Celestial Bonds - Shattered Paths (Book 3)

Chapter 28: The Crown's Decree

Lira

The air inside the temple was still heavy with the residue of magic. I could feel it on my skin, a subtle hum that refused to dissipate. The ritual was complete, but its echoes hung like an unfinished sentence. I glanced at the others, trying to gauge the impact of what we had just done. Kian stood with his shoulders tense, his eyes fixed on the Cosmic Crown as it hovered before us, its surface glowing softly as if acknowledging our sacrifice.

My heart ached as I looked at him. The moment we shared during the ritual, when we confessed our feelings and laid bare our vulnerabilities, was still vivid in my mind. Kian had chosen to relinquish his need for control, and I had given up the safety of my role as a mere advisor. It felt liberating and terrifying, a step toward something I had long suppressed. Yet, standing here now, I could sense that this wasn't over. The Crown had not released us from its grasp.

Lyara and Jax were off to the side, speaking in hushed tones. Lyara's face was pale, her expression a mix of resolve and fear. She had let go of her fear of losing Jax, and he, in turn, had relinquished his relentless ambition for power. They had sacrificed, as we all had, but the tension between us lingered as if the ritual had merely peeled back another layer of the tangled mess we found ourselves in.

The Crown pulsed suddenly, drawing our attention. My breath caught in my throat as it began to emit a soft, rhythmic hum that resonated deep within my bones. I felt Kian's gaze on me, his eyes seeking reassurance, but I had none to offer. We had hoped the ritual would break the prophecy's hold on us, but I knew it demanded something more as the Crown's glow intensified.

"Lira," Kian said quietly, his voice tinged with worry. "What's happening?"

I shook my head, unable to tear my eyes away from the Crown. "I don't know," I admitted, my voice trembling. "But it feels like it's... deciding."

The words sent a shiver down my spine. We were deciding what? We had already made our sacrifices; we had laid our hearts bare. What more could it possibly want from us?

The Crown's light brightened, and the air around us grew cold. I took a step back, instinctively reaching out to Kian. His hand found mine, squeezing tightly as if grounding us against the overwhelming power radiating from the artifact. On the other side of the room, Lyara and Jax moved closer, their faces tense.

"It's speaking to us," Lyara whispered, her eyes wide as she stared at the Crown. "Can't you hear it?"

I closed my eyes, straining to hear what she did. At first, there was nothing but a faint ringing in my ears. Then, slowly, words began to form, not spoken aloud but entering my mind like whispers carried on a cold breeze.

You have chosen, but choice alone does not fulfill the prophecy. The path of unity requires more than mere sacrifice.

A cold chill spread through my veins. My heart pounded, each beat echoing with the Crown's decree—the path of unity. We had embraced that, not through power or fear, but by accepting our bonds. I had thought that would be enough, but the Crown was telling us otherwise.

Jax stepped forward, his jaw set in defiance. "We did what you wanted!" he shouted at the Crown as if it could hear him. "We made our sacrifices. We're ready to forge our path. Isn't that what you wanted?"

The Crown pulsed again, and I felt a wave of energy wash over us, pushing us all to our knees. My head spun, the air around me crackling with tension. It was like standing at the edge of a precipice, knowing one wrong step could send us into an abyss.

The path of unity requires trust, the Crown's voice resounded in my mind. You have chosen love and sacrifice, but unity is forged in the acceptance of what you cannot control.