Page 203 of House Ignis

“I think the worst part,” I whispered, “is that somewhere in all of this, I lost my best friend.”

His face twisted, and gods, for a heartbeat, I saw the male I used to know.

The male who used to lie under the stars with me and talk about the future.

"Ava," he said, his voice raw and thick. "It's not that I want you for myself. Gods, I would love that—but I knew I lost you a long time ago. The day you lost your brother… I lost you."

Tears streamed hot down my cheeks because he was right. He had lost me. I'd retreated into a shell of grief, and Jeremy hadn't known how to reach me.

"Then why would you do this?" I whispered, my voice trembling.

He reached out and took my hand.

My breath caught, the bond jolting with a sudden, violent surge of Asher's rage.

I could feel him standing far behind me, a silent, seething shadow, watching Jeremy's every move.

Jeremy's thumb brushed mine, and his voice cracked. "Because I promised your brother I would always protect you."

My heart shattered. Jax. Always Jax.

"And I'm still going to keep that promise, even if you don't love me. Even if it kills me to see you with him."

His eyes cut toward the distance where Asher stood, venom and grief tangled together.

"That male—you can't see it because you're blinded by what he gives you, but he's the definition of darkness. “And I will do everything in my power to stop him from destroying you.”

He released me then, stepping back. His face was a mask of defeat and determination.

He turned and walked away, disappearing into the growing roar of the crowd near the arena.

His words lingered, cutting through me like salt on an open wound.

"Darling."

His voice slid through the bond—silk over steel. He was calm now, his fury settling into something steady and terrifyingly sure.

"What did he say?"

I turned and just stared at him across the grass, letting him feel everything—the fear, the ache, the storm Jeremy had just kicked up in my chest.

My throat burned. I swallowed hard.

"Don't let him win."

For a beat, Asher was still, his silver eyes locked on mine.

Then his grin curved—slow, dangerous, and inevitable. Shadows licked around his feet, hungry and dark.

“Darling, hear me. As long as darkness breathes, I am yours. I will never let anyone come between us. Never let another steal what we are. You are my fire, my ruin, my salvation. And if the world dares to try, I will drown it in shadow before I ever let it take you from me.”

The vow scorched through me, fierce and unrelenting. My own fire flared deep in my core, desperate to meet his shadows, to entwine and burn.

My breath caught on a sob I couldn't release. He meant it. Every devastating word.

My heart cracked open, spilling straight into the bond with all my love and surrender.

His shadows surged in response, wrapping around me like a second skin, a promise etched into my very soul.