KIERAN’S POV
“I did.”
The words—growled out by Ashar—hung in the air like thunder after a lightning strike. The truth stone glowed in my hand, silent and unyielding.
Everything stilled.
Not just the crowd, not just Sera—but even the night seemed to pause in deference to the revelation. My mind reeled, trying to make sense of what I’d just said—what Ashar had just confessed.
My heartbeat thundered in my ears. ‘Ashar,’ I said, trying to wrestle back control. ‘What the fuck did you just say?’
But he was silent now. Tucked deep inside. Elusive.
‘Ashar!’
He couldn’t just drop a bomb like this and retreat.
Sera was staring at me like she didn’t know whether to breathe or break. Her lips moved as if trying to speak, to understand, but no sound came out.
My hand fell to my side as Maya took the truth stone and tucked it into her clutch.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Celeste demanded, voice cracking with panic.
