Page 418 of Evil Hearts

He pulled away, his breaths ragged, his face etched with conflict and regret.

“No,” he murmured, his voice strained. “I can’t… we can’t do this.”

She looked up at him, her chest heaving, her heart aching at the distance suddenly forced between them. “Why?” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “Why are you pulling away?”

Brian shook his head, his gaze a mix of anguish and determination. “Because I have a duty, Elara. A duty to protectyou. And if we… if I let myself feel this way, I can’t keep you safe. I can’t do what needs to be done.”

Her heart sank, the words slicing through her like a blade. “So… all of this, it means nothing to you?”

“It means everything,” he replied, his voice choking with emotion. “But that’s why I can’t let it happen. Not when there are forces that would tear us apart if they knew the truth.”

She swallowed hard, the bitterness of his words mingling with the lingering sweetness of his kiss. “You’re still hiding things from me, aren’t you? Even now, you’re keeping secrets.”

He nodded, unable to meet her gaze. “Yes. For your sake, I have to. Please, try to understand.”

She closed her eyes, feeling the sting of tears she refused to let fall. “How am I supposed to understand when I feel like you’re the only person I can trust… and yet, you’re the one keeping me in the dark?”

Brian’s face softened, his hand reaching for hers, squeezing it gently. “I wish I could tell you everything. But if I did, it would change things in ways you’re not ready for. Just… give it time, Elara. I promise, someday, you’ll understand.”

She pulled her hand from his, stepping back, her heart heavy with the weight of unspoken questions. “I hope you’re right, Brian. Because I don’t know how much longer I can live with half-truths and shadows.”

With a last, lingering look, she turned and walked away, leaving him standing alone in the clearing. She didn’t look back, afraid that if she did, she would lose herself all over again.

That night, as she lay in her bed, sleep eluded her. The memory of their kiss lingered, the warmth of his touch haunting her as she drifted in and out of restless dreams. And then, as the firstlight of dawn crept into the room, the visions returned—clearer and more vivid than ever before.

She saw the castle again, its towering spires reaching into the stormy sky. She saw herself in a grand hall, laughter and music filling the air, a sense of belonging warming her heart. And then she saw him—Prince Rafe. His face was clear now, his eyes filled with a love so intense it made her chest ache. She saw him reach for her, felt the warmth of his hand in hers, the echo of promises whispered beneath the stars.

But as she reached for him, the vision shattered, leaving her alone in the darkness with a sense of profound loss.

Elara woke with a gasp, her heart pounding, the taste of that lost life lingering like a distant melody in her mind. The kiss with Brian had unlocked something within her—memories she could no longer deny. And now, more than ever, she felt the urgency to uncover the truth.

The vision of Prince Rafe’s face lingered, his pretty eyes filled with warmth and love and… it felt achingly familiar. It was as if she’d known him intimately, shared whispered secrets, promises woven into the fabric of her very soul. Yet, how could that be? She’d never met him—she’d barely left the village. And yet… the memories tugged at her with undeniable force.

She sat up, breathing deeply, the shadows in her room stretching toward her as dawn’s light began to seep through the window. The familiarity of her surroundings—the simple wooden bed, the rough woven blankets—felt foreign now, like the remnants of a dream she was awakening from.

Her mind returned to Brian, to the look on his face when he’d pulled away. He’d seemed haunted, torn between a desire as fierce as her own and a duty he couldn’t abandon. And though his words had stung, she could feel the truth of his struggle, as if he were as ensnared in this mystery as she was.

Chapter 8

The forest wasshrouded in morning mist as Elara ventured deeper into its depths, the air thick with an otherworldly silence. Shadows stretched between the trees, seeming to shift and swirl, almost as if they whispered secrets she couldn’t yet understand. She wrapped her cloak tightly around her, but the chill that clung to her skin felt less like cold and more like the weight of ancient memories pressing down on her.

The ancient tree rose before her, towering and twisted, its bark cracked and worn, like an old, wise face lined with centuries of knowledge and sorrow. It felt as if it were watching her, and something within her recognized it. She reached out, her fingertips brushing against the rough bark, feeling a pulse of energy that seemed to flow from the tree into her veins.

“Elara,” a voice murmured, but it wasn’t a voice from the outside world. It echoed within her mind, a voice both foreign and familiar, pulling her into a vision.

Suddenly, memories burst forth, vivid and overwhelming, like a dam breaking in her mind.

She was in a castle—a castle of towering spires and gleaming stone walls. Sunlight streamed through stained glass windows, casting vibrant colors across the marble floors. She was dressed in royal robes, her hands covered in intricate golden jewelry.Servants bowed as she passed, their heads lowered in respect. The weight of a crown rested upon her head, a constant reminder of her duty, her legacy.

She was not just anyone. She was the princess of Burres.

A wave of emotions flooded her—pride, sorrow, fear. She remembered the curse that had fallen upon her people, a dark spell that had bound them, twisting their lives into shadows. The kingdom had fallen into despair, their once-fertile lands withering under an unseen blight. And she… she had been sent into hiding, her memories sealed away, to protect her from the dark forces that sought to keep her kingdom in ruin.

She gasped, stumbling backward, the vision loosening its hold on her. But the memories kept coming, flashes of faces and voices swirling in her mind.

She saw the face of a handsome prince with smiling eyes, his eyes filled with determination and love as he swore to stand by her side. She saw the powerful sorcerers who had fought to save her kingdom, the advisors who had given their lives to keep her safe. And finally, she saw herself, her own face set in a fierce expression as she made a solemn vow.

She had been sent away to one day return and break the curse. She was Burres’ last hope.

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