Novels by Ashveil

Zane's Point Of View“Whether you go or not, Zane…” Her eyes narrowed as she turned. “It won’t affect the ball at all.”The door clicked shut behind Alisa like the last nail in a coffin. The silence that followed felt suffocating. Heavy. It wrapped around me like a stormcloud that refused to lift.Charlie was still leaning against the wall, trying to breathe through the pain. His shirt was singed from Alisa’s magic, his hair mussed, face bruised and trembling, but his eyes still burned with loyalty.And that broke me a little more.“I’m sorry,” I said, the words clawing their way out of my throat. “This is all my fault.”Charlie blinked at me, startled, then winced as he pushed off the wall. “What are you talking about?”I looked down at my shaking hands. “If I wasn’t here, if I hadn’t pissed her off, she wouldn’t have hurt you. She wouldn’t have even bothered showing up.”Charlie limped toward me and dropped heavily onto the edge of his bed, hissing slightly. “Zane. Stop.”“But…”“Sh

Zane's Point Of View The silence that followed her question didn’t last long. Because from behind her, a sharper voice sliced through the hallway like a dagger cloaked in silk.“Move, Celeste. I want to see him myself.” The students behind Celeste parted like water. And through that space walked her.She didn’t walk, she glided. Like the hallway was a red carpet made just for her, and the rest of us were weeds daring to grow in her garden.Alisa.Long platinum hair that shimmered like moonlight laced with gold. Blood-red robes tailored tighter than arrogance itself. Her eyes were icy blue and sharper than any blade. Her presence crackled with magical energy, so thick I could feel it press against my skin.Charlie shifted beside me, and muttered under his breath, “Shit. It’s Alisa.”“Who?” I whispered, jaw tight.“She’s… how do I put this lightly, an entitled, magical psycho with a superiority complex. Comes from the Delacroix bloodline. That family’s so powerful, even some professors

Zane's Point Of ViewI must’ve been wearing the dumbest expression on my face, because Charlie blinked at me like I’d just grown a second head.“You… you really didn’t know?” he asked, flopping back onto my bed like this was somehow his tragedy to suffer. “Bro, it’s the Freshman Ball. It’s huge. Professors go. Alumni go. Important people. Potential sponsors. Some people even leave with a future fiancé if they play their cards right.”I just stared at him.He lifted his hands, eyebrows up like come on. “It’s like a party, but you get judged the whole time. Kind of like a tournament but with better food. The upperclassmen scope out the new kids. Professors give secret recommendations. Some of the big-name guild recruiters show up pretending to be ‘guests.’ And… if you’re smart…” His grin sharpened. “You can make connections. Or enemies. Or lovers.”His gaze flicked to me deliberately. “Especially someone like you.”I stiffened at that.I didn’t want to be someone like me. I didn’t want

Zane's Point Of View I stood between them like a thread about to snap, stretched so tightly I thought my bones might break just from breathing.On one side: Ronan. Power coiled beneath his stillness, golden eyes hard as metal, sharp jaw clenched like he wanted to grind the whole damn world into dust.On the other side: Miles. Relaxed, leaning slightly toward me, fingertips brushing my sleeve in a way that looked casual, but wasn’t. The tension wasn’t just thick, it was suffocating. And everyone was watching.I felt like I was standing on the edge of a blade. Choose wrong, and I wouldn’t just fall, I’d be cut to pieces on the way down.I swallowed hard, throat dry. The whole courtyard was holding its breath, waiting.Waiting for me.“Zane,” Ronan finally spoke, his voice rougher than usual, low like a growl dragged from deep in his chest. “You don’t belong with them. You know that.”With them.My pulse jumped.Them.Humans. Half-bloods. The “weaker” academy. The outcasts. I was an ou

Zane's Point Of View Silence.The kind of silence that doesn’t just sit in the air, it presses against your chest, makes your throat dry, makes every heartbeat feel like it’s echoing too loud in the back of your ears.I stood in the center of the ceremonial circle, alone, small, a speck of broken bones and old bruises against the towering marble of the academy’s ancient halls.Nothing.Absolutely nothing.The ceremonial stone beneath my boots pulsed faintly with magic, ancient, cold, impersonal, but nothing happened.Nothing.My breath stuttered, panic rising sharp and fast in my throat. My heart beat too loud, too quick, and for one sick moment, I thought I might collapse again.Behind me, I heard the soft snickers starting. Low at first. Then louder. Cruel.“Pathetic,” someone muttered.I could feel their eyes eating into my back.“Guess second time’s not the charm.”“Mixed-blood trash.”I swallowed hard, throat raw.Of course. Of course this was happening. Why the hell did I think

Zane's Point Of View “Zane?”Miles leaned forward sharply, concern flashing across his face. “What’s wrong? Are you in pain again?”I stared at him, eyes wide, chest rising and falling with sharp, panicked breaths. “No… I mean… yes… no… it’s not that… I…”I gripped the sheets, my fingers trembling violently, and forced the words out before I lost my nerve.“I heard something,” I gasped. “A voice.”Miles blinked. “A voice?”“My wolf.” The words spilled out, shaky but real. “I-I think… I actually summoned it.”For a moment, he just stared, processing.And then without hesitation, he smiled. Not that usual sharp, knowing smirk he wore like armor, but something softer. Warmer. Real.“That’s…” His voice broke, and he shook his head slightly, like he couldn’t believe it either. “That’s incredible.”And before I could think, before I could stop him, he reached out and hugged me.I froze, stunned, caught between the unfamiliar weight of his arms around me and the realization that no one… no