Lyra's heart hammered in her chest, her thoughts scattered like leaves in the wind. The words Kael had spoken echoed in her mind, replaying over and over again. "I'm the one who's destined to destroy everything you hold dear."
She wanted to scream, to demand answers, but all that escaped her lips was a strangled whisper. "What does that mean, Kael? What exactly are you?"
The candlelight flickered once more, casting long, haunting shadows across the stone walls of the underground chamber. The air felt thick, suffocating, as if the very room was holding its breath.
Kael's gaze never wavered from hers, though the torment in his eyes was undeniable. He took a slow step toward her, the silence between them almost unbearable.
"I didn't want you to know," Kael began, his voice rough, laden with sorrow. "I never meant for you to be caught up in all of this. But fate doesn't ask for permission."
Lorian, the cloaked figure who had appeared from the shadows, stood silently by, watching the exchange with an amused glint in his eye. Lyra's eyes flicked to him, but she couldn't bring herself to ask him for answers. She could feel the tension in the air—this was between her and Kael, no one else.
"What do you mean 'fate'?" Lyra's voice was barely more than a breath, but it rang in the stillness of the room. "Who are you really, Kael? Are you… Are you really who you say you are?"
Kael seemed to falter at her question, the weight of her gaze causing him to hesitate. His jaw clenched, his muscles tightening, as if the truth he was about to share would tear him apart.
The seconds stretched into eternity before he finally spoke, his voice low, almost a growl. "Lyra, I'm not just the protector you think I am. I wasn't sent to guard you because of some divine purpose. I was sent here to watch over you... because I'm the one who is meant to destroy you."
Lyra's stomach twisted, her hands shaking as her world tilted on its axis. The room swam around her, spinning like a whirlwind. "No," she whispered, her breath catching. "That's not true. You can't be… You can't be the one who's going to hurt me."
The air between them crackled, as though the truth itself was too powerful to be contained. Kael's face twisted in agony, but it was his next words that cut through her soul.
"You don't understand," he said, his voice raw, almost desperate. "I didn't want to be this. I never asked for this power. But my bloodline… my lineage was cursed long before I was born. I'm tied to something much darker than either of us can imagine."
Lyra took a step back, her mind reeling. "No, Kael, no!" she cried, her voice shaking. "You're lying. You must be. This is some kind of—"
"Listen to me!" Kael's voice thundered, his hands reaching out, catching her arms to stop her from retreating any further. His touch burned against her skin, but it wasn't the warmth she had grown used to. This was raw, electric, full of tension.
His gaze softened then, just for a moment, his eyes filled with an unbearable kind of sadness. "I wish I could lie to you. But I can't. Not anymore. Not after everything that's happened. After everything that's coming."
Lorian stepped forward then, his slow, deliberate movement drawing Lyra's attention. He crossed his arms over his chest, his face still hidden beneath his hood. His voice was smooth, like honey laced with venom.
"Kael has never been good at hiding the truth, has he, Lyra?" he said, the words dripping with amusement. "But there's more to the story than even he knows. You see, Kael may be your protector, but he is also the harbinger of destruction."
The words hit her like a physical blow. Her knees buckled slightly, and she had to clutch at the cold stone table to steady herself. "What are you saying?" she asked, her voice shaking with fear and disbelief.
Lorian smiled, his eyes gleaming beneath his hood. "You've always known there was something about Kael, haven't you? You've felt it. The tension, the heat. The magnetism. But what you don't know is that the very thing that draws you to him is the very thing that will tear you apart."
Lyra looked at Kael, her heart breaking all over again. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to trust him with every fiber of her being, but his words—his bloodline was cursed—had shattered everything she had once thought to be true.
"Kael, please," she begged, her voice barely a whisper. "Tell me it's not true."
Kael stepped back, his eyes closing for a long moment. When he opened them again, they were filled with a deep sadness. "I wish I could, Lyra. But the truth is, I'm the one who's been sent to kill you. And if I don't… everything will be destroyed."
Lorian let out a soft, mocking chuckle. "You see, Lyra? You've been playing in a game far beyond your understanding. And now, you have no choice but to play your part."
Lyra felt the ground shift beneath her, her heart threatening to tear itself out of her chest. She turned to Kael, searching his face for some sign that this was all a lie. But the tortured expression on his face told her everything she needed to know.
He wasn't lying.
And the realization hit her like a thunderclap.
"I love you," she whispered, her voice trembling. The words seemed to fall out of her before she could stop them. "I don't care what you're supposed to do. I don't care what your bloodline says. I love you, Kael. And I'll fight for us."
Kael's eyes flickered with surprise, then softened with a tenderness that made Lyra's chest ache. "You don't know what you're saying," he whispered. "You don't know what this means for you."
"I don't care," she said, her voice growing stronger. "I'm not going to let you go down this path alone. I'll fight with you. Whatever it takes."
Lorian stepped forward, his expression darkening. "You should think twice, Lyra. This isn't some simple love story. You're dealing with forces far greater than you can comprehend."
Lyra didn't flinch. She knew what she had to do. And nothing—nothing—would stop her.
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