Chapter 172 Chapter 172

Chapter 172 Chapter 172
ASHER'S POV

Rain hammered the roof like the sky itself was breaking apart, and I lay still, staring up at the ceiling, cursing my own condition. Then memory crashed over me all at once — Crystal, the woods, and the fire in my veins.

“This is ridiculous,” I mumbled impatiently to the empty room as I pulled off the thin sheet Nayara had draped over my body earlier. But I was too hasty with my movements as pain flared through my chest. I gritted my teeth, pressing a hand to my sternum, then wheezed. The sound was so guttural even I couldn’t believe it had come from me. I could practically feel the corruption burn beneath my skin like molten rocks— but the good thing was that it wasn’t spreading. Not yet at least.

I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood, but my body swayed once when I tried to move. It was almost as though I was a mere toddler learning to control my limbs and balance, and it frustrated me. I should be out there with the others searching for crystal; after all, it was my fault she went out there in the first place. All because I couldn’t control my perverted desires.

Steeling my nerves, I forced myself to take another step. Each step felt better than the last, at least, and I soon found myself in the corridor just in time to hear the front doors open, and Aquila walked in with Seth. They were both soaked from the crown of their heads to the soles of their boots, but my expression turned even more sour than it had been all night.

Aquila’s eyes met mine when I came into view, and something like regret flashed in his eyes.

“Asher--”

“Where is she?” I asked, cutting him off. His mouth, hanging open, slowly closed and pressed into a thin line. But before either of us could say another word, Nayara came in from a separate door, her own expression grave. 

In her arms she held a small pile of dry towels, as though she’d been expecting them to return as though they’d been pulled out of the river. I watched her hand the towels to them, hoping that in that moment, Crystal would walk in through those doors. But I waited. And waited.

Aquila took his with a small thank you, but Seth merely glanced at it and never took it. His green eyes met my amber ones, and for the first time. I saw fear, although it was mixed with many other emotions; I could see it clear as day, and my own heart shuddered at the thought of what they’d seen out there. 

I stepped closer, ignoring the burning sensation in my chest as I tried my absolute best to suppress the trembling of my hands.

“Where is she?” I asked again, but my voice cracked, betraying my emotions.

Seth looked at Aquila, uncertain. Aquila stepped forward, slow and careful, like approaching something wild.

“We found…a trail.”

My heart stuttered. “And?”

He hesitated. And that was answer enough.

“What did you find, Aquila?”

There was hesitation in his eyes, but after a while, he reached into his cloak and pulled something out.

A scrap of white linen I instantly recognized. But the horror of it was the blood stains around the jagged edge of the fabric. I didn’t want to believe what I was imagining, but the thought bulldozed its way, tipping my rationale on its axis.

“We found this on the trail, but we didn’t find her,” Aquila said fast. But that did nothing to calm me. All I could hear right now was that Crystal was out there. Alone. And she was most likely hurt.

Something inside me fractured.

“Who took her?” The words tore out of me.

“I couldn’t say for sure. But-”

My breathing got so loud I couldn’t differentiate between it and my hammering heart as my body began to tremble violently.

“Asher! No!” Nayara reached to stop me, but heat exploded from my pores the second she got near. The sheer force of the explosion sent her and the others flying back. 

Fire coiled hot in my chest, searing along my bones. My fingers curled, nails sharpening into claws, and I let out a roar that could have been heard for miles as my vision swam. Amber burned into gold, and the world sharpened — every drop of rain, every heartbeat, every breath — laid bare.

“Asher —” Aquila yelled as he reached for me, but I shoved him back. 

“THEY FUCKING TOOK HER!”

“I know. We’ll —”

“Where did they go?”

“Control it, Asher!” Aquila’s voice cut like steel. His eyes changed as the energy around him became charged. His Demonic nature came through. He had one arm wrapped protectively around Nayara, who was still nursing her arm that had been caught in the flames. “Or I swear, I’ll put you down if I fucking have to,” he added. And somewhere deep down, I knew he wasn’t joking as his usually fair skin fell away, revealing what lay beneath.

I hissed, advancing one step forward, and Seth let out a warning growl. My chest heaved as I stared at them all, but before I could think, HE spoke. His voice was loud enough to make my head ache in my mind.

Find her. Bring her back. Burn those who dare.

I let out another scream as I doubled over, my hands covering my ears; scales prickled across my skin. Pain — and beneath it, pure, unquenchable rage.

“Asher!” Nayara’s voice. “

I looked up again, and her face was cold. “Is this the man Crystal fell for?” she said.

The words struck me like a hammer on burning iron, and I froze. “You’re still as irrational as the day I met you,” she spat, but her words weren’t meant to insult, but to challenge. I held her gaze as she stepped out of Aquila’s protective arm.

“Nayara, stop-”

“Is this how you plan to get her back?!” Her voice cracked like a whip, silencing him. I opened my mouth to speak, but the words weren’t right.

“Someone took her.” I finally said through gritted teeth.

“And is that any reason to set a blazing path? I thought you were more sensible than that, Veyrith.”