Page 84 of A Court of Wings and Shadows

Eighteen

The vault doors groaned as Remy pulled them open, the cold corridor beyond a stark contrast to the heavy, magic-tinged air we were leaving behind.

He handed the rolled map, the decoy, to one of the guards with a casual flick of his wrist. “Just the one,” he said smoothly. “The king asked for a record of old maritime boundaries.”

The guard barely glanced at it before nodding. “Proceed.”

We stepped into the corridor, our pace unhurried. Remy moved like he owned the palace. I tried to do the same, though my heart still beat too fast beneath the map hidden under my armor.

Then I heard it again, soft and low, sliding into my thoughts like it belonged there.

How are you speaking to me in my mind?I asked silently.

There was a pause, then a response, tinged with confusion.

I’m not sure. I’ve felt… something. A thread. Since?—

Since the attack,I finished.Since I used my blood to save you.

Yes.His voice came warmer this time, like he was closer, though I knew he wasn’t.

Kaelith warned me there could be consequences,I admitted.

Well,Zander replied,if this is the downside, I’ll take it. It saved my life, Ashlyn.

I was so caught in the quiet hum of that connection, so focused on the thread linking our minds, I didn’t notice the guard rounding the corner.

I bumped straight into him, my shoulder colliding hard with his chest plate.

“Ah—sorry,” I muttered, stepping back quickly.

Remy immediately moved closer, his voice low and sharp. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m fine,” I said, a little too quickly. “Just… distracted.”

Remy handed the map he was holding to the guard. “Deliver this to the king. He requested it.”

The guard took it and left immediately but Remy’s eyes lingered on me, searching, but he didn’t press.

We exited the castle through the western side, cutting across the sun-drenched stone paths and returning to the familiar chaos of the Ascension Grounds.

Squads trained in rings. Dragons circled overhead. But all I could feel was the thread, like a tether of heat and magic coiled tight between Zander and me.

And I knew something had shifted.

Something permanent.

Remy and I crossed the Ascension Grounds side by side, the morning sun casting long shadows behind us. Zander stood just ahead with the rest of Thrall Squad gathered around him, arms folded, eyes locked on us the moment we approached.

“I have the map I need,” I said simply, patting the spot over my heart where it still lay tucked inside my armor.

Zander’s gaze flicked from me to Remy, something sharp in his eyes. Then his voice lifted for everyone to hear.

“Thrall Squad. With me.”

“I’ll be going too,” Remy added smoothly, like it had already been decided.

Zander’s jaw tightened. His shoulders tensed like he wanted to break something, or someone, but after a moment, he gave a clipped nod. “Fine.”