Chapter 19 The Challenge of the Mate
Amara’s POV
I sat with my hands clenched in my lap in the council hall. I feared my ribs could fracture from the force of my heart's thunder.
On either side of the long wooden table, Rowan and Kian stood looking at one another as if they were engaged in combat.
Senior, at the head of the table, Mira sat with her eyes fixed in rage and her withered hands folded over her staff.
Kian's tone was cold. “You're not worthy of her. You relinquished her.”
Rowan snarled. "You believe you've improved? When she was mine, you had never even met her. She is the Priestess, and that is the only reason you desire her.”
Kian yelled, "That's a lie." "I love her, which is why I want her."
"ENOUGH!" roared Mira.
There was uncomfortable stillness in the room.
In an attempt to contain my emotions, I pinched my eyes tight.
"What are you doing?" I said.
Neither man gave me a look.
Mira's staff shattered into the ground. "Clearly state your intentions. You two.”
Rowan's mouth clenched. His piercing, black eyes locked with mine.
"I challenge Kian for Amara's hand," he declared icily.
I halted breathing.
Kian's lips curled as his head flung toward him. “Do you want to fight? Alright. Give the time.”
My chair scraped the floor as I leapt to my feet. "NO!"
Both of them disregarded me.
I could see the gold seeping into Rowan's irises since his wolf was so near the surface.
"She is my partner," he growled. "You can't take her away from me."
With his claws pressing into the table, Kian's shoulders hunched.
"I chose not to take her. You relinquished her. She was harmed by you. She is worthy of better.
My hands smashed down on the table. "Stop it! You two!”
Neither man made a move.
Mira looked at me, her eyes heavy and sad.
"This is the way of wolves" she said, "child." It is necessary to determine dominance.”
My lip quivered. "No. They won't fight over me. I am not a trophy.”
Rowan's tone cracked. "I will not allow him to have you."
Kian didn't even bat an eye. "That's no longer up to you to decide."
My breath caught.
Mira raised her staff, aiming it at them. "This challenge is forbidden by me."
The two men jerked their heads in her direction.
“What?” they all said at once.
She gave them a fierce look. "We are engaged in combat. The Hollow Witch is assembling a shadow army. Our finest warriors cannot afford to kill one another over a woman who hasn't decided yet.”
Her comments made me wince.
Kian slowly turned his head in my direction. His tone was cautious and quiet. "Amara. Inform him that you have chosen me.”
Rowan had a storm-black look. "Tell him that you belong to me."
I sobbed and choked.
"Cease it," I said.
Neither man blinked.
Mira let out a long sigh. "With both of you tearing at her like savage dogs, she cannot make a decision."
Rowan's mouth twisted. "I refuse to watch as he—"
"ENOUGH!"
The rafters shook when I screamed.
On my wrist, my mark flashed, the silver light crackling like lightning.
Both of them froze.
Hot tears streamed down my cheeks.
I cried, "I'm not picking anyone." "Not in this manner.” “Not while you regard me as a prize worth fighting for.”
Rowan's expression dimmed.
Kian averted his look, his jaw clenched.
Mira's look grew softer.
She gave her staff a single thump.
"The duel is prohibited by this council," she stated icily. "You two will comply. Or both of you will be banished.”
There was silence.
Neither man said anything.
Rowan's voice finally rasped. "I'll comply."
Kian growled. "All right."
Mira gave a sad nod.
“Then leave.” “You two.”
They gave each other death glares as they strode out on opposite sides of the hall.
I buried my face in my hands and slowly sank back into my chair.
Mira's creased hand was softly resting on my shoulder.
"My darling child," she said. "If you allow them to, they will rip you apart."
I sobbed as I shook my head.
"If this is what love is, then I don't want either of them."
Kian was waiting by the training fields later that day.
His arms were crossed, and his eyes were dark with annoyance as he leaned against a post.
When he spotted me, he straightened.
"Amara," he remarked in a raspy voice.
I came to a stop a few feet away.
"Kian," I said in a whisper.
I raised a hand as he made a step forward.
"Don't," I said. "Not at this time."
He flinched.
"I apologise" he said quietly in a harsh voice. "For my actions. I went insane.”
I took a deep breath.
I said in a murmur, "I can't... be that to you." "No, not if you treat me like a prize."
His expression dropped.
He said, "I don't want to win you." "I wish for you to pick me. Freely.”
I gave a headshake. "You must give me space to breathe. I'll think about it.”
His eyes fell.
At last, he responded, "I can do that." "I'll hold out. For however long it takes.”
My chest hurt.
Before I could break again, I turned and left.
I was cornered by Rowan outside the healer's cabin that evening.
With urgency, he said, "Amara."
I took a step back until my shoulders struck the wall.
"Please," I said in a whisper. "Avoid it."
He winced.
"I apologise," he said. "I apologise. I was unaware of the binding. I was unaware of anything.”
I closed my eyes tightly.
He inhaled nervously.
"I cherish you," he said. "I've loved you forever."
I put my hands over my eyes.
"You exiled me" I gasped. "You abandoned me to perish."
He gasped for air.
Slowly, as if he were caressing something delicate, he extended his hand.
He said, "I will make it right for the rest of my life." "If you don't mind."
My chest broke.
However, Mira's voice interrupted me before I could say anything more.
"That's sufficient."
Rowan took a grudging step back and turned slowly.
Mira gave him a fierce look.
"You cannot claim her as your own. Not right now. Not after everything.”
Rowan drooped his shoulders.
His eyes were full of sadness as he gave me one final look.
After that, he turned and left.
I sobbed into the darkness as I slid down the wall and held my knees to my chest.
My eyes were puffy, and my body hurt when I woke up the following morning.
Kian had left. Rowan had left.
The air, however, felt off.
Heavy.
Filled with fear.
As I staggered out into the courtyard, I saw Mira emerge from her cottage, staff in hand, eyes wide with terror.
"They're on their way!" She let out a cry.
Above us, the sky darkened abnormally quickly.
Wolves gave a startled yelp.
With my heart racing, I turned.
The ground rocked with a rumble.
It was palpable in my bones.
Thud. Thud.
There were sharp fissures in the earth.
The trees were howling in a chilly wind.
And something slithered forward from the shadows.
Coal-like eyes.
Knife-like teeth.
Beasts of the shadow.
There are hundreds of them.
Mira took hold of my wrist.
"They located us" she growled.
Once more, the ground trembled.
Out in the distance, I heard Kian roar.
The air over the border was torn by Rowan's howl.
The Obsidian Pack was at war.
And it was because of me.
"I won't let you have me" I said, swallowing my anxiety as I raised my burning wrist.
I could still hear the Hollow Witch laughing.
"I already have you."