But neither had it fully rejected him.
Kael approached, grim. “He’s halfway. The Moonfire didn’t consume him… but it didn’t merge either.”
Aria turned to Asher, kneeling beside him. “You tried to claim me by force.”
“I—I couldn’t help it,” he whispered, trembling. “You’re already mine.”
She stood, sorrow in her eyes. “Then prove it by trusting me. Wait for me to choose freely.”
Asher didn’t speak again.
—
Elsewhere…
In a secret chamber beneath the Fortress, Lillian watched through a scrying mirror, lips curled in satisfaction.
“He’s slipping,” she murmured.
Behind her, a shadowed voice asked, “You’ve begun his corruption?”
“Oh, he’s already obsessed,” Lillian smiled, turning to reveal a glowing black sigil on her wrist. “I just added a little push.”
The voice rasped, “Then cont
