Born of Blood and Ash

Nothing else had changed about me except for the fangs—

“Holy gods,” I whispered, my lips parting in surprise.

The fangs weren’t the only thing that was different about me. My eyes had changed, too. I leaned in closer to the mirror as if that would somehow change what I saw.

It didn’t.

I looked past the glow behind my pupils. The aura had been there leading up to my Ascension, so that wasn’t unexpected.

My eyes were still green—well, sort of. Streaks of silver now splintered the irises, giving them an almost shattered effect.

I blinked once and then several times, but the shimmery lines of silver remained. My heart rate kicked up, and the streaks and flecks brightened.

How had Ash and Nektas not mentioned this?

I pushed back from the vanity and forced a dry swallow. “Well. Okay, then.” I nodded jerkily. “This…this is also who I am now. I can deal with it.” My chin lifted. “I will deal.”

And I would.

Because I had to.

The realms depended on it.