Celestial Bonds - Shattered Paths (Book 3)

Chapter 2: Fractured Trust

Lyara

The council chamber still echoed Kian's words, his voice stern and heavy with the weight of the decisions he had to make. I had watched him from across the room as he wrestled with the council's demands, his jaw clenched, eyes cold. The Kian I once knew—composed and driven by duty—was fading, replaced by a man fraying at the edges, consumed by doubt and uncertainty. And part of me couldn't help but feel that I had played a role in his unraveling.

I left the chamber silently, letting the councilors disperse around me. My heart felt like it was being squeezed in a vise, the pressure growing more intense with every step I took. I didn't need to glance over my shoulder to know that Kian was watching me leave; I could feel his gaze, filled with the questions he never voiced. We had grown so distant, the chasm between us widening daily.

The palace corridors were empty, the hush of mid-afternoon pressing down on everything. My thoughts drifted to Jax as I walked, my pulse quickening. We had agreed to meet in one of the palace gardens, away from prying eyes. Each time we met, it felt like we were tempting fate, flirting with disaster. But I couldn't stay away from him, not now. Not when I needed him to make sense of the storm swirling around us.

I reached the small, secluded garden and pushed open the gate, my breath hitching as I spotted him. Jax stood amidst the flowers, his back to me, shoulders tense as he stared into the distance. His presence starkly contrasted with Kian's; where Kian was duty and order, Jax was passionate and defiant. And yet, they were similar in their strength, both willing to sacrifice for what they believed in. That was part of what made this so tricky.

"Jax," I called softly, and he turned to face me, his eyes softening as they met mine.

"You're late," he said, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. But there was tension in his voice, an undercurrent of worry that sent a shiver down my spine.

"I'm sorry," I replied, walking toward him. "The council meeting ran longer than expected."

He nodded, watching me closely, searching my face for something. "How did it go? I heard Kian was... on edge."

I winced at his words, the memory of Kian's hard expression flashing. "On edge is an understatement," I muttered. "The council is pressing him hard. They want action, a definitive stance on the Crown. But he's... uncertain. Torn."

Jax sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Kian has always been like that, hasn't he? Trying to carry the world on his shoulders without asking for help. I can't say I blame him, though. It's not easy being caught between what he wants and what everyone expects of him."

His words hit me harder than I expected. Jax wasn't wrong. Kian had always been the pillar of responsibility, putting duty above everything else—even his desires. And I had challenged that, broken it when I turned away from our engagement. Now, seeing the toll it was taking on him twisted something inside me.

"I don't know what to do," I admitted, my voice barely a whisper. "Every time I look at him, I see the cracks forming, the pain in his eyes. And Lira..." I trailed off, unsure how to put into words the complicated emotions swirling within me.

"What about Lira?" Jax asked, his gaze narrowing slightly. There was a hint of something in his eyes—jealousy? Concern? I wasn't sure.

"His side is here through all of this," I said, feeling a pang of guilt. "Always advising him, supporting him. I see the way he looks at her now. There's something between them, something that wasn't there before."

Jax stiffened, his expression darkening. "You think they...?"

"No, I don't know," I replied quickly, shaking my head. "But it doesn't matter. What matters is that she's there for him when I... when I'm not. And it's my fault. I've pushed him away."