Chapter 47 Departures
Amara’s POV
The night wind blew across my face as the campfire roared low. I kept my arms about my knees and avoided looking at any of them. Rowan paced close by, nervous and agitated. With his arms folded, Kian stood motionless, observing the flames as if they would provide answers.
The silence was then broken by Rowan. "She is no longer safe in this place."
I slowly raised my head. "What? "
The reason Lilith is coming is because of her. He took a step toward me and stated, "The Hollow Witch wants war because if we leave the Obsidian Pack now, maybe—"
"What? Kian stepped forward and snapped. Do you wish to run once more? Do you believe Lilith will be deterred by keeping her a secret? "
Rowan's voice lifted. "It's not concealing! It is safeguarding! She's not in the military. She ought not to be fighting on the front lines! "
Kian laughed. “She is more resilient than any of us anticipated. You believe she is merely a defenceless girl you can imprison? Rowan, you can't control her.”
"So what? Do you believe you are?” Rowan stepped forward once more. "You believe that simply by being next to her, she is safer? Since your bond is more recent? "
"Stop," I said.
I was not heard by them. Or perhaps they were indifferent.
Rowan said, "I've known her longer." She initially trusted me. When no one else would save her life, I did.”
Kian's eyes became gloomy. “Then you allowed her to be cursed. Exiled. You gave yourself over to Lilith. Don't pretend that your past has saved her.”
"Stop," I repeated, raising my voice. My voice faltered.
They disregarded me.
Rowan began, "I could have fought Lilith if I'd known—"
“However, you didn't!” Kian yelled. “And now you want to flee with her as if that will make everything better?"
"That's sufficient!” I hurried to my feet, clenching my fists. "I'm right here!"
With heavy breath and rage still burning in their eyes, both guys turned to face me. Now, however, remorse hung in their faces.
With a more composed tone, I stated, "I don't want to leave." "However, I also don't want to feel like a rope being pulled between you two."
"This is for your safety, Amara," Rowan said quietly.
I answered, "No, it's about control." "You both wish to keep me safe. However, protection devoid of choice is merely a cage.”
Kian took a step ahead. "Our goal is not to imprison you."
“Then stop chatting as if I'm not here!” I sobbed.
There was a long pause.
Then I said, "I'm not leaving Obsidian." "Not since I feel secure. But because I have to battle and stay. I'll also do it according to my conditions.”
Rowan started to object, but I held up my hand. "Don't speak behind my back anymore. No more plans without my presence. What happens to me is not up to you to decide.”
I needed space, so I moved away from the fire.
They continued to argue in whispers behind me, their voices remaining low.
They were still unable to grasp it.
Even worse, I was unsure of my ability to manufacture them.
I didn't travel too far. The moonlight streamed down in lovely, pale ribbons, and the trees whispered just to the border of the woods. I took a deep breath to attempt to quiet the raging tempest inside of me.
There were footsteps. Even before he spoke, I knew who it was.
Kian.
He paused behind me and was quiet for a while. "You don't want to leave... do you?" he said gently.
I didn't respond.
He took a step next to me and looked out into the trees. "Rowan has had this all along... saviour complex. As though the entire world were on his shoulders. As if he must be the one to make everything right.”
"He believes that running will protect me."
"He's wrong," Kian firmly stated. “He believes the curse will be broken if you hide. It won't.” He turned to face me and said, "And even if it could—" I won't let him take you away."
I looked up and scowled. "Permit him?"
"I mean, I won't let you leave by yourself. Never again. Not while we're fighting a war. Not when you're still attempting to discover who you are.”
I took a deep breath. "Neither of you should fight over me."
Kian's voice trailed off. "You are not the reason for our battle. We're at odds with you. Now is not the time to make a decision. You must remain.”
I looked into his storm-grey eyes, which maintained their composure despite the pandemonium all around us. "But one of you might break if I don't pick."
"I'll live," he said. "Amara, you are not in charge of our hearts. Just yours.”
His hand slid to my shoulder and caressed it. "But don't flee it alone, no matter what happens next."
My heart hurt. Kian’s statements were earnest. Steady. They did not, however, lessen the pressure that was mounting within me.
I turned to him after taking a deep breath. “Then demand that Rowan stop keeping me a secret. And you... Don't treat me like I'm going to break.”
"I don't—"
"You do." You two do. I'm not a young woman torn between two fighters. I am the Priestess, darn it. The Hollow Witch's preferred one. The one with the glowing mark that indicates impending death.
Kian's expression tensed. "We are aware of that."
"Then pretend to be that," I said. "Give me a moment to breathe."
Before he could say anything further, I moved away. Before I was able to cry in front of him once more.
I then took off running.
Through the trees. Beyond the fire pits on the outside. Past the sentries and the muttering wolves.
I had no idea where I was heading.
I simply needed to be by myself.
As I rushed farther into the trees, the chilly air hurt my face. The agony in my chest matched the beating of my heartbeat in my ears.
Rowan wasn't hated by Kian or me.
I had painfully distinct ways of loving them both.
However, I was unable to select them.
Not when I had no idea what I was becoming into.
I halted beneath a tall tree, struggling to breathe as the forest closed in around me and the shadows became darker.
I put my palm to my chest and felt my mark's heat pulsating on my flesh.
Then, like smoke, a whisper twisted through the night.
"Well done, girl."
The voice wasn't Rowan's.
Kian didn't own it.
She owned it.
Lilith.
"The Hollow Witch"
No one was there as I gasped and spun around. Just the dark.
My mark was scorched.
I wasn't alone myself.