He paused in indecision. Did he go to Iza for further clarification, which she would not likely give, or to the Sacred Grove where he could be alone.
In the end, he marched to the Sacred Grove and did not stop until he stood in the middle of the temple.
Iza was right about you, too, Cassian.
What did Samantha mean by that?
He walked to the stairs that led to the lake and sank down on them.
What all had Iza said to him?
Your soul, Cassian, is just now beginning to appreciate the beauty of a sunrise instead of lazing about as is often the case with youth. However, it is still unsatisfied, anxious, and wants more.
He wanted the estate in France and he wanted Samantha, but he could not have both, and likely would not have either.
You cannot claim what is beyond without letting go.
Cassian still did not understand what Iza had meant. To claim the estate, he needed to let go of everything here, or so he assumed. To claim Samantha, he had to let go of…pride and dignity? Of his belief in not being worthy of her?
You will reach a crossroads when you will be forced to admit the truth and humble yourself or be forever bound.
He was already bound to Nightshade Manor if the curse was not lifted, but Iza had not known about that…or had she?
But that still did not explain what he needed to do because even if he humbled himself or admitted the truth, which he had already done, the piano would not free Samantha.
Good God! Why had he walked so far away from the cellar.
What if she needed him and he was not there to hear her call out?
Yes, she may have told him to leave but without him, Samantha would starve…she would die.
With those thoughts, he returned to the house and paused only a moment to look into the vault where the witches were reviewing spell books then returned to Samantha.
“I am not leaving you.”
“I will not ask that you stay.”
“You will die without me.”
She also knew that he was correct.
“Well, then, let us hope that a way to lift the curse is found soon because I do not want to be the one to keep you from realizing your dream.”
“You will not and are not,” he insisted and, in that moment, he had true clarity. “Yes, I want to reclaim the property in France, but even if I could walk out that door and have the funds to sail to France to reclaim my heritage, I would not do so.”
“Which is why I am telling you to go. You only remain because of me and that is unfair to you.”
“Yes, I do remain for you, Samantha.” His heart pounded. It was time to be fully honest with her. She may reject him in the end, but he was also all that she had until the curse was broken, which he feared never would be.
“It is not only because that you need me but…”
Blast this was hard. He hated the vulnerability of exposing his heart to her.
Samantha crossed her arms over her breasts and started tapping her toe again. “But what, Cassian.”
This was his crossroads. He had to leave France behind, give up on it, let go of his pride and his dignity be damned.
The rest of Iza’s prediction came to him.
