Fated Hearts: Rejected by the Moon

Chapter 5

Lyra's POV

"Don't tell me, Thorne. Lie to me." Though I shook, I stayed still. The moonlight created sharp shadows over his face as the wind screamed about us. "Did you know all along? Relcerning Zane? About the deal?

Thorne's mouth clenched, his golden eyes blazing with something between sorrow and wrath. "It was not supposed to be this way."

Then how was it expected to be? I snapped, frustration hard in my chest. My heart turned against me, beating at the sight of him standing so near yet seeming so far. You should have informed me. You ought to have warned me!

Gritted teeth, he replied, "I was trying to protect you, Lyra," coming closer. His overpowering presence was a blend of warmth and danger that made me want to sprint straight forward and stay all at once. Do you suppose I wanted this? To pull you into the anarchy of my life?

I shook my head, laughed angrily. "You never dragged me in Thorne. I was here previously. I joined this craziness the instant you saved me that evening. You ought to have trusted me to manage things.

Thorne moved still another step forward, his hand out. I momentarily thought he may touch my cheek, but his fingers curled into a fist and stopped inches away. " Lyra, I cannot lose you." His voice fell, raw and emotionally charged. Already, I have lost too much.

I would have liked to believe him. I wanted to let the kindness in his comments thaw the ice in my heart. But Zane's treachery and the secrets Thorne guarded had left severe marks on my faith.

"You're not the only one who's lost something," I said, my voice almost heard over the wind. "We should be a team, Thorne. But you seem to be always three steps ahead, casting me in the dark.

He approached the last of the distance separating me, and his eyes blazed fiercely. "I was trying to keep you safe," he said, his voice faint now, nearly cracking. "Because I wouldn't survive anything that happened to you."

If only momentarily, the fragility in his voice broke the barriers I had erected. "I'm not afraid of danger, Thorne," I responded with a solid voice this time. "I worry not knowing where I stand with you."

Like my words had touched a chord, he exhaled forcefully. "You stand here," he advised, seizing my hand and putting it up against his chest. Though under his strong and consistent pulse was a tempest of feeling. Lyra, you are standing exactly here. constantly.

The minute ought to have been sufficient, but the shadows surrounding us appeared to change as the woodland grew quieter. My senses sharp, I withdrew my hand.

I whispered, "Something's wrong," in a hushed voice.

Thorne's body became stiff right away. Stay near me.

The stillness felt strange and frightening. The woodland seemed to be holding its breath itself. A deep growl then pierced the silence and shivered my spine.

Thorne grimly remarked, "They've found us."

"Who?," I asked. Although I already knew the response, I asked.

"Zane's subordinates."

The growls got louder and more near-oriented. As Thorne stood before me, his body a barrier, my pulse surged.

You have to flee, he shouted, his voice sharp and forceful.

"I'm not leaving you," I said, firm yet shaky.

"Lyra, this is not the time for argument!" His eyes flaming, he turned to stare at me. Should they find you—"If they catch you"—

"They will have to pass through you first," I said, setting my jaw. And me, too. Thorne, you are not running.

A thing sprang from the shadows before he could reply. Itsplk terrible shape combined human and beast, with razor-sharp claws and brilliant crimson eyes. Moving quicker than I could have imagined, Thorne transformed into his wolf form midway in the air and crashed into the beast.

Though the struggle was quick and fierce, additional monsters surfaced with hateful glistening eyes.

"Lyra, go!," Thorne groaned, his voice twisted but still identifiable.

With shaky yet solid hands, I grasped a branch nearby. "not without you!"

The animals rounded us, their slow, methodical motions like those of predators playing with their prey. As I swung the branch at one, my heart hammered just barely missing its skull.

" lyra! Thorne yelled, terror in his voice.

"I can control myself!," Adrenaline pounding through me, I yelled back.

Then, however, the biggest of the animals moved forward. Its eyes fixed on me with an intelligence that chilled my spine, its presence was stifling.

"Thorne Wilder," remarked in a deep, strange voice. Surrender her; we will let you live.

Thorne hissed over his lifeless corpse, his fur bristling as he passed between me and the beast.

The thing grinned, a twisted and nasty look. "That is something one can arrange."

The earth started to quake before I could register what was occurring. Roots sprung from the ground and pulled Thorne down by encircling his legs.

" Thorne!" I cried, dropped the branch, then hurried to his side.

Lyra, run! he said, desperation in his voice.

I , however, leave him behind. Not yet. Trying to release him with my arm, I found the roots too firm.

With a strained voice, Thorne continued, "Let her go, and I'll come willingly."

"No!!" I shook my head and wept. "Don't try this!"

The monster turned its head and started to grin broadly. "How virtuous."

It surged at me, its claws grabbing for my throat before I could respond.

Everything blended together in a haze. Thorne screamed, separating from the roots just before the creature's claws brushed my flesh. The world tipped and agony burned through me.

Thorne's wolf shape jumping at the beast caught my final sight; his golden eyes were enraged.

Tension in the air crackled as I battled to remain aware. Though my eyesight dimmed and the little cut on my neck caused pain, I could still clearly see the violent struggle unfolding before me. Thorne, in his wolf form, tore into the hideous thing with golden fur splashed with blood, a savagery I had never seen.

"Thorne!" I gasped out, just above a whisper. Try to get up; my limbs felt like lead.

Reversing Thorne's strike, the beast growled with sharp claws cutting through the air. Hissed, Wilder, you are squandering your power; its voice is a caustic taunting. She will never make it through this.

"You will not touch her again!" Thorne snared, his voice twisted yet shockingly clear. His teeth burrowing into the creature's shoulder, he leaped powerfully to pin it to the ground. The beast screamed, a sound so sharp it set my ears ringing.

Then another person emerged from the shadows. As Zane came out, my heart stopped; his smile was icy as the evening surrounded us. He was clutching something, a brilliant amulet, pulsing with black force.

" Such a wonderful show of loyalty," Zane said, his voice full of contempt. But Thorne, she wastes it on herself. She cannot be shielded from what is to arrive.

Thorne focused his golden gaze on Zane, his wolf form stilled and his ears flattened. "If you so much as breathe in her direction—"

"You would what?" Zane broke off, lifting the amulet. The black energy whirled about him, a tornado of shadows casting even more gloom over the woodland. "Fight me?" We both know how that turns out.

Every muscle in my body screaming in protest, I pushed myself to sit up. "Leave him alone, Zane," I replied, my voice quivering but firm. "This battle is with me."

Zane laughed, a nasty sound that chilled my spine. Hey Lyra. You believe you are the one I should want? His eyes swung to Thorne, his smile broadening. "You are only the leverage."

Zane pointed the amulet at Thorne before either of us could respond. The shadows sprung out like chains, encircling him. Thorne screamed in agony, his body jerking as the dark force ate him.

"No," I said as I cried and pulled myself nearer him.

Lyra, "Stay back!" Thorne's voice emerged from the tumult, but it was weaker now—filled with pain.

Zane looked at me and his smile grew more pronounced. Lyra, your action is Save yourself, or see him trip.

My pulse thumping, I froze as Zane's words rang in my head. The shadows grew closer to Thorne, and for the first time I sensed anxiety in his golden gaze.

The world appeared to stop, and I understood shockingly precisely—I was out of time.