Aria's POV
No.
I said it thought it with every ounce of strength I had left. The word echoed through our bond so loudly that Caelan flinched.
No. There has to be another way.
There isn't, the Oracle's voice whispered from nowhere, already fading. The choice is yours. You have hours. Maybe less.
Then she was gone, and Caelan and I stood alone in the Heartstone chamber, staring at the dying relic that held the world together.
Another crack split across its surface. The blue glow flickered like a candle about to go out.
We should tell the others, Caelan said quietly.
No. Not yet.
He turned toward me, his blind eyes somehow finding mine perfectly. Aria
I need time to think, I cut him off. Please.
Through the bond, he felt my panic, my desperation, my refusal to accept this. He didn't argue. Just nodded and followed me as I walked out of the chamber, the chain between us clinking softly.
We found Dante and Elira in the main hall, treating their wounds from the battle. They looked exhausted but victorious.
Is the Heartstone okay? Elira asked immediately. After everything that happened
Its fine, I lied through my thoughts, knowing Caelan would hear but hoping he'd stay quiet. Just needs rest. Like us.
Caelan's jaw tightened, but he backed up my lie. We should all get some sleep. Tomorrow we figure out what to do about Marcus and the survivors.
Dante nodded, too tired to question it. Good idea. I can barely stand.
Elira smiled. You two were amazing today. The way your magic combined I've never seen anything like it.
Thanks, I thought weakly.
After they left, Caelan and I sat together in the temple garden. The moon hung overhead, bright and full. Beautiful. Like the world wasn't about to end.
You can't lie to them forever, Caelan said softly.
I'm not lying. I'm just... delaying the truth.
That's literally what lying is.
I wanted to snap at him, but I couldn't. Because he was right. And because through the bond, I could feel his own anguish. He was just as scared as I was.
I don't want to die, I admitted. The thought came out raw and honest. I finally have friends again. I finally have purpose. I finally have... you.
Caelan was quiet for a long moment. Then: I don't want to die either. And I definitely don't want to become part of a magic rock for eternity.
Despite everything, I almost laughed. When you put it like that, it sounds even worse.
It is worse, Caelan said. But you know what's even worse than that? Letting everyone we care about die because we're too selfish to make the sacrifice.
That's not fair.
No. It's not. His voice was gentle now. None of this is fair. But that doesn't change what we have to do.
I felt tears streaming down my face. There has to be another way. Some spell, some solution we haven't thought of
Aria. Caelan reached out and found my hand, lacing his fingers through mine. We both know there isn't.
The chain between us pulsed with soft golden light. Our bond had grown so strong over these few days. I could feel everything he felt his fear, his sorrow, but also his acceptance.
He'd already made his choice.
You'd really do it? I thought. Give up everything? Your chance at revenge against Marcus? Your chance at getting your life back?
What life? Caelan asked bitterly. I'm blind, dishonored, and alone. At least this way, my death means something. And I wouldn't be alone. I'd be with you.
My heart cracked open. Caelan...
I care about you, Aria. More than I've cared about anyone in a long time. Maybe ever. He turned his face toward me. If I have to die, I can't think of anyone I'd rather die beside.
That's the most depressing romantic thing anyone's ever said to me.
He smiled sadly. I'm not good at romance.
You're better than you think.
We sat in silence, hands clasped, the weight of our impossible choice pressing down on both of us.
What if we run? I thought suddenly. What if we just leave? Take Dante and Elira and go somewhere far away?
And let the void consume everything? Caelan shook his head. You know we can't do that. You're too good a person.
I'm not good. I'm scared.
Being scared doesn't make you bad. It makes you human. He squeezed my hand. But being human means making hard choices. And this is the hardest one we'll ever face.
I knew he was right. I hated it, but I knew.
We sat there for hours, neither of us speaking, just feeling each other through the bond. His steady strength. My fierce determination. Both of us terrified but trying to be brave.
As dawn approached, Caelan finally stood up, pulling me with him.
We should check on the Heartstone, he said quietly.
I don't want to.
I know. But we have to.
We walked back to the chamber together. The moment we entered, I knew something was wrong.
The Heartstone was glowing but not blue. Not gold. Red. Angry, pulsing red like a warning.
And standing in front of it, very much alive and very much furious, was Lyra.
My sister.
She spun around when she heard us, and her smile was pure poison.
Hello, sister, she purred. Did you really think that little attack could kill me? I'm stronger than you ever were.
Caelan drew his sword instantly. How did you get in here?
Magic, blind fool. Lyra's hands crackled with dark energy. While you two were playing lovers in the garden, I snuck past your pathetic friends and came to finish what I started.
She raised her hands toward the Heartstone. I felt what she was planning through the magical signature building around her.
She was going to shatter it. Right now. End everything.
No! I screamed in my mind.
Aria and I both moved but Lyra was faster. She unleashed her spell.
Dark magic slammed into the Heartstone. The relic shrieked that terrible sound only Caelan and I could hear. More cracks spread across its surface, deeper than before.
Stop! I tried to shout, but of course, no sound came.
Lyra laughed. Why would I stop? If I can't have its power, no one can!
She hit it again. And again. Each blast made the cracks worse.
The Heartstone was breaking. Right in front of us. In seconds, not hours.
Caelan and I looked at each other. Through the bond, we shared the same terrible realization.
We were out of time.
Do it, Caelan said aloud. Whatever we have to do to save it do it now.
I nodded. Grabbed his hand. Placed both our palms on the dying Heartstone.
NO! Lyra screamed. What are you?
Light exploded from the stone. Not blue. Not gold. Pure white, blinding and beautiful and terrible.
The Oracle's voice echoed from everywhere and nowhere: The bond is complete. The sacrifice is made. The cycle begins again.
I felt myself being pulled into the Heartstone. Not my body my soul. My essence. Everything I was, being absorbed into the ancient relic.
And Caelan was right beside me, our hands still clasped, being pulled in together.
I'm scared, I thought.
Me too, Caelan said. But we're together. That's enough.
The white light consumed us both.
The last thing I saw was Lyra's horrified face as power exploded outward from the Heartstone, throwing her across the chamber.
Then everything went white.
And then...