Zodiac Academy Fated Throne - Caroline Peckham Page 0,344

was running out for her, that I had to make this choice fast.

"A fresh start," the voice confirmed. "Every bond placed upon the two of you by the stars wiped away."

"But all I get is a year?" My heart was thrashing desperately now, adrenaline begging me to do something to save myself, but this wasn’t an enemy I could fight. It was destiny in the making.

"A year to live the life you yearn for. A year to find out if you really are the man you wish to be."

My lips parted on an answer but the air before me shimmered and I saw myself in a vision of the future. I was standing with Roxy beneath a huge Christmas tree, my lips pressing to hers in one final, desperate kiss before my time ran out one year from now.

Her arms curled around my neck, drawing me closer as I held her so tightly that I was certain not even the stars could tear us apart.

But as the clock struck midday, my muscles locked, the magic within me stilling. And even as I fought with all I had to stay there with her, my fate was already sealed and it tore me away all the same.

Roxy screamed as I fell to my knees before her, the power of the stars coming to collect the price I'd promised to pay. The sound of her grief cut into me and the idea of causing her so much pain made me ache with a desperate desire to shield her from it. But there was no alternative. She could have a life without me or no life at all. And I couldn’t bear the idea of her being taken from this world before her time no matter what price I had to pay.

I fell back to the floor in the vision and Roxy refused to release me, falling on top of me as she pressed another kiss to my mouth and begged the stars to change their minds.

Her tears washed over my cheeks as my final breath slid past my lips and I was forced to leave her behind. I fought to hold on to her as I was ripped away and my heart tore apart at the thought of leaving her all alone. If I got my way I knew I’d never leave her again.

But as I fell into the dark embrace of death, my heart was light with the love I'd felt in that year. Of having that time with her as my own like I'd yearned for for so long.

It wasn't enough time. But no amount of days, months or years with her would ever be enough. And I knew that all the time in the world would be empty to me without her in it if she died now.

The price was too high. But I would pay it twice over for her.

I closed my eyes and thought of her as I placed my bleeding hand upon the surface of the glowing stone again, the magic in it calling to me as I made the only choice I could. It was a sacrifice I wished I didn't have to make with every single part of my soul. But I'd known that I would give my life for my girl for a long time now. So it really wasn't a choice at all.

"Blood of the oathbreaker," the voice came again, rich with even more power now as the energy in the cavern made my entire body tingle. "Descendant of the deceiver. Son of the destroyer. Do you offer your life in payment for the breaking of the bonds?"

My hand trembled where it pressed to the stone and I closed my eyes against the golden glow emanating from it as I filled my mind with images of the girl I'd gladly give it all up for, silently apologising to her for being so selfish in making this choice. Even though I knew there was no other choice that I could make.

There was no me without her. And I'd have given my life for hers even if I had to die right now. I'd make this year count. I'd make up for every awful thing I'd ever done to her and I'd destroy my father to make certain that she would be safe from his tyranny when I was gone.

In the end there was only her for me. I'd inked it onto my skin and it was branded on my heart. She owned me entirely