Page 77 of Shadowkissed

His voice is calm. Always calm. Like a storm that’s already passed but left the wreckage behind.

I cross my arms, plant my feet.

“You’ve been avoiding me.”

“I’ve been giving you space.”

“You’ve beenhiding,” I snap, more heat than I mean to show. “While Seraphiel manipulates my blood, while the council sits on their hands, while I?—”

“While you become.”

He finally turns to face me. His eyes are old—older than they should be. There’s sadness in them, but no regret.

Not yet.

“You’re not surprised,” I breathe. “About what I am. What I can do.”

“I’ve never been surprised by you, little star.”

The name stops me cold. My stomach sinks. I know the others said that he knew, but hearing him admit it feels like betrayal.

“You knew.”

He nods, slow. Grave.

“You’ve knownthis whole time.”

The room spins, rage climbing my throat like bile. “And you didn’ttellme?”

“What would it have changed?”

“I could’veprepared!I could’ve protected people?—”

“Or destroyed them, before you were ready.”

I flinch like he slapped me.

His voice is steady, but sharp now.

“You were born of a forbidden union, Liora. Fae and celestial. Shadow and star. Your mother broke an oath to bring you into this world, and your father?—”

“Myfather?”

Thorne looks away.

“You never told me I had one.”

He sighs. “Everyone has a father. Not all are worth remembering.”

I swallow the knot rising in my throat. “So I was born for this prophecy?”

“Yes.”

“And you trained me knowingexactlywhat I was meant to be?”

“I trained you so you’dhave a choice,” he says, suddenly standing. “Not so prophecy could chooseforyou.”

My hands curl into fists. “And now what? You just step back? Watch me burn?”

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