Wandering Noble Ashes Novels & Stories

The twins’ tears fell upon her gown, silver droplets in morning gold. And Nyra Duskbane, Queen of Ash and Flame, stood at the precipice of fate...

My palms flared with faint blue light, runes forming instinctively along my skin. “Forgive me,” I whispered, and struck. The world exploded in a burst of silver flame. The guardian howled, its body dissolving into mist, leaving behind a faint warmth and the echo of its growl. When the silence settled, I was on one knee, panting. The vial glowed softly in my hand, the water inside pulsing with energy. “Two to go,” I murmured, standing. “Hang on, Edward.” ~~~~~ The next ingredient lay within the Cavern of Ashes; a cave said to breathe smoke and bone. The legends called it cursed, but I’d stopped fearing curses.

Liam leaned back in his chair, his expression dark. "We suspect Adler will choose the Ashen Field," he said, his voice grave. "The Ashen Field?" I asked, testing the name on my tongue. It sounded like a graveyard. "It is neutral ground," he explained, "but cursed. Wolves cannot shift there. Centuries ago, a great war was fought on that soil. Thousands died in the dead of winter. The ground was frozen solid, so they couldn't bury the dead. Instead, they burned them."

Light dimmed to eclipse for a heartbeat, painting every face in beautiful shadow. A crown, Nyxara purred. Show it what to do besides own you. I lifted my palms. “Bring me ash.” --- POV: Wolves We brought what we had ash of collars kept to remember, ash of burned vows, ash of humbled roots, ash of banners cut down when hands needed to feel sharp. Kade’s echo our boy who’d learned what to shout stepped first, both palms full. He offered it as the truth. Araya bowed; he poured. The ash vanished into her hair as if it had waited for this work.

But beneath the ruins, someone always watched. Far above the city, Ash perched on a cliff, overlooking Vienna. Her copper-gold eyes caught the flames, reflecting devastation as if it were a mirror of her own ascent. Her crown, dented and blackened, still rested on her head. Behind her, the remnants of her army stirred silently, ghosts of a fallen empire. She had survived the twin infernos not unscathed, but alive. Every sinew a testament to fire and willpower. “Mother,” Ash murmured, voice soft yet filled with danger. “The game begins.”

“They can’t see us?” “Not yet,” Ashara said. “The Hollowed Lands obey strange laws.” “Then let’s move before they do,” Kael growled. They slipped through broken alleys and collapsed bridges, hiding in the bones of a fallen world. As they neared the palace, Aria saw something that made her stop cold. A mural. Carved in stone. Faded, but still clear enough to see. It was Ashara. But not the one beside her. This version wore a crown of thorns. Her eyes were glowing white. And behind her, the world burned.

The kind of laughter that comes when revenge tastes sweeter than wine. My driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror, puzzled, but wisely said nothing. “Oh, Delilah,” I murmured through my laughter. “I hope revealing my truth was worth it for you.” Because now, she had managed to destroy herself faster than I ever could have planned. I turned my face toward the window as the mansion disappeared behind us. The garden roses I had planted years ago were now wild and unkempt, their petals catching the moonlight . How fitting. The city stretched before me glowing, alive and all mine.

“It was dark. Black, maybe. But the fabric shimmered, like it wasn’t just cloth. Almost... alive.” At that, Asher’s lips curved into a grim smile. “A wizard,” he said, his tone filled with certainty. The room collectively tensed, the word heavy with meaning. “You’re sure?” Corey asked, his voice unusually grave. Asher nodded. “Positive. And I know exactly where we need to go.” “Where?” Jamie asked, though his tone suggested he already dreaded the answer. Asher didn’t hesitate. “The Willow.” The reaction was immediate. Nina sucked in a sharp breath, while Jamie swore under his breath. Corey ran a hand through his hair, and Amara paled, her tension giving way to outright fear.

“If the court hears you're leaving during crisis, they'll call it abandonment.” “Let them.” I clenched my jaw. “They’ve called me worse.” The journey to the Ash Spire took three days through broken terrain. Ever since Elira’s burst of power, the land had begun to twist. Trees bloomed with silver fruit. Streams ran backward. Time flickered at the edges of vision, like someone pulling aside a curtain just to watch. We were being observed. I felt it every moment. At dusk on the third day, we reached the base of the Ash Spire. It loomed like a dead god’s finger, blackened from centuries of ancient fire. At its heart, a door carved with lunar runes pulsed with faint light.

I was tired of their frantic dramas at the same time; I didn't want to get into any form of trouble with anyone anymore. They drew in long breaths to still their racing heart, and as they puffed it out, they nodded their heads fervently. We got to the hall where the rest of the maids had assembled outside waiting for her arrival, and just before we could step out of the palace, I heard the clomping sound of shoe soles behind us. I turned around to find Asher with his elite wolves, gallantly walking towards the entrance with slow precision. Asher's gait stood out among the rest of them; his wavy hair fell down his face; it almost covered one side of his eyes, bouncing with every step he took.