Chapter 16 A Broken Heart
Amara’s POV
My legs gave out under me as I ran.
Breathless, I collapsed to my knees in the dirt. My face was scorched by the cold wind, and my cheeks felt like ice from the tears. Like it was alive, my mark throbbed hot and fierce on my wrist.
I tried to make it silent by pressing my hand on it.
I said to the night, "Please." "Just stop, please. This is not what I desire.”
It was hotter, though.
I felt my chest heave. I cried out in a choked voice.
"I'm not interested in being your priestess. This is not what I want!”
I felt so insignificant. So pointless.
Like a chorus of the dead, the wind howled through the branches of the trees surrounding me, making them creak.
I cried until my throat hurt and buried my forehead in the icy dirt.
I have no idea when I dozed off.
But I was taken by the dream.
I was someone else.
My long, silver-thread braided hair was as white as snow. Celestial runes shone along my sides as I transformed into a wolf. Blood was soaking the black grass as I stood in a field of the dead.
The air was filled with smoke. Fire blazed red in the sky.
In front of me was a man. Broad shoulders. Armour in black. There was a terrible victory in his eyes.
He said, "Give me your power."
I gave a headshake. "Never."
With his blood-slick blade, he took a step closer.
He growled, "You said you loved me."
My heart twisted. My voice faltered. "I did." I still do.”
He raised his sword.
And stabbed me in the chest.
I felt a burst of pain.
I let out a yell.
I went down.
Hot blood poured over my palms.
I looked up at him. Anger—and a hint of regret—twisted his face.
"You ought to have conceded," he said.
I screamed as I jolted up.
The force of it burned my throat. I was in the little cabin of the Obsidian healers.
I have no recollection of creeping here after fleeing.
My entire body trembled. The air was cold enough to make my breath cloud, but my clothes and hair were soaked with sweat.
It shoved the door open.
With wild eyes and a drawn blade, Kian rushed in. "Amara!"
Dropping the sword, he grabbed my shoulders and ran to my side. "What happened, Amara? Speak to me!”
I cried instead of speaking. The picture of the man's sword in my chest kept coming back to me.
Kian tenderly cupped my face. "Observe me. Amara, look at me.”
I could see the anxiety and worry in his eyes as I looked into them.
He said, "I'm here." "I've got you.” “I won't abandon you.”
My voice broke. "—I had a dream... I was her. The Priestess. Someone she loved killed her."
Kian's expression stiffened. "A previous existence?"
Choking, I nodded. “He deceived her. For her strength, he killed her.”
Kian's mouth clenched. He softened his hold on my face. "That won't occur once more. I promise. I will not allow anyone to harm you.”
The door slammed open once more.
With eyes as bright as twin moons, Rowan charged in, his wolf so near the surface that his voice was a snarl.
"How did you treat her?"
With one hand on the hilt of his blade, Kian stood guard in front of me. "You idiot, she had a nightmare."
Rowan's eyes narrowed, and he growled. "Remove yourself."
"Not taking place."
"I said—"
"You two, please stop!" Even though my voice was rough and scratchy, it sounded like thunder in the tiny space.
Both of them froze.
I tried to stand, but my entire body trembled. I shoved Kian's hand away as he tried to support me. Rowan took a step forward, but I also held up my hand.
"This is not what I want. I don't want you two to argue over me.”
Rowan's voice was strained as he said, "Amara." "I need to know that you're all right."
I laughed without amusement as tears streamed down my face. "All right? I just had a vision of myself dying. My beloved man betrayed me. Tell me how it's alright!”
Rowan winced.
Kian's face turned white.
I retreated from both of them till my back struck the wall. I covered my ears with my hands as if to block out the memories.
"Amara," Kian said in a weak whisper. "It wasn't us. That was a different life.”
"How can I tell?" I cried. "How can I be sure that neither of you will turn on me? How can I be certain that I won't kill everyone again?”
Rowan's face twisted in agony. "I promise never to harm you again."
Kian's voice sounded rough. "I'll pass away before I allow that to occur."
I was torn by what they said. Convinced me to trust them.
However, that vision...
It was very authentic.
I fell to the ground. "This is not something I can do. I am unable to.”
They both shifted simultaneously, kneeling beside me.
"Please don't ignore us," Rowan begged.
"Let us assist you," Kian said.
Both of their hands simultaneously reached for mine.
Tears were streaming down my cheeks as I closed my eyes.
My wrist was charred by the mark.
I let out a yell.
It exploded with icy, silver light that crackled with old runes.
Both men recoiled in disbelief.
My entire body trembled. Even with my eyelids closed, the mark was so bright that it pained my eyes.
I felt pain that went deeper than bone.
Their shouts sounded far to me.
"Amara!"
"Remain with me!"
But I was unable to wait.
The world tilted and spun around me.
I was completely engulfed by darkness.
The mark that was burning my skin and printing unintelligible runes was the last thing I felt.
Then, I had no feelings.