Shattered by the Sea Lord - Starla Night Page 0,75
know why I said that. But tell me. Our souls are linked, right? When my soul dims, it makes yours dim, and that makes you weak.”
Was there any way to answer her question without increasing her burden of guilt? “I am strong when you are confident, yes.”
“And the opposite is also true. So when I watched you evade the lieutenant, my fear made you slow and weak.”
“That is a risk.”
She shook her head. “I am going to get you killed.”
“No.” He gripped her. “You are angry at yourself, but this will pass. You will recover your confidence. And I will be there to cheer you on.”
“What if it never comes? What if this is as good as I will ever be?”
“Then I will still be here, holding you, like this.” He tried to burn his truth into her soul. “Someday, we will swim the open ocean as one. I promised to embrace you until you were strong enough to believe in yourself. And I will.”
“I can’t let you.” She pulled back. Agony reflected in her dark, sincere eyes, in the tremble of her lips, in her soul light. “I told you a hundred times you should find another woman. One who wasn’t so broken. But I never thought that loving me would endanger your life.”
“You still need time—”
“How much time?” She swallowed and held up his mating gem. “I broke your gemstone. I saw you jolt when the trident hit you, but I also saw you spasm when I screamed. And I couldn’t stop. What if I scream again in the middle of a battle? Or when another shark attacks?”
“We will conquer this together.”
“I can’t.” She traced the crack, then pushed it at him. “Just take it.”
His heart contracted.
Dannika didn’t think he was worthy. She didn’t think he was strong enough to bear her grief, help her to her feet after she stumbled. She didn’t want to enter a new life with him by her side. Her selflessness showed again. She would deny herself happiness and live the rest of her life alone to keep him safe.
Long ago, back in Undine, he’d dreamed of a bride who would desire his honesty, treasure their union, and hunger for the truth. Dannika did that.
But his truth did not give her comfort.
His throat tightened. He tried to clear the lump, but it choked him. He tried several times and finally pushed words through. Closing her fingers around the cracked gemstone, he pushed it back to her chest.
“I gifted it to you. Our souls are linked now. So, you cannot give it back.”
Her chin trembled. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“While I am gone, practice believing in us. In yourself. Hold this cracked gemstone and think your most powerful thoughts at me. Banish the fears. What is your dating phrase? Reframe your fears into belief. You will give me the strength I need to return.”
She closed her eyes and nodded.
“Ciran, Dannika.” Angie summoned everyone to the table for a last meal. “Lunch is served.”
Dannika rose, and Ciran clambered to his feet unsteadily. But he was already stronger. Meg’s healing was powerful.
While Dannika remained here, he would consider how to remake himself.
He either had to become the warrior she needed, or he had to accept that he would never be good enough and return to Atlantis alone.
And this time, he would accept her rejection.
Forever.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The warriors left at dusk.
Everyone gathered at the shoreline. Without the barrier of the coral, the waves rolled up to the shore and crashed more violently. The spray dusted Dannika even though she was farther back.
Ciran kissed her one last time. “You are a powerful queen. Focus on your strength. One crack is not the end of us. Believe.”
Sure. Right. Okay. “I’ll do my best.”
Sadness reflected in his vibrant irises. He stroked her cheek, joined the other warriors at the shoreline, and looked back one final time.
Dannika waved and pasted on the smile. Why, though? He could sense her true feelings.
Then again, she wasn’t trying to fool him that everything was fine. No, she was still trying to fool herself.
Except it wasn’t fine.
Her bones felt like glass tubes filled with helium. Her heart squeezed in a wire cage. Everything was wrong, and she was sending Ciran into danger, and she had to be strong for him when her soul cried out in protest. I am killing you. She pressed the cracked Sea Opal to her chest and blinked back tears.
Ciran didn’t crack a smile as he turned and disappeared into the