Page 413 of Evil Hearts

“Good. Now let’s see if you can move without disturbing the forest,” he said, and she could see the challenge in his eyes.

As she practiced, Brian observed her closely, his brows slightly furrowed. The deeper they delved into her training, the more he felt the tug of conflicting emotions. She was everything he had sworn to keep at bay—innocent, hopeful, and yet a symbol of the past he fought against.

They spent hours honing her skills, Brian teaching her how to harness her emotions to cast small spells, and Elara drinking in his knowledge like water in the desert.

Yet, as the day wore on, so did the tension between them. Small moments, such as their fingers brushing when he demonstrated a spell, sent jolts of electricity through Elara. She caught him staring at her more than once, his expression a mix of admiration and something deeper, something more forbidden.

“Do you really have to keep me in the dark about my past?” she asked one evening as they sat by a gently flowing stream, the air thick with the scent of blooming wildflowers. The golden hues of sunset reflected off the water, painting the scene in warm colors.

Brian glanced at her, the weight of his secret pressing heavily upon him. “It’s not my choice,” he replied, his voice clipped. “Your past is dangerous. I can’t put you at risk.”

“But I deserve to know,” Elara insisted, feeling a mix of frustration and longing. “How can I move forward without understanding where I came from? I feel like I’m drifting in a sea of confusion.”

“Then find your way in the present,” he suggested, his tone softening ever so slightly. “Focus on what you can control now.”

“You make it sound so easy,” she retorted, turning her gaze to the water. “But it feels like I’m losing pieces of myself every day.”

Brian’s expression shifted to something more pained, and for a brief moment, she saw the conflict swirling in his eyes. “You are not lost, Elara. You’re becoming something new, something powerful.”

He reached out, brushing his fingers against her arm, and her breath hitched at the contact.

She shivered, not from the cool evening air but from the electric charge between them. “I want to understand. I want to know if I can still be me.”

“Perhaps you can,” he said, pulling back his hand as if he had touched a flame. “But the path is fraught with danger. You have the potential to change everything.”

The intensity of his gaze held her captive, and for a heartbeat, she felt the distance between them shrink. “And what about you? What do you want, Brian?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

He hesitated, the weight of his past hanging heavily between them. “What I want doesn’t matter. What matters is keeping you safe.”

A pang of disappointment surged within her. “Why do you insist on pushing me away? You act like you want to help, yet you keep me at arm’s length.”

“I’m not pushing you away,” Brian replied sharply, but his expression softened when he saw her hurt. “I’m trying to protect you. You don’t understand the stakes.”

“And you don’t understand me,” Elara shot back, her frustration boiling over. “I’m not just a princess or a pawn in this game. I’m a person, Brian.”

Their eyes locked, and in that moment, something shifted. The tension was thick, crackling in the air like the magic around them. She could feel his breath quicken, and she knew he was fighting against his own desires.

“Perhaps you’re right,” he admitted, his voice barely a murmur. “But you need to focus on mastering your abilities. Let’s not complicate things.”

“Complicate things? Is that what you think I want?” Elara’s heart raced, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within her. “I want to understand my place in this world—and with you.”

Brian turned away; his jaw clenched tightly. “I’m not the one you think I am. You don’t know what you’re asking for.”

Elara’s breath caught in her throat. “And what if I want to know you? The real you?”

Before he could respond, a rustling sound broke through their charged moment.

Brian stiffened, instinctively moving closer to her. “We need to be cautious,” he said, his demeanor shifting from vulnerable to alert.

Elara’s heart pounded as she scanned the trees, her senses heightening. “What is it?”

“Creatures of the forest can be unpredictable,” he warned, his voice low. “Stay close.”

She obeyed, pressing herself against him as they listened. The sounds grew louder—a group of forest folk was approaching, their laughter echoing through the trees. As the figures emerged,Elara recognized them as the fairies from the glade, their wings sparkling in the fading light.

“Brian! Elara!” a fairy squealed; her voice filled with excitement. “Come join us! We’re having a celebration!”

Elara’s mood shifted instantly; her curiosity piqued. “A celebration? What for?”

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