Page 95 of A Clash of Embers

“I agree with you. It’s the only way. You two can find Lilibeth and Madok can break the bonds on him.”

He sighed frustrated, “Gods, Clara, you don’t get it, do you?”

I looked at him confused. I shook my head.

“When I break the threshold of Tetharus, our blood tie breaks. Our lifeline to one another is going to dissolve,” he said, in a broken voice.

I questioned him, “But we are still mates. Why does the blood tie matter so much?”

“Because we are one another’s lifelines. When you are sick or injured, I can give you some of my power without even being beside you. When we don’t have the blood tie, we can’t do that.” He rubbed his hand over his face as he continued, “The reason your father died and your mother lived is because he broke his tie with her before. He knew there was a chance he wouldn’t make it out of the curse and he wanted your mother to live. But if I go into Tetharus, our tie will be severed.”

“We’re like the Hybrid Chrysanthemums.”

He looked at me curiously, “What are you talking about?”

I pulled back from him, processing what he just told me. If something were to happen to him, I couldn’t heal him. I couldn’t give him any part of me. And if I left this world, then I would break my tie to it. I couldn’t leave Darthium. I was its light. It’s a life source. My thoughts were racing in my head about everything I just processed. Everything was now clear to me.

“It has to happen. It’s how we end this curse.” His arms reached out grabbing me and pulling me into his chest.

I sobbed slightly into his chest, “I’m so scared.”

I heard his shaky voice, “I am too.” He pulled back from the embrace and I saw the tears in his eyes, “I’m scared too.”

He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss on my lips. A kiss that saidI’m sorry.

Chapter 46

Traveling to The Cliffs of Heir was daunting, to say the least. It was grueling. It was frigid.

We walked slowly through the Gullion forest, which was dense and too tight in quarters to walk. We were weaving in and out of trees.

“What you are doing is brave,” Kay said softly, walking stride for stride with me.

I chuckled, “Thanks. I don’t know how much of it isbraveor stupid, but thanks." I looked around at our group—the friends that I was slowly starting to make—they made my heart satisfied. I watched as Mia and Lachlan avoided each other like a horrid disease. Consul Loveridge hadn’t spoken to me or really anyone. Griffin followed behind Lettie like a lost puppy, but she ignored him just like she did everyone else. I would need to talk to her. Figure out what was going on.

Luke stayed with the group of soldiers including Callan. They were laughing as if they’d known each other forever. A lifetime.

Athiana exposed herself too easily, and nothing with her was easy. Shealwayshad a plan and a counter plan. She was always prepared. I needed to be on my guard if she decided to show up, yet again.

“We’re only a day away from the Cliffs, but we’re going to stop in a village town that I know well. Calio. It’s where I’m from originally. It borders Bolzana and Lacassine.” Kay paused, looking down at the ground hesitantly.

“What’s wrong? You don’t want to stop there?” I asked her.

“It’s not necessarily that. It’s just that my entire family was killed. I was the only one who lived. Your father saved me. It hurts to go back, to remember them.” She smiled with a pained expression. “You know, living isn’t the hard part. It’s remembering them. Remembering the ones you loved. Knowing that they’re no longer here with you. That’s the hardest part. Remembering.”

I felt the emotion in her voice and the pain in her heart. It struck mine, and I felt it. All the emotions of grief, anger, sadness, happiness, all the emotions wrapped around the love of her family.

“I hide my pain through my smiles and jokes, but I’m so broken inside. There’s nothing left of me in this world.”

I reached out and grabbed her hand, “That’s not true, Kay.” I pulled her to look at me. “Youare part of this world. And you are good enough. You have me and you still have your family. I can’t explain it but… I sense them. Their spirit lives on. In a place of pure peace. Waiting for you to join them once again. Remembering might be the hardest part, but it’s the best part of it all. Your memories keep them alive in this world. And they have made you who you are today. And what you are is amazing.”

I saw the tears streaming silently down her face as she nodded and dropped my hand, wiping the wetness off her cheeks. “I, uh... I better go catch up with Consul Loveridge.”

I smiled at her and she jogged in front of me as I held onto the reigns of my horse walking beside me, only huffing slightly.

“That was beautiful what you said,” a low voice spoke to me. I turned to see Ev looking at me with admiration.

“Thanks, it just flowed out of me,” I replied.

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