Genetic Ascension novel Chapter 2331

Neither of them believed for even a second that Sylas was bluffing.

Their hearts began pounding almost immediately, and when Iskaleth and Sarethvane looked toward one another in search of some hidden answer, some sign that the other had understood what Sylas expected, they found the exact same uncertainty reflected back.

Sarethvane's expression darkened first. Annoyance bubbled beneath his fear, his pride rebelling against the idea that Sylas could simply summon him, throw an impossible task at his feet, and expect him to dance on command.

He wasn't some trained beast meant to perform whenever Sylas snapped his fingers. His mouth opened, ready to make that much clear, only for him to finally look toward Sylas and realize the man wasn't even paying attention anymore.

Sylas had crossed his legs in the skies and entered meditation, his body hovering without the slightest movement, his breathing so silent and calm that he almost seemed detached from everything around him.

Sarethvane's jaw tightened.

There was nothing to argue about. Sylas had already started the timer.

Whatever complaints Sarethvane had, whatever anger or indignation he wanted to throw at him, none of it mattered. Three hours from now, Sylas would either find that they had completed the task or he would kill them. There would be no debate afterward and no second chance. Sarethvane had spent enough time twisted into a pretzel to understand that much.

Iskaleth was handling the pressure even worse.

A few hours. That was all it had been since she escaped what she thought had been certain death in the Vosskarr Archive, and now she found herself standing beneath another blade.

How many times was Sylas going to put her in this position? How many times would she have to feel her life sitting in his palm before she could finally reclaim some control over it?

Her breathing quickened.

Then she forced it to stop.

Iskaleth closed her eyes and drew in a slow breath. An epiphany didn't make someone different overnight. She understood that much. People loved pretending that one realization could overturn decades of habit, but real change required repetition. Deliberate choices, made again and again until the new response became as natural as the old one had been.

She had recognized what was wrong with her Will. That didn't mean it had already changed.

The real question was whether she would collapse back into the same habits the first time pressure returned, or whether she would use this chance to move forward again.

Iskaleth grit her teeth.

A low growl rumbled from deep within her body.

Sarethvane turned toward her, surprise flickering through his narrowed eyes. He knew who Iskaleth was, at least vaguely, but he had never known her well enough to expect that sort of sound from her.

She didn't explain. Instead, she launched directly into what they were looking for.

By the time Iskaleth finished describing the Fate Dragon, Sarethvane's annoyance had shifted into something else entirely. His brows rose, then drew together as the words themselves seemed to stir something instinctive within him.

"Fate Dragon..."

He rolled the phrase through his mind.

He didn't know what one was, but something about the concept bothered him in a way he couldn't immediately place.

"If Sylas gave this task to both of us," Iskaleth continued, "then he probably believes our abilities can work together somehow. More importantly, that means this should be possible."

Sarethvane glanced toward Sylas.

Iskaleth caught the movement and pressed immediately.

"Maybe he's already figured out how."

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