I can’t let my touch kill him.
“Yes, Spark?” he sighs.
I nervously pull my strands behind my ears. “Florian wants us to talk.”
“Ah… of course he does.” He lifts his head, raising his body from the comfort of his position. “What does my brother want?”
“I suppose he could feel the tension of us earlier.”
“You don’t say.” A thick brow of his lifts before hitching a breath, grabbing his ribs in agony. “The Vitaei used to heal me quicker, not sure what the issue is. Maybe the Gods are pissed at me.”
“Now, why would the Gods be mad at you? You protected me back there.”
His eyes drop to finally meet mine and the air from my lungs disintegrates. I am suffocating.
Damn it.
“Not because of that but… due to the vow I broke. And more that I am ashamed of.” He pushes off of the rocky ledge, his hands hovering over the surface as the light kisses his fingertips, and walks over towards me. “You heard what Lykia said.”
Ah. Lykia. A name I never want to hear again. Just imagining her lips on his, her hands on him, makes my skin crawl.
I could vomit.
I clear my throat swiftly. “You vowed your love to her. Why did you break it? Why would—”
He cuts me off. “Why would the Gods be angry at that?”
I nod as he takes his last step towards me. The water ripples around us.
“Because I was meant to bring the Sea and the Ice together. A promise our fathers made centuries ago that was written in the stones that fell from the sky and I chose…” His eyes fall to my cheek where the scar from Skydance is slowly healing. “Not to follow my heart anymore, but to protect the stones and the Realms with my life. I disobeyed not only my father and the King of the Sea, but also the Gods.”
“That’s why Florian asked why you left Azure?”
He nods. “He knew they would have my head if I didn't continue protecting the Realms. My duty to survive as the bastard son was either to fight for the Realms, or bring the Ice and Sea together. My father chose the marriage.” The wet curls rest flat against his head and shoulders as his arm wipes away the droplets of water that fall from his hair. “I couldn’t…” He clears his throat, ripping his emerald eyes away from me. “I don’t trust myself around anyone I care about.”
“Oh, so is this why you have been pushing me away?” I tease, watching his eyes flickering away in annoyance as his lips tug into a playful grin.
“I just know you deserve better.” He drifts his gaze back to me while taking another step forward, our chests almost colliding. My throat tightens as his eyes soften. “You deserve to have Florian beside you every step of the way, not me. I will not be able to control what is inside of me now that…”
He squeezes his eyes, rolling his lips tightly between his teeth as he grunts.
“Now that… what?” I whisper.
“Now that we have seen you are what they claim you to be.” His eyes open, shimmering with a deep sadness. He inhales sharply, his breath almost quivering as he rips his gaze away from me and lets his trembling hand run through his waves. His voice breaks as he continues. “I wish with all my heart that I could protect you from this fate. But I am powerless against their control, unable to fight them for you.”
“Fight who, Koen!” I beg, raising my chin upward to him as my eyes flicker between his avoiding gaze. “Koen, look at me!”
His jaw ticks, veins swelling against his throat as he swallows, staring at everythingbut me.
“Damn, Koen, who!” I bellow, my throat constricting as I scream out.
“The darklings!” His eyes darken, glaring down at me. “Damn it Serene,the darklings. I know they are coming for you.”
“Why me!” My body shifts backward, almost stumbling underwater as my eyes widen with disbelief. I heave, feeling my eyes burn as I stare at him. “How do you know this! Is this why you have been so strange around me?”
His eyes close gently and his lips part as he takes a shaky breath. “I know because I can feel it. I sense their movements. I hear their anger.”
My wet hair sticks against my back as I try to shake my head. Lines form between my brows, my eyes narrowing into slits. “I don’t understand what you are saying!” I hiss, feeling my neck and cheeks burn.
