Page 17 of The Obsidian Curse

“What’s wrong?” I asked, leaning forward to grasp his arm.

“This far from the Oculus, it’s difficult to hold this form,” he said through ragged breaths.

“Well then transform back,” I cried.

“I fear the beast will lose control.”

I frowned. “You never have before.”

The pain seemed to fade, and the corner of his lips quirked up. “You didn’t see me when the flotilla set sail, separating the two of us. I destroyed one of their ships.”

My brows rose. “I wish I could have witnessed that. Any chance you took down High Warden Amal?”

The brief amusement on his face died. “No. But I will. I vow it.” He took my hands in his and squeezed gently. “Without the water cage, traveling in the cursed form would be difficult. It was created to live inside the volcano. I could very well set fire to the landscape, making us even easier to track.”

“Do you think they’re tracking us?” I asked.

“If they planned to carry out a coup using me to channel Ignis’s magic, then they cannot afford to let me go. Also, allowing a rampaging fire beast loose in the countryside is poor form.”

He looked around, scenting the air. “I think we must be in Thyraelis. We’ve certainly traveled west for long enough.”

“Can you seek sanctuary or aid from the Fae here?”

His expression grew cautious. “Though the Fireforged are distant relatives, they will be suspicious of anyone cursed by Ignis. And the Rootborn Earth Fae are our natural enemies. I think it best to avoid both of them.”

“I’m not sure what we do now,” I told him, melancholy seeping into my bones. “Should we try to get back to your family in Ashcrest?” That seemed the best option, though I didn’t know how it could be accomplished. We’d have to travel across two separate nations, and if Amal and the rest of the Water Mages were searching for us, our chances of success were low.

Keeran shook his head slowly. “I believe our best option is to break the curse.”

I leaned back, pulling my hands from his, surprise stealing my voice.

“According to my father,” he continued, “at the same time that Ignis cursed our line, the palace seer received the following prophecy:Where Ignis’s power meets Lyra’s light, and tempers yield to wisdom’s might, devotion true, the curse must prove, with twining vows to his only love.”

My heartbeat sped up. “So you need your fated mate to break the curse.”

He held my gaze. “Ignis’s power meets Lyra’s light only at a very specific celestial event.”

Understanding dawned. “Day Seven of the Holy Convergence!”

Keeran’s expression was grim.

“The eclipse is visible at certain Fire Moon temples. In Thyraelis, the only temples used for that purpose are near the towns of Neufall, Belward, and Flamescar.”

“Day Seven is when Amal and Ylena intended to drain you,” I said.

“Yes. The only good thing to come out of their treachery was that it gives me the opportunity that my uncle never had... to find my mate and break this curse.”

My stomach began to quiver. “This... this seems like a lot of responsibility.” Keeran was a prince. He was likely used to responsibility, but I had only ever been a disappointment.

Feeling my distress, he took my hands again. “We do not have to complete the twining ceremony, Niara. I am not trying to trap you in a mating you do not want. The prophecy states only thatImust make the vows, not that you must reciprocate. If you do not want this, once the curse is broken, I can sever our bond. I would never force you into a lifelong commitment you have no wish to join.”

He’d misunderstood the nature of my emotions, but I wasn’t quite ready to correct him yet. “What happens to you if the twining is severed?”

Keeran blinked rapidly and averted his eyes once more. “That does not matter. All that matters is that you have a choice.”

His answer was not satisfying, and his evasion let me know that the consequences for him would not be pleasant. The fairy tales never mentioned severing a bond. However, Iwas still wrapping my mind around what it meant that we were fated.

“Fine. Let’s focus on breaking the curse first. Do you know how close we are to one of these three temples?”

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