Shadow of the Moon

Chapter 10

Estella

"He's your mate, Estella! He has to be!" Astra insisted, her voice filled with a excitement as we strode through the forest side by side.

"Astra, you know that's not possible," I replied, my voice heavy with sadness. "Aunt Ursa said it herself. We don't have mates. Plus," I looked away, my gaze drawn to the shimmer that separated our worlds, a physical reminder of the seemingly insurmountable obstacles between Kyros and me. "I am too young. You know the bond doesn't snap into place until sixteen."

“But what if she was wrong?” Astra pressed, her eyes sparkling with hope. “What if the Goddess has a different plan?”

I laughed sharply, my disbelief evident in my tone. “Yeah, right,” I said softly, “Like the Goddess would allow such a union,”

Astra stopped dead in her tracks, gripping my arm to stop me. “Estella,” she said, her voice serious. “What about the prophecy?” she said, her head tilting with softness.

“Oh, come on Astra,” I said, pulling out of her grip. “You don’t really believe in all that nonsense,” Astra pulled her bottom lip between her lips, her canines digging into the flesh.

“I do, and you should too,” she said her eyes shining with emotion. “Regardless, there is no denying that you two are good together,” she said, clearing her throat.

Two weeks had passed since my punishment had been lifted, two weeks of stolen moments at the shimmer, of shared laughter and whispered secrets. Every night, I found myself drawn to Kyros, our connection deepening with every encounter. With Astras help, I have been sneaking out each night after A-pa did his rounds around the keep and was called away into the never ending council meetings.

He was teaching me to ride Cara, his strong arms encircling my waist as we soared across the desert sands. I could feel the warmth of his body against mine, his breath on my neck, and my heart would pound with a mixture of fear and exhilaration.

Cara, too, seemed to sense the bond between us. The once threatening lizard had become docile and affectionate towards me, nuzzling my hand, responding to my touch with a gentle rumble of contentment. With my shifter gift, I could sense Cara's emotions, her growing acceptance of me as a part of Kyros's life.

"I don't know, Astra," I said, my voice barely a whisper as we began walking again. Astra, ever the loyal accomplice, had been accompanying me to the border for the past few days, providing a convenient cover for my clandestine meetings with Kyros. Our long absences were easily explained away as one of our usual shenanigans exploring the depths of the forest.

"What do you mean, you don't know?" Astra pressed, her voice laced with concern. "You've been practically glowing ever since you started sneaking out to meet him. You're happy, Estella. I haven't seen you this happy in ages."

I sighed, my gaze drawn to the moon hanging high in the sky, its silvery light casting a gentle glow over the sleeping forest. "I know, Astra. And that's what scares me."

"Scares you? Why?" Astra asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.

"Because... what if it's not real?" I confessed, my voice barely audible. “What if this connection, this... this feeling is just an illusion? A fleeting moment of happiness in a world that's determined to keep us apart?”

“Estella,” Astra said softly, her hand reaching out to squeeze my arm, “you know what your heart feels. Don't doubt it.”

I glanced at my sister, my brow furrowed with uncertainty. “But what if I'm wrong? What if...”

Astra smiled, her eyes sparkling with understanding. “Stop overthinking Estella! Enjoy it while it lasts," she said, her voice light and carefree. "But if it's real, Estella, don't let it slip away. Fight for it.” Her eyes seemed to glow with power as she spoke, as if seeing something.

Her words resonated within me, a spark of courage igniting in my heart. Astra was right. I couldn't let fear or doubt control my destiny. I had to trust my instincts, to follow the pull of my heart, even if it led me down a dangerous and uncertain path.

“A-pa would never approve.” My voice was laced with worry.

Astra shrugged, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “You don’t know that,” she declared, her voice filled with a rebellious spirit. “That is a future conversation,” she added with a wink. “Live in the moment first,”

As we neared the shimmer, my heart pounded with a mixture of anticipation and fear. I slowed my pace, allowing Astra to walk ahead. My gaze was already searching for Kyros's familiar silhouette in the distance.

I was surprised by the sudden shift in myself. It was as if that day in the desert had unlocked something within me, a hidden strength I never knew I possessed. I was no longer content to be Astra's shadow, the quiet twin who faded into the background. I had found my voice, my own unique melody in the symphony of our lives.

Even Cyrus was taken aback by my newfound assertiveness. When he attempted to chastise me for my reckless adventure that day, I met his gaze without flinching. ”I learned from my mistake, but I will not apologize for my curiosity, for my desire to see the world beyond the shimmer."

Norma had apologized profusely for that day, and no matter how much I assured her she was forgiven, she still decided to resign from her maid duty. And Azha... I had confronted the lady-in-waiting in the palace gardens, my voice shaking with barely suppressed fury. “You are lucky I kept my mouth shut Azha. Lucky I have compassion for your family,”

Kyros had witnessed this transformation, this blossoming of my spirit, with a mixture of pride and awe. He encouraged me to express my opinions, to challenge the expectations I was faced with. "You are not just Astra's twin, Estella," he'd told me, his amber eyes shining with admiration. "You are your own person, strong and capable and worthy of respect." His words had resonated deep within me, fueling my newfound confidence.

As we neared the shimmer, my heart pounded with anticipation. I could just make out Kyros's silhouette against the backdrop of the drooping sun, his hand gently stroking Cara's snout. A wave of joy washed over me, and I broke into a run, my feet barely touching the ground as I crossed the threshold between our two worlds. The magic zinged across my skin as I dashed through.

He heard the soft thudding of my footsteps and turned, his amber eyes widening in surprise as I launched myself towards him. He caught me effortlessly, his arms wrapping around my waist as I collided with him.

I gasped, my arms instinctively circling his neck, my body molding against his. I felt the warmth of his skin beneath my fingertips, the steady beat of his heart against my chest, his shoulders bouncing with amusement.

For a moment, we simply held each other, our eyes locked in a silent conversation that needed no words. The air crackled with unspoken emotions. I felt safe in his arms, protected from the harshness of the world around us, enveloped in a warmth I had never known before.

Behind me, Astra's whistle echoed through the twilight, a signal that she was leaving, that we were alone. I whistled back, my eyes never leaving Kyross burning amber. His arms tightened around me, his thumbs stroked against my back in small soothing strokes. In this moment, nothing else mattered. We were together, our worlds colliding in a forbidden embrace, our hearts beating in unison.

It was as if my conversation with Astra from moments before caught up to me, and a spark ignited within me as I gazed into Kyros's amber eyes. I saw a flicker of understanding, a reflection of my own desires, and I couldn't resist the urge to act on them. Enjoy it while it lasts, Astra's words echoed in my mind.

I leaned forward and brushed a quick, tentative kiss against Kyros's lips. Then, I pulled back, my heart pounding in my chest, my eyes searching his face for a reaction. I had never kissed anyone beyond the affectionate peck on the cheek of my family. The sensation foreign and clumsy, my lips tingled a the touch of our lips.

"Hi," I whispered, my voice barely audible above the thundering of my own pulse.

Kyros stood frozen, his expression a mixture of surprise and something deeper, something that I couldn't quite decipher. Doubt crept in, and I began to pull away, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. Had I misread his signals?

I began to wiggle, to try to break free. But before I could escape this awkward moment, Kyros's grip tightened around my waist. His eyes, which had been wide with shock, now darkened with a sudden intensity. A slow smile spread across his lips, and he leaned in, capturing my mouth with his own.

The world dissolved around us. The kiss was no longer tentative, no longer a fleeting exploration. It was a passionate claiming, a merging of our desires, our hopes, our fears. I felt a wave of heat course through my body, a tingling sensation that started at my lips and spread to every inch. I clung to Kyros, my fingers tangling in his hair, my body pressing against his.

His hands roamed over my back, pulling me closer, his touch sending shivers down my spine. He turned me slightly, pressing my back against Cara's warm flank, the rough texture of the creature's scales a stark contrast to the smooth silk of his tunic.

For a stolen moment, we were lost in each other, our worlds forgotten, our differences erased. The desert around us seemed to hold its breath, the only sound the beating of our hearts.

All too soon the moment was shattered as a searing pain, like a hot blade slicing through my flesh, ripped through my arm. I cried out, my body convulsing, my grip on Kyros loosening. A howl, filled with agony and terror, echoed through the world, shattering the peaceful silence.

Astra!