Page 51 of Twisted Thorns

My heart feels like a stone sinking in the depths of an ocean, pulled down by the gravity of my love for Avalina and the iron chains of duty that bind me to my family. I’ve spent countless restless nights wrestling with my thoughts, torn between keeping the woman who haunts my dreams by my side, but also ensuring her safety. My conclusion is that I can’t do both.

The burnished glow of the setting sun drapes over Avalina's shoulder-length hair, turning it into a cascade of molten copper. As we approach the restaurant, I feel the familiar prickling awareness—the sensation of unseen eyes tracing my movements with lethal precision.

"Mandolin" reads the brass sign hanging above the door, swinging gently in the evening breeze. It's a popular spot, revered for its culinary excellence and romantic ambiance. Yet, beneath the veneer of sophistication lies a truth only I am privy to: this place is a puppet on Sean O'Neil's malevolent strings.

"Kieran, this place looks incredible," Avalina breathes out, her green eyes reflecting the warm light that spills from the windows onto the cobbled street.

I can't help but study her face—the serene composure that makes her all the more alluring in her ignorance of the dark undercurrents swirling around us. She's rediscovered herself since the accident, and I've been captivated by her rebirth, her passion for life that blooms like a rare flower in adversity's soil. But she doesn't remember the secret we once shared, or the danger that now shadows her steps.

"Trust me, it's not half as incredible as you," I murmur, ensuring every word drips with the truth of my desire. The iron knot of dread tightens in my stomach, knowing what I have to do tonight.

We're seated at a secluded table, draped in white linen and adorned with a single crimson rose. The scent of garlic and red wine mingles in the air, teasing the senses, creating an illusion of normalcy that I am about to shatter.

"Kieran?" Avalina's voice cuts through the din of clinking glasses and subdued conversations, pulling me back from the precipice of my brooding thoughts.

I take a deep breath and let it out slowly, feeling the weight of my decision crush me with its finality. "Avalina, there's something I need to tell you."

She leans forward, concern etching her delicate features, and I brace myself against the wave of emotion her proximity evokes.

Taking a breath, I force the damning words past my lips. "Sean... he was behind your accident," I confess, the words bitter on my tongue, acid to my pride that I can’t keep Avalina safe, then or now. Her eyes widen in shock, a silent question forming on her lips.

"It was meant for me," I continue, forcing myself to maintain eye contact, to lay bare the ugliness that taints our reality. "He wanted to get to me, and you... you were collateral damage."

I ran my hands through my hair. “But I wasn’t in the car. The fact that you couldn't remember our relationship seemed to satisfy Sean, since as far as I can tell, he hasn't tried anything since."

Turning towards her, I take Avalina's hands in my own, staring into her emerald green eyes. "But Lina, as long as you're with me, you have a target on your head. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened to you."

I watch the realization dawn in her eyes, the horror and disbelief that flickers across her face before settling into a heart-wrenching vulnerability.

"Because of that, we can't be together," I say, each syllable laced with the agony of renunciation. "I won't—I can't—put you in danger again."

The candlelight between us flickers, casting shadows that play upon her features, accentuating the soft curve of her cheeks and the gentle bow of her lips—lips I've yearned to taste since the moment she forgot me.

My hand trembles slightly as I toss a few crisp bills onto the table, more than enough to cover the untouched meal and the silence that's settled between us like a thick fog. Avalina's voice rises in a crescendo of desperation and disbelief, her words clawing at me, begging me to reconsider.

"But I don't fear that, Kieran. You keep me safe."

"Don't you see?" I yell. "I didn't keep you safe. I almost got you killed!"

Shame slams into me, hot and hard, at the flinch that flashes across Avalina's face. I bury my face in my hands, drowning in an ocean of guilt and sorrow that pierces my soul. Delicate hands curl around my own scared ones, pulling them down into my lap as determined eyes meet my own.

"You can't control Sean, Kieran. The accident wasn't your fault."

I go to argue, but she cuts me off. "No, I won't let you take the blame."

Hesitating, I cup her face. "If anything happened to you..." I trail off, ice flooding my veins at the thought. "Lina, I... my life ends when yours does. It's as simple as that. I know you don't want to hear it, but this has to be the end."

"I don't believe you."

"I'm serious, Lina. I'll do anything I have to if it means keeping you safe."

"You've already decided, haven't you? You've made your mind up and it doesn't matter what I say."

"Kieran, please—"

But my resolve is ironclad, reinforced by the knowledge of what could happen if I allow my heart to rule over my head. It’s a battle, every instinct screaming to pull her close, to shield her from the cruel world with my own body. But Sean's shadows lurk in every corner, and I can't—won't—be the reason she falls prey to them again.

"Listen to me," I interrupt, the edge in my voice cutting through her pleas. "This isn't up for discussion. It's not safe."

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