Celestial Bonds - Shattered Paths (Book 3)

Chapter 14: The Burden of Choice

Lyara

The air in the forest felt heavier than before, thick with unspoken words and looming decisions. The encounter with the guardian rattled us all, forcing us to confront a truth we weren't ready for—the Crown demanded more than unity or power. It demanded sacrifice, and the guardian's warning echoed in my mind like an unsettling drumbeat. Every step we took toward the temple was closer to the unknown, and I could feel its weight pressing down on my shoulders.

Kian walked ahead, his back straight, shoulders taut with tension. His face was unreadable, a mask of stoic resolve, but I knew him well enough to recognize the turmoil simmering beneath. The conversation with the guardian had shaken his confidence, leaving him more distant than ever. And yet, there was a newfound determination in him, a resolve to do what was necessary for the good of Terra and Eltor, even if it meant facing the prophecy head-on.

I couldn't help but watch him, noting how his interactions with Lira had grown increasingly intense. She hovered near him, her eyes darting to him every few moments as if silently assessing his mind. I felt a pang of jealousy and something else, a guilt that twisted inside me. Lira had been my confidante and closest friend for so long, and now there was a growing rift between us. I knew part of it was my doing; my alliance with Jax had set us on opposite sides of an emotional battlefield.

My eyes drifted to Jax, who walked beside me, his face shadowed under the canopy of trees. His jaw was set, and I could see the conflict etched across his features. The guardian's warning had affected him deeply, just as it had all of us. His desire to wield the Crown's power for the good of both kingdoms was still there, but doubt had crept in. I felt his uncertainty, the fear that our quest might demand more than he was prepared to give.

Jax glanced at me, his eyes softening as they met mine. "Are you okay?" he asked quietly, his voice carrying a tremor of concern.

I forced a smile, but it didn't reach my eyes. "I'm not sure," I admitted, feeling the weight of our situation pressing against my chest. "That guardian... it made everything seem more real. The Crown's demands... what if we can't meet them?"

His hand found mine, a small comfort in the darkness around us. "We'll find a way," he promised, but I could hear the uncertainty in his voice. "We have to."

I wanted to believe him, to hold onto the hope that our love and resolve could overcome the prophecy and the Crown's machinations. But the guardian's words lingered like specters, haunting every step we took. The closer we came to the temple, the more I feared that we were marching toward an inevitable tragedy.

Kian slowed his pace, allowing Lira to catch up. I watched them, the way she leaned in to speak softly to him, her eyes searching his face for reassurance, perhaps, or a glimpse of the Kian she had come to know so well. Their bond had deepened throughout this journey, and I could see the strain it was putting on them. Kian was trying to maintain his duty and role as a prince while Lira battled her conflicting loyalties and burgeoning emotions.

A part of me wanted to hate Lira, to see her as a rival in this complex dance of alliances and affections. But how could I? She had stood by my side for so long, through every twist and turn of our tangled lives. It wasn't her fault that Kian was drawn to her or that I had complicated things further by falling for Jax. We were all caught in the Crown's web, trapped by the prophecy and our hearts.

Jax squeezed my hand, drawing my attention back to him. His expression was serious, his gaze intent on mine. "We need to talk about what happens next," he said, his voice low enough that the others wouldn't overhear. "The Crown is close. We're running out of time to decide what we're willing to sacrifice."

His words sent a shiver through me. I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat. "I know," I replied, my voice barely a whisper. "But... how do we choose? What if the sacrifice the Crown demands is something we can't give?"