Celestial Bonds - Shattered Paths (Book 3)

Chapter 25: The Turning Point

Lira

The air in the temple felt like ice, each breath a reminder of the weight pressing down on my shoulders. The echoes of Jax's words still reverberated in the chamber, a mix of hope and desperation as he laid out his plan to sever the prophecy's hold on us. His voice had been strong, but I caught the tremor behind it—the fear of what we were being asked to sacrifice.

Standing near the edge of the room, I watched him now, his gaze fixed on the Cosmic Crown, which sat on its pedestal at the center. Its dim glow pulsed with a dark energy, resonating with the turmoil inside us. Jax looked worn, shadows deepening under his eyes, but his posture remained defiant. His plan was risky, and he knew it. We all did. But it was a risk born from love and the need to protect what we cherished most.

My eyes shifted to Lyara, who stood beside him. Her face was pale, eyes hollow as she processed the Crown's demand for a choice. She clutched Jax's arm, holding onto him like a lifeline. They had come so far, fought so hard for a future that seemed to slip further out of reach with every revelation the Crown forced upon us. The uncertainty between them hung like a heavy curtain, and at that moment, I saw the cracks in Lyara's resolve. She was terrified of what this journey might cost them.

And then there was Kian. My heart twisted as I turned toward him, standing at the opposite end of the chamber. He wore his usual mask of stoic determination, but I knew him well enough now to see beyond that facade. His eyes were stormy, filled with conflict and pain as he looked at me. He had always carried his burdens silently, letting the weight of his responsibilities crush him bit by bit. Now, that weight pushed him toward an impossible choice that threatened to fracture the fragile bonds between us all.

I took a deep breath, feeling the familiar coldness of the temple seep into my bones. This was it—the moment we had been hurtling toward. Jax had planned to wield the Crown's power to free us, but I could sense the cracks forming in our unity. We were on the brink, and the decision lay before us like a chasm, ready to swallow us whole. I had to say something, to do something before we lost everything we had fought for.

Stepping forward, I gathered my courage, feeling the eyes of the others turn toward me. "Wait," I began, my voice echoing softly in the vast space. "We're looking at this all wrong. The prophecy, the Crown—it's not about power or control. It's about our bonds, our choices, and the sacrifices we're willing to accept."

Kian's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing. "What are you saying, Lira?" he asked, his tone edged with impatience. "The Crown demands a sacrifice. We can't just wish that away."

"No, we can't," I agreed, my heart pounding. "But we don't have to let it dictate our fate. It wants us to think that our only choices are to break apart or bend to its will. But what if that's not the only path?"

Lyara's brow furrowed, a glimmer of confusion and hope mixing in her eyes. "What do you mean?" she asked, her grip on Jax tightening as she looked at me.

"The prophecy isn't about forcing us into roles," I continued, feeling a surge of determination. "It's about testing the strength of our bonds. It's not demanding a specific outcome; it's testing whether we are willing to accept the consequences of our love, loyalty, and desires. We've been so focused on what we stand to lose that we've forgotten what truly binds us together."

I paused, glancing at each of them—Jax, Lyara, Kian. "The Crown wants us to choose because it's only through our choices that it can reveal our true natures. It's not asking us to wield its power for dominance; it's asking us to show that our connections are strong enough to withstand the cost of unity."

Jax shook his head, skepticism lining his features. "And how do you propose we do that, Lira? It sounds like you're asking us to surrender without a fight."