War (Book 3 in Destined Series)

25

I watch her go tears filling my vision. I slowly blink them away then slide to the ground.

She's right... I don't want to change. That's what's terrifying...

I bite my lip hard, tasting the blood before I feel the pain.

I'm not ready to let go of the darkness... And she knows it...

My lips still feel hers against them. But when I blink my eyes open, back into reality I go. Back to the second she turned and walked away.

I look up at the moonlit sky then slowly stand up. I walk through the brush she went through and come to a stop. I watch her move down beside Luke and he mumbles something, but she stays silent. She looks over in my general direction. She sees me, as I stay half hidden in the shadows. Our eyes lock and I sense her pain. She slowly looks away from me and lays down beside him. He grumbles again and rolls over throwing an arm over her waist as he continues to sleep. Jealously and envy rages within me but I push it down. She's safe. He's protecting her. That's all that matters. She looks down from the sky, and back over at me. Our eyes meet again and I catch the glisten of a tear on her cheek. My wings form from my back, as I look at her one last time. As I look at them, one last time.

She turns on to her side, her back to him and curls into a ball. He keeps his arm over her though. Almost afraid to let her go.

Something I should've been afraid of doing...

I look back at her and watch her shut her eyes, and slowly fall asleep.

I shift my gaze to Luke and take a deep breath.

He's done everything, I should've done. I know it's true.

"Take care of her Luke." I whisper then jump into the air.

~~

I continue to lay on my side looking at the dirt coated ground. I reopened my eyes when I knew Shane was gone... My mind spins trying to truly comprehend everything that happened in the past few minutes. Luke's arm is warm and strong around my waist, giving me a sense of protection and safety. But I just, I don't know.

The last thing I saw was Shane jump into the air. Our eyes locked and everything I wanted to get rid of, came rushing back. I wanted to call out to him jump up and run to him. I still loved him. But not with my whole heart... I know I'll never see him again, not until the war reaches surface. It sucks, it does. But I did the right thing. I did what not only my mind, but also my heart, told me to do. I needed to let him go. He wasn't Shane. Not the one I fell for. And even if he was, maybe my reaction would've stayed the same. I know Shane, the real Shane. He'd be glad to hear I turned the darkness away. I'm proud, that I turned the darkness away.

My lips still tingle, but I shut off the thoughts.

Luke mumbles something and I roll over to face him. His eyes blink open and he looks at me.

"Hey." he whispers and I smile gently with my lips.

"Hey." I respond and he brushes some stray strands of hair out of my face.

"Everything ok?" he asks gently and I bite my lip.

"I uh- yeah." I say snuggling against him.

"You sure?" he asks gently rubbing my back and I nod.

"Yes." I say quietly.

He gently pushes me back, so he can meet my eyes. He fingers the amulet around my neck, then let's it drop back down between my breasts.

"You're lying." he whispers and I slowly meet his gaze.

"About what?"

"Being ok. I know you Christina. I know when you're sad, I know when you're scared, I know when you don't want to be bothered, I know when you've been bothered by something, and I know when you need someone to talk to. And I'm here for you Christina. I always have been and I always will be." he says and I nod a tear sliding down my cheek. He sits up and gently pulls me against him. I put my head on his shoulder and cry.

"I saw Shane. We talked."

"When?" he gently asks and I take a deep breath.

"Earlier tonight, you were asleep."

"Did he hurt you?" he asks gently and I shake my head.

"He brought back memories of the man he once was. I love him Luke. I don't know how to let him go. I don't want to be with him. Every time I see him, I fall even more in love. But every time he's away, I fall out of love. I'm so confused. I don't know who to love. I don't know what to love." I whisper

"I don't know how to let go of the man he once was. But I do know how to hate the demon he's become." I whisper and he presses his lips to my forehead.

"I love him Luke. Or at least I thought I did." I say gently and he slowly moves me back.

"You don't love him anymore?" he asks our eyes locking.

"I don't know." I whisper and a sad look casts over his face.

"Maybe you need to figure that out."

"But how? He's gone. I told him to leave. I told him to leave after disowning him. After telling him a part of me might always love him. But it's not my heart. How can I get back from that?"

"Call to him." he whispers and I look at him.

"What?"

"Call to him. He obviously won't harm you. So call to him." he whispers

"But we have to get the amu-

"I'll take care of the amulet. You need to figure out which side you want to be truly apart of. How you honestly feel. Call out to him Christina. It's the only way to solve the conflicts in your head."

"But what about you?"

"I'll be ok. Christina, you know how I feel about you. You know I'd do anything for you. You know I'd fight any battle for you. But this, this one you have to fight alone." he whispers and I sob pressing my lips to his cheek.

"Go." he whispers unclipping the amulet from around my neck.

"Call to him." he whispers and I slowly raise to my feet.

"Shane!"

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