Celestial Bonds - Shattered Paths (Book 3)

Chapter 23: Unraveling

Lyara

The air in the temple felt heavy, suffocating even as if it were pressing down on my chest with every breath. I stood there, staring at Kian. His eyes were complex and guarded, but something else was in them—something raw. The weight of his confession lingered in the room like a storm cloud, threatening to break at any moment.

I clenched my hands, trying to still their trembling. The words he had spoken to me were clear and unyielding: He could not choose between his love for Lira and his duty to his kingdom. And yet, in his voice, I had heard something that struck deep. It was more than just uncertainty; it was fear—fear of losing what little control we had left over our fates, fear that no matter our choice, the Crown would take from us what we held most dear.

Kian turned away from me, his broad shoulders tense as he walked to the chamber's far end. I watched him go, feeling an ache in my chest. He was a mess of emotions—anger, love, duty—tearing at him from the inside. And I realized I couldn't blame him. I was no different. We were all unraveling.

Jax was pacing near the entrance, his face tight with frustration. I had never seen him look so conflicted, so... lost. His usual fiery determination was tempered by something else—doubt. And it scared me. Jax was the one who had always pushed forward, who refused to bow to the prophecy's whims. But now, even he seemed unsure of what lay ahead.

I wanted to reach out to him, to tell him that we would figure this out, that we wouldn't let the Crown tear us apart. But the words caught in my throat. How could I say that when I didn't even believe it myself? I glanced at Lira, standing to the side, her arms wrapped around herself as if shielding against an unseen force. Her eyes were downcast, avoiding Kian's gaze.

Lira. My confidante, my friend. I had sensed her internal struggle for so long, seeing how she buried her feelings beneath that calm facade. But now, her composure was cracking. The tension between her and Kian had become palpable, a force neither of them could hide. And it made my heart twist. I had wanted to hate her for coming between Kian and me, for capturing his heart in a way I never could. But standing here, seeing the pain in her eyes, I realized I didn't have the energy to hate. We were all trying to survive this.

I moved to stand near Jax, needing the proximity and feeling his presence's warmth. He glanced at me, his eyes searching mine for reassurance, for a sign that I still believed in us. I reached out, gripping his hand tightly. "We'll find a way," I whispered, though the words sounded hollow, even to me. We can't let this prophecy dictate our lives."

Jax squeezed my hand, but he didn't speak. His silence unnerved me. He always had a plan and could see through the chaos. Yet, here we were, standing on the edge of a precipice with no clear path forward.

"Kian," Lira's voice broke through the stillness, soft but steady. I turned, my heart clenching at the look she gave him. "What are we going to do? The Crown... it demands a choice. We can't keep running from it."

Kian faced her, his jaw set in that stubborn way. "I know," he replied, his voice low and rough. "But I don't see how our choice will end well. Every path leads to a sacrifice we aren't ready to make."

"And what if that's the point?" I said, unable to keep quiet any longer. My voice sounded sharper than I intended, echoing through the chamber. "What if this prophecy has pushed us to confront what we want to lose?"

Lira flinched, her eyes darting to mine. There was a flash of understanding there, a shared pain that made my stomach twist. "It's always been about sacrifice," she murmured, her gaze dropping to the floor. "The Crown demands it because it knows that only through loss can we find the strength to move forward."