Amara (Tales of a Goddess Book 1)

Ch. 29

Amara's POV:

Kieran leans back against the wall, a predatory grace in his movements as he fixes his gaze on me. His smile is wide, revealing sharp teeth that gleam in the dim light, and I can't help but feel both entranced and terrified by him.

"Ah, where to begin?" he muses, the shadows swirling around him like a cloak. "Maddox's curse is a complicated tapestry, one woven from strands of pain, betrayal, and a touch of dark magic."

I swallow hard, my heart racing. "What do you mean?"

Kieran tilts his head, his dark eyes gleaming with a mix of mischief and something deeper. "You see, Maddox's mother dabbled in forbidden magic—she sought power beyond her grasp and, in doing so, unknowingly planted the seed of darkness within her own womb."

"Darkness?" I echo, feeling the weight of his words. "What does that mean?"

He leans closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Maddox was born alongside the very essence of darkness. I was never meant to be, but his mother's actions caused something that had never occurred before. A life born of a seed of darkness. There I was, a growing mass of a dark... entity. But somewhere along the way, something shifted. Instead of remaining two separate entities, we fused. I became an extension of him, and he of me. Our souls are intertwined, locked in an eternal struggle. One soul dark, one darker."

I sit in silence, absorbing his revelation. "So, you're part of him? But also separate?"

Kieran chuckles softly, a sound that sends shivers down my spine. "Exactly. I am as much a part of him as he is of me. And our existence is a battle—a constant push and pull between darkness and shadows, desire and restraint. I am the beast. I fight against his very humanity, and I... I thrive in that chaos."

I feel a rush of confusion. "Why are you showing yourself to me now? What do you want?"

Kieran's expression softens, though the shadows around him remain relentless. "What I want is simple, princess. I want to explore this bond we have. Maddox keeps me locked away, chained to the darker corners of his soul, but you—" he leans in closer, his gaze intense, "you have the power to understand both of us. You can help us embrace the darkness rather than fear it."

"Embrace?" I repeat, feeling the weight of his words. "But at what cost?"

"Freedom always comes with a price," he replies, his tone almost playful, yet laced with an underlying seriousness. "But imagine the power you could wield if you accepted both Maddox and I as part of your life. The potential is limitless. You could become a force no one could contend with."

His words hang in the air between us, heavy with temptation. I feel the thrill of his offer—an opportunity to tap into something primal and powerful. But with that power comes danger, and the reminder that Kieran is a part of Maddox's curse looms large in my mind.

"What does Maddox think about this?" I ask, my voice shaky. "Does he know you're here?"

Kieran smirks, a glimmer of amusement dancing in his dark eyes. "Oh, he knows I exist, but he's unfamiliar with sharing his body with another entity. Maddox loves control, you see, and I—" he gestures grandly, "I am the embodiment of chaos."

"Chaos?" I echo, my pulse quickening. "So you're saying that he has to deal with you, but he doesn't fight against it?"

Kieran's grin widens, the shadows around him pulsating. "Exactly. Maddox struggles against sharing his mind and body, and that makes me all the more delighted. I thrive on his confusion, on the way our energies intertwine. However, rather than fighting me, he tries to control the chaos I bring forth, but control is a delicate thing, don't you think, princess?"