My Beast

16.

The walk back home was rather awkward, to say the least. Even though Elizabeth said that she would stick close to Kieran, she didn't mean it.

"Did you eat?" Kieran asked, focusing solely on the path ahead of them.

"No, I haven't eaten at all. I wasn't thinking about eating." She said rubbing her arm in nervousness

Kieran shot her a concerned glance, his brow furrowing. "You haven't eaten in days? Elizabeth, you need to take care of yourself. We can't afford to be weak right now."

"I'm not weak," she snapped, her voice sharper than she intended. "I just... I needed time to think. To sort through everything."

Kieran sighed, the tension between them palpable. "I understand that, but isolating yourself isn't the answer. We need each other, especially now with Radiance lurking in the shadows."

Elizabeth felt a pang of guilt. "You're right. I just didn't want to face what happened. I was scared."

"You don't have to be scared of me," Kieran said softly, his tone soothing. "I promise, I'm not that person anymore."

"I know that, I don't know why it's a big deal to me. Maybe it was cause I was blindsided. Out of all the people to tell me something like that, it was a Radiance, out of all people "

"I know, I should have told you, well we- Luna"

"Mmh"

They walked in silence for a moment, the crunch of snow beneath their feet the only sound in the stillness of the night. The moonlight illuminated the path, casting long shadows that danced around them.

"Do you think Radiance will come after us?" Elizabeth asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kieran's expression hardened. "He will. He's calculating, and he knows how to exploit our weaknesses. We have to be prepared for anything."

As they neared the sanctuary, the tension returned, a thick fog of uncertainty hanging in the air. Kieran led the way, his senses sharpened, scanning for any signs of danger. Elizabeth followed closely, her heart pounding in her chest.

When they finally reached the sanctuary's entrance, Luna was waiting for them, her expression anxious. "I was beginning to worry," she said, relief washing over her features as she spotted them. "You both took longer than expected."

"Well, duh, you were there, Luna. You know what happened"

"Elizabeth- don't" She rolled her eyes but stayed quiet

"Anyways... we need to talk," Kieran replied, his voice steady. "We're ready to move forward. We need to find the last gem."

Luna nodded, her expression shifting to seriousness. "Good. We don't have much time. The longer we wait, the stronger Radiance becomes."

"Do you have any leads on where the last gem might be?" Elizabeth asked, skeptical

Luna hesitated, glancing between them. "No actually. The last gem is lost."

Kieran's brow furrowed, disbelief washing over his features. "Lost? How can we find something that's lost?"

Luna shook her head, frustration was evident in her posture. "It's not just lost; it's hidden in a way that makes it nearly impossible to track down. The last gem is tied to the heart of the one who possesses it, and it can only be revealed through a deep connection bond stronger than any magic."

Elizabeth felt a strange flutter in her chest at Luna's words, as if a long-buried memory was stirring. "What if...what if the gem is closer than we think?" she ventured, her voice barely above a whisper.