Celestial Bonds - Shattered Paths (Book 3)

Chapter 17: The Temple of the Crown

Lyara

The air grew heavier with each step I took through the dense forest, the ancient trees looming above us like silent sentinels. The path ahead wound through tangled roots and fallen leaves, illuminated only by the faint glow of the moon breaking through the canopy. It felt like the forest was closing in on us, pushing us toward our destination—the temple where the Cosmic Crown lay waiting.

I glanced at the others, feeling the tension radiate from each of them. Kian led the way, his back straight, his shoulders rigid with determination. Every line in his posture screamed of his weight, the burden of leading us to this place where so many truths would be laid bare. I watched him and felt a pang of regret for a moment. I had seen glimpses of who he truly was beneath the stoic mask: the man who longed to protect his kingdom and those he cared for. But between us, a chasm of misunderstandings and unspoken emotions had grown, which might be impossible to bridge.

Behind him, Lira moved gracefully, her eyes scanning the path ahead with a wary vigilance. She had always been the composed one, the voice of reason among us, but I had seen the cracks in her calm. After her recent confession to Kian, her carefully guarded emotions were raw, visible to anyone who cared to look. Something in her gaze unnerved me—a fear and a silent resolve. She felt torn; her loyalty stretched between her duty to Kian and her desires. I couldn't deny the jealousy that flared within me whenever I saw them together, an emotion I tried to suppress even now.

Jax walked beside me, his expression darkened by the same thoughts that haunted me. I could feel his turmoil, his hand twitching as if wanting to reach out to me but holding back. He was more than just my lover; he was my confidant who understood the weight of what we were facing. Yet even with him, there was an unspoken tension. The prophecy, the Crown, and Kian were barriers between us, forcing us into roles neither had asked for.

The temple loomed ahead, partially covered in moss and vines. It looked like it had stood there for millennia, untouched by time. My heart pounded as we drew closer. This was it. The place that held the answers, the one we had been seeking for so long. And yet, as we approached, I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. I glanced at Kian and then at Jax. Were we truly ready for what the Crown would demand of us?

"We're here," Kian announced, his voice a low murmur that carried a mixture of relief and apprehension. He turned to face us, his gaze lingering on each of us. "Once we enter, there's no turning back. The Crown will test us, and we must be prepared for whatever it reveals."

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "Do you think it will show us what to do?" I asked, directing my question at Kian but feeling the weight of everyone's eyes on me.

He met my gaze, his eyes shadowed with uncertainty. "I don't know," he admitted. "But it will show us something. Whether we're ready to face it is a different matter."

Jax stepped forward, his jaw set in that familiar stubborn line. "Then we face it together," he said firmly. "We've come this far. We can't let fear stop us now."

A flicker of warmth spread through me at his words. He was right; we had come too far to turn back now. I nodded, forcing myself to steady my breathing. My eyes shifted to Lira, who stood silently, her expression unreadable. She seemed lost in thought, her gaze fixed on the temple entrance.

"Lira?" I prompted, feeling the need to hear her voice, to know that she was with us now.

She blinked as if snapping out of a trance and looked at me. "We face this because we must," she said quietly. "The Crown will show us the cost of our choices. And... we must be ready to accept whatever that cost is."

Her words settled over us like a shroud, heavy with implications. A chill ran through me, but I forced myself to focus. This was no time to falter. We needed to confront the Crown to uncover the truth of what it demanded from us. And deep down, I feared that its demands would tear us apart.