Page 86 of Claimed By Stone
We took our seats around the table. My hands rested in my lap, trembling slightly as I stared down at the crystalline dust scattered across the stone like stardust. It was time to tell them everything.
Thavros’s knee brushed mine under the table—steadying, grounding. I met his gaze, then turned to the others and began.
“I was a gift,” I began, my voice low and steady, though my insides were roiling. “A gift meant for Khuldruk, from the Westerly Clan. They planned to use me to bond with him. But they cursed me and embedded magic, twisted and broken, to drain the clan’s power after mating.”
Thavros’s fingers tightened on mine, his breath shaky. I could see the flash of understanding in his eyes, but still, I had to say it.
“I was brainwashed. My memories, my mind—they kept me from knowing the truth, from knowing myself.”
A silence fell over the room, a weight pressing down as the gravity of my words settled. I could feel the pulse of energy in my veins, a deep, raw, divine power, but also the hurt of what had been done to me.
I could see Khuldruk’s frown deepen, but his face softened with sympathy.
“The fates never intended me for Khuldruk, but the Westerly Clan thought they could manipulate it. They thought they could control me, force me to be with him, and when I turned to stone after mating, I would take with me the magic of the crystal and break the heart of the chief, killing him as well. But—” My voicebroke for just a moment, but I pushed through. “When I was put here, the magic was already fading.”
“There wasn’t enough magic to wake you up,” Thavros said, looking at me, astonished.
I nodded. “It wasn’t until he found his mate–”
“And restored the magic enough to wake you up,” Thavros finished.
Of course, he was figuring it out right along with me, but as I glanced around the table, confusion still covered their faces.
“When the magic was strong enough to wake me, Khuldruk was already bonded.”
Thavros cocked his head to the side. “But then…” he stopped, his brow furrowed as he considered his words.
“When he was already bonded, the magic, the curse… it found a way to bond with Thavros. I didn’t choose it, but I didn’t fight it either. I couldn’t.”
The silence was heavy, but the room was no longer just silent. There was an understanding, an unspoken acceptance of what had been and what was happening now.
The elder spoke, his voice like stone. “How is this possible? You speak of curses, magic, bonds… but how can it be?”
I met his gaze, steady and sure. “I’m a descendant of Aphrodite. This crystal was hers.” I gestured to the shards, my hand trembling slightly. “That’s why your magic comes from bonds of love, of connection. I was born with it inside me.”
I leaned forward, letting the words sink in.
I glanced at Thavros, catching the soft look in his eyes. He was mine, truly, and I was his. It had always been this way, even if we didn’t know it at first.
There was no hesitation in my heart anymore. This bond, this love, was ours.
Thavros was beside me in an instant, his pride for me unmistakable as he beamed at me. There was no more doubt. I was his. And he was mine.
I turned to Thavros, my heart swelling as I met his gaze. The truth had settled into place, and there was no more uncertainty between us.
“It was a true bond,” he said, his voice low but filled with the kind of certainty I had been craving. He stood beside me, strong and unwavering, his presence grounding me in this newfound truth. “No need for magical manipulation. We are fated.”
I nodded, feeling the weight of it all lift from my chest. “Yes. A true bond. They unknowingly delivered you your true mate and gave me mine."
It was an unspoken promise, one that had been there from the moment we touched. From the very first time our souls had aligned, it had always been meant to be. No curses, no manipulation, no more questioning. We were meant for each other.
Thavros reached for my hand, the warmth of his touch sparking something deep inside me. I could feel the bond thrumming between us, stronger than ever. It was no longer just the magic of the stone or the fate of the gods—it wasus.
“You tethered me here,” I murmured, my words quiet but full of adoration. “With the strength of the bond. I could find my way back to you. If it had been a manipulated bond, as I was supposed to forge with Khuldruk, I would have been lost forever. But because our bond is fated, not manipulated, we were connected in an unbreakable way.”
“So, you could bring back our power,” he said, his eyes glistening with wonder.
I nodded slightly, and his lips curved into a smile.
