent challenge passing between them, and I step forward, placing a hand on Casper’s shoulder, urging him to move aside. As he does, Jason steps closer, reaching for my hands. But the moment his eyes fall upon the scars etched into my skin, he freezes and pulls his hands back, the shock and shame clear in his eyes.
Casper reacts instantly, a low hiss escaping his lips as his hand shoots to Jason’s throat, lifting him off the ground and slamming him against a tree. The dagger glints in the torchlight, the promise of violence clear.
“Don’t youeverlook at her again!” Casper growls.
Jason’s eyes widen, realization flashing across his face, but I only watch, still, as the moment stretches between them.
I move to Gwyn, a silent plea in my eyes, and she passes me her gloves. I slip them on, the familiar feel of fabric against my skin helping my mask settle back into place. The coolness of the gloves, the weight of the magic at my fingertips—it’s all a part of the dance now, a quiet promise of control.
I turn to Jason, a fragile calm masking the storm churning within.
“What did you find out?” My voice slices through the suffocating silence, cold and precise, leaving no room for evasion or pretense.
Jason meets my gaze, his eyes clouded with sorrow. He hesitates, as if willing the words to dissipate before they leave his mouth. But there is no escape from what must be said.
“King Sarris has the stone,” he finally says, his voice strained, each word a blow that lands with crushing force. “My father will meet with him at the next full moon to harness its power.” His eyes rest on me, turmoil etched into his face. “I’ve been asked to join them—to leave you and the Vampire Kingdom to perish in ruin.”
My nails dig into my palms, the sting grounding me as Casper lets him go. His gaze lingers temporarily before he steps back toward me, the suspense in the air still thick.
“The stone,” I murmur, my mind already racing. “Where is it?”
Jason’s jaw tightens, his silence as deafening as a scream. Finally, he exhales, his shoulders sagging.
“It’s hidden in the Obsidian Vault beneath the ruins of Aramar,” he says, “A place protected by ancient magic, older than even the vampire kingdom. Only a king with a direct bloodline—or someone bonded to one—can retrieve it.”
“How convenient,” I bite out, my voice dripping with venom.
Jason presses on, his tone foreboding.
