Celestial Bonds - Shattered Paths (Book 3)

Chapter 21: Shadows of Doubt

Lira

The silence around me is heavy, almost suffocating, as I step away from the campfire where Jax and Lyara sit, their shoulders tense and eyes downcast. Moments ago, Jax shared his vision with us—the Crown's whispered promise of power, the cost it demanded. I saw the anguish in his eyes as he spoke, a blend of fear and resolve, but also something darker: a yearning for control, for the power to shape his and Lyara's destiny. It sent a chill through me, and I knew then that the Crown was toying with our deepest desires.

I walk deeper into the woods, letting the shadows envelop me. The forest is still, save for the faint rustling of leaves and the distant call of an owl. It feels like a fitting setting for the thoughts swirling inside me—dark, uncertain, threatening to consume what little clarity I have left. Jax's words echo, raising questions I've been too afraid to confront.

What am I willing to sacrifice? The Crown demands something of us, but I don't know if I have the strength to pay its price. I've always believed in duty and doing what is right for Terra and Kian. But now, with the path before us shrouded in uncertainty, I find myself wavering. The Crown knows our fears and weaknesses and uses them against us, unraveling everything we thought we understood about each other—and ourselves.

My thoughts drift to Kian. The way he looked at me earlier, his eyes filled with an unspoken plea for understanding, for something more than just loyalty. My heart aches at the memory. We've grown close through these trials, his stoicism and strength a counterbalance to the storm inside me. But what am I to him? An advisor? A friend? Something more? I've fought to keep my feelings in check, to remain his anchor amidst the chaos, but I can't ignore the truth any longer: I care for him in ways that defy the role I've played for so long.

Yet, every step I take toward him feels like a betrayal, not just to Lyara, who once had dreams of a future with him, but to my sense of duty. What would Terra become if I let myself fall into this and allow these emotions to guide me? What becomes of us all?

The forest closes in around me as I press further into its depths. I need to clear my head and escape these thoughts' weight. It's too much—the Crown's demands, the council's plotting, the tangled mess of our hearts. I stop near a small clearing, leaning against a tree, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I'm lost, and for the first time in my life, I don't know which path to take.

I shut my eyes, trying to center myself, to find some semblance of calm. And then, like a cold whisper in my ear, I hear it. The Crown. Its voice slithers into my mind, weaving around my thoughts like a serpent. It speaks not in words but in feelings—a lure of power, the promise of protection for Kian, for Terra. And with it comes an image: Kian standing alone, the kingdom in turmoil, a shadow spreading over Terra. The Crown shows me his failure and loss, and my heart clenches with a fierce need to protect him.

"No," I breathe out, pressing my hands to my temples. "No, this isn't real. This is the Crown's doing."

But doubt lingers. What if the Crown's vision is a warning, a glimpse of a future where I fail to act? What if the only way to save Kian is to give in and seize the Crown's power for ourselves? I try to shake the thoughts away, but they cling to me, filling me with dread.

Footsteps crunch on the leaves behind me, and I whirl around, my heart pounding. Kian stands there, his face etched with concern as he steps closer, his gaze searching mine.

"Lira," he says softly, like a lifeline in the darkness. "You've been gone a while. Are you all right?"

I nod, though my throat feels tight, my words caught somewhere between my fear and my resolve. "I needed some air," I manage to say, forcing a weak smile. "Jax's vision... it just—"