Born of Ash and Night
My knees buckle, but I stay standing, teeth clenched so hard my jaw aches.
Ashton lets out a low, broken sound—half-growl, half-sob.
Maereth slams her staff into the ground.
“Hold your hands over the fire,” she commands. “Together.”
Ashton hesitates—just for a fraction of a second.
Then he steps forward.
So do I.
We stand on opposite sides of the fire pit, hands outstretched, blood dripping into the flames. The fire roars in response, surging higher, brighter, heat slamming into my skin like a living force.