Asago Shi Novels & Stories

My magic was still humming beneath my skin, but the cool night air from the stairwell at least seemed to take the edge off. The cafeteria was mostly empty when I entered, with only a few lingering in the seats with late cups of tea or the last of dessert. In one of the corner tables, Ashleigh Dana sat alone, her hair silver that seemed almost luminous in the dim light, with faint streaks of amethyst swirling through. It caught the light like moonstone. She was nursing a mug of tea, tendrils of steam lazily curling up toward the ceiling. Her eyes flicked to me the second I stepped through the doors, a gleam of recognition in them. She raised one brow in invitation.

Let everything go back to normal. Normal. The word tasted like ash. I turned the water off and stood dripping in the quiet. Steam swirled around me thick and heavy. But I didn’t want normal, all I want is her. And that scared me more than any slap Ethan could throw.

Ash’s POV The roar of the clubhouse hit me before I even turned off my engine. Laughter, shouts and the sound of bottles clinking rent the air and for a moment, I wonder how they could easily fall back into their normal lives less than twelve hours after an attack. It was chaos the way I remembered it, but somehow louder and more… non challant. Inside, the air was thick with smoke and sweat. A few brothers cheered when they saw me, others nodded, their eyes sharp, reading me like they weren’t sure what version of Ash had come back.

"Excuse me, but I need to use the men's room." Thelia nodded, giving Asher a knowing smile. Asher quickly made his way through the crowd towards the restroom, grateful for the temporary reprieve. As he navigated the dimly lit corridors, a strange sensation began to settle over him. His vision blurred slightly, and his head felt heavy. It was as if a thick haze had descended upon his senses, clouding his mind. He shook his head, trying to clear the fog that seemed to cling to him.

Five pulses answered the question before any mouth could. Ashar looked at his hands as flame curled around his palms without burning him. “I am Ashar of Veydrin,” he said, but the name carried more weight than before. The air behind him shimmered with images of a civilization made of fire, stone, blood oath, and sanctuary towers built into mountains. Then those towers fell in silence, and the last flame entered him like a crown returning to its owner. “God of preservation,” he said, as if confessing to a crime.

Even though I was prepared, seeing it with my own eyes still felt like my heart was being flayed. I turned away sharply, unable to watch. The ceremony began. Chief Elder Marcus held up an ancient box and removed a necklace made of a wolf's head carved from moonstone. "This is the sacred relic 'Heart of the Land,' passed down by our ancestors! It enhances the wearer's connection to the Moon Goddess and amplifies their gift!" A wave of awe rippled through the crowd. My friend Jake, standing beside me, couldn't help but say, "If your Earth Empathy was amplified by that, you might actually be able to purify the forest."

“The Moon Cages weren’t built by Vales. They were built by the first covenants—ashbound covenants—after an ashbound girl ended a war by burning the wrong king.” My skin went cold. “That’s a story.” Vesper smiled. “No, Aria. That’s a warning with a date.” She lifted her hand and touched the air near my wrist. She didn’t touch me, but the mark flared anyway, responding. I winced. “Hybrid,” Vesper said softly, as if tasting the word. “Wolf and ashbound. Not Luna. Not Lycan royalty. Something older.” Kieran’s voice went rough. “She’s my mate.”

Just then, a small head peeked through the suffocating smoke. “Madam, do you need any help?” someone asked timidly. I forced my eyes open and saw a young boy who was about the same age as my son. He was covered in ash and dirt, but his eyes shone brightly through the smoke. He was so small in size, yet he managed to muster the strength to help me up. Then, together, we slowly made our way outside. The path to the outside was incredibly challenging, and I felt like giving up several times.

O dapat ba siyang matakot na baka masyado siyang umaasa rito? Pagkatapos ng ilang minuto, lumapit si Asher sa kanya at maingat siyang inalalayan paupo sa gilid ng kama. Nang akayin siya nito, hindi siya makapagsalita. Gulat siya sa kung paanong tila natural kay Asher ang alagaan siya. "Huwag ka muna tumayo," mahinahong sabi ni Asher. "Baka mahilo ka ulit."