The Unpredicted Ascendance Of Ashton Pearce

SHADOWS OF UNKNOWN

The cold morning mist clung to the ground as Ashton made his way to Thomas’ apartment, his mind still racing with the events of the previous night. His hands tightened into fists at his sides, the memory of Elizabeth’s pleading eyes still burning into him. The flower’s glow pulsed faintly from within his pocket, an ever-present reminder of the grim path that lay before him.

There’s got to be another way, he told himself for the hundredth time. There’s always another way.

But despite his best efforts to convince himself, the dread was still there. Ashton wasn’t just up against some random mystical force—he was tangled in something ancient and far more powerful than he ever could have imagined. He needed help. And there was only one person who might understand the weight of this situation.

Thomas.

He quickened his pace, his shoes slapping against the wet pavement as the fog seemed to close in around him, as if the w