"Are you seriously considering going through that again?" Roy queried Clair.
"You can't predict the future, so don't act like you've got it all figured out," she retorted.
"Oh, so you're expecting some romantic fairytale with him now?" he quipped sarcastically. "You should be grateful you made it past the council last time. You know the consequences if they catch wind of your actions. They could be keeping an eye on you as we speak... And who knows if I'll be able to assist you next time."
She took a deep breath and locked eyes with him. "I'm exhausted from hiding, done with pretending to be someone I'm not just to fit in. This time, I want to live life as my true self. I can love, so I will love, and I'll fight for it."
He held her gaze, discerning the seriousness in her eyes. "With all the options out there, why choose to love a hivrin?"
"I once loved someone like us... but I was deceived and ridiculed," she confided. "Ironically, the hivrin you despised was the first to show me what genuine love feels like." Without waiting for his response, she returned to the dining room.
Later, as they finished lunch, they invited Zach to join them in the living room. As he wandered to the balcony to admire the expansive front yard, Roy noticed him there. He walked over and stood beside him by the concrete railing. "Have you found yourself falling for her all over again?" Roy asked, his gaze fixed on the distance.
"I believe that's not your concern," Zach responded calmly.
Roy scoffed. "Looks like you're intending to remain involved with her despite my warnings. I thought you realized you can't have feelings for each other. Not in the past, not now, and certainly not in the future."
Zach sighed. "I get it."
Roy glanced at him.
"But every time I look into her eyes, I see sadness," Zach observed, meeting Roy's gaze. "You want her to be safe, but she's not happy. It's like being a prisoner – safe within walls but with no freedom."
"I'll be straight with you. If you don't keep your distance from her, you could end up dead again. And this time, you might not make it back. Aren't you concerned for your own life?" Roy inquired.
"Dying is frightening, no doubt about it. But if it's for someone you love... you wouldn't regret it. I might not recall her from before, but if I was willing to risk my life for our love, I'm confident I wouldn’t have any regrets," Zach replied.
Roy glanced away, letting out a silent sigh. "Your tone suggests you've made your decision."
"Yes," Zach affirmed, gazing into the distance.
"Whatever it is... I just hope it's the right choice," Roy muttered before quietly exiting the room.
Per had been observing them from the living room ever since Roy entered. She understood his opposition to their relationship and the reason behind it. Since their trip to Australia, he had taken every measure to prevent their paths from crossing again. He had even gone as far as proposing to the guardian council that he should accompany Clair to monitor her actions, ensuring her safety while also dispelling any suspicions they may have had. He worked diligently to strike a balance between his duties as a guardian and his concern for her well-being.
She knew he had attempted to erase Zach from her heart, but his efforts were unsuccessful. The day they reunited, all his attempts crumbled, leaving him deeply disappointed. None of them had anticipated it happening, making her reconsider if Ark's words held truth after all.
YOU ARE READING
Divine & Wicked: The Trapped Memories (Book2)
Fantasy(Fantasy•Romance) COMPLETED Zach woke up with an addled mind and empty heart a few days after his surgery. He seemed to feel that his life had begun again. As he continued with what he thought was his normal life, fragments of his lost past slowly b...
