Celestial Bonds - Shattered Paths (Book 3)

Chapter 5: Dangerous Liaisons

Kian

The council chamber doors closed behind me with a heavy thud, the sound echoing in my ears as I made my way down the dimly lit corridor. My thoughts were a tangled mess, the meeting leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. The council's demands were growing more insistent, their patience thinning with each passing day. They wanted answers and action to restore control over the chaos between Terra and Eltor. And here I was, the prince, struggling to hold everything together while the world around me threatened to fracture into a thousand pieces.

Lira had stood beside me throughout the meeting, as always. Her presence had been reassuring, a calm anchor amid accusations and ultimatums. Yet, even she was different now. I could sense the distance between us, the way she hesitated before speaking, as though weighing every word. I didn't know if it was fear of the council's growing pressure or something more, something unspoken that lay between us like a widening chasm.

As I turned the corner, heading toward the palace's east wing, my thoughts drifted to Lyara. Lately, our interactions had been tense, every conversation filled with unasked questions and accusations that hung like a sword poised to drop. I knew I needed to confront her, to force a discussion about where we stood and where her loyalties lay. But part of me dreaded that confrontation, feared the answers I might receive.

The pain of betrayal still cut deep. Jax had been my friend, my confidant. And Lyara... she had been the hope of our kingdoms, the one I had dared to imagine a future with. But that future had shattered when I discovered her growing closeness to Jax, and now, all that remained was a festering wound that refused to heal.

Lira's voice echoed in my mind: "You need to confront what you're feeling, Kian, before it poisons everything around you." She had spoken those words quietly, her eyes full of a concern that had both comforted and disturbed me. It wasn't just about Lyara and Jax; it was about everything—the prophecy, the Crown, my role as the prince. Lira was right. The weight of my emotions was dragging me down, and if I didn't address it soon, it would destroy what little balance remained.

With that thought, I picked up my pace, and my destination was clear. I needed to find Lyara and talk to her. No more evading the issue. I had to know where we stood.

I approached her chambers, hesitating briefly outside the door. Taking a deep breath, I rapped my knuckles against the wood, the sound sharp and final. Moments later, the door opened, revealing Lyara standing there, her eyes widening slightly as she saw me.

"Kian," she said, her voice guarded. "What are you doing here?"

"We need to talk," I replied, my tone leaving little room for argument. "Now."

She opened the door wider, stepping aside to let me in. The room was bathed in the soft light of the setting sun, casting long shadows across the floor. I could feel our tension, a silent wall built from unspoken words and lingering doubts.

Lyara turned to face me, crossing her arms defensively. "So, talk," she said, her gaze meeting mine with an intensity that made my chest tighten.

I struggled to find the right words to convey emotions within me. "I need to know where your loyalties lie, Lyara," I began, my voice rougher than I intended. "I need to understand what you're doing with Jax and what you are planning. This secrecy, these hidden meetings... it's tearing apart whatever trust we had left."

Her eyes flashed with anger, but beneath that, I saw something else—pain, guilt. "You don't trust me, Kian," she shot back. "You've already decided what you think is happening. You see my every move as a betrayal but don't even know what I'm fighting for."

I clenched my fists, struggling to keep my composure. "Then tell me," I demanded. "Make me understand, Lyara, because from where I'm standing, it looks like you've chosen Jax over everything we were trying to build here."