The tension between us was as thick as the humid air that hung over Verauno, crackling with unspoken words and unresolved emotions. Asher and I hadn’t had a moment to breathe since the skirmish at the city gates, and now, as night fell over the kingdom, we were still on edge—not just from the battle, but from each other.
I stood in the courtyard, the cool stone beneath my feet grounding me as I tried to focus on the energy thrumming inside me. My powers were stronger now and more responsive, but they still felt wild, like an untamed storm waiting to break free. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath as I reached for the energy, willing it to bend to my control.
“You’re pushing too hard.”
Asher’s voice broke through the quiet, low and steady, but it startled me all the same. I opened my
