“Look into the essence of your bond with Ilian, sweet Zhuliya, peer through the layers of memory that form it.
The answers you seek are already inside of you, but sometimes the eyes must see to believe.”
As I focus on the luminous globe, scenes from Ilian’s and my journey unfold—a kaleidoscope of moments that I realize are my memories pulled from my mind.
“Your bond is a vibrant mosaic of undisputable moments of realness that even the cosmic dance of those kismet cannot saturate.
The threads of this reality intertwine with these mystical forces to give depth to the rainbow of love that colors your fate.
Embrace this complexity, for it is within these intricacies that the beauty of your connection resides.”
Inside the ball of light, Ilian smiles, and my heart clenches. He looks at me with such adoration, it’s hard to believe that he doesn’t not love me.
“I’m scared,” I confess in a small voice.
“Love is scary. It means opening yourself for the chance to be hurt, but remember that the other person is just as vulnerable. Real love doesn’t seek to wound—it heals. Are you ready to repair the ache in your soul?”
“I want to so badly—”
“Only you can shed the yoke of your fear. If you don’t, it will drown you in a sea of doubt.”
My shoulders sag because I know Ekana is right. I’m letting fear rule over my emotions instead of taking a chance on something that could be the most beautiful thing I’ve ever experienced.
“What if I don’t choose Ilian?”
Ekana smiles. “Fate has a way of bringing people together who are truly meant to be—why fight what will eventually happen?
No one escapes their destiny. All they can do is shape the path to it, so you decide. Do you want the route to be smooth or bumpy?”
I snort. This Ithaqua makes it sound so easy. She laughs, the tinkling sound ringing into the air like bells.
“My child, I never said it would be easy—life rarely is—but I think we can both agree that most people make decisions that complicate matters much more than they need to be. Why fight the flow of the river when you can use it?”
“So you’re saying I’m trying to swim upstream when I should go downstream?”
“Something like that.”
“Is Ilian alright?”
“That’s for you to ask him and learn.”
“I don’t know where—”
“He’s returning now. Before I go to give you space to talk, I’m going to gift you with what Aisyth tasked you with.”
Her words don’t make any sense until she conjures a vial out of thin air and squeezes a tear inside from the depths of her shadowed gaze.
“Why are you giving me this?”
“Because you still have a choice to make, and one of them requires my tear.”
“Ilian made it sound like summoning you would be difficult.”
“Emotionally, yes. Your memories of your past are what called to me. Would you not agree that every time you think of them, they take a toll on your heart?”
“So your tear is for my memories of my parents?”
Ekana smiles sadly. “No. It’s for the love that might have been.”
With this, she vanishes in a swirl of mist, leaving me bereft of her wisdom. I still seek answers, but Ekana made it clear that they’re already inside of me.
Heavy footsteps sound, and I turn to see Ilian lumbering toward me. His fur is clean and there’s a wariness pouring through our bond from him, but his shoulders still curl forward.
I grip the vial with Ekana’s tear as I replay her words in my mind. Deep down, I know what’s real and what’s not. I just have to follow my heart.
Clarity bursts like a firework inside my head, and I get what she meant about her gift. Ekana didn’t cry from my past memories.
But the future one of losing Ilian if I choose to dissolve our bond.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Ilian
“Soyam, we need to talk.”
“I met Ekana—she gave me her tear.”
