Chapter 21 The Unseen Path

• The silence between Meher and Ayaan stretched, heavy with the weight of the decision hanging before them. The world around them seemed to fade into a distant hum, the glowing Heartstone the only thing that seemed to pulse with life. Meher stood before it, her heart torn between two impossible choices: to choose Ayaan and risk the world's destruction, or to sacrifice their bond for the greater good, which might mean never seeing him again.
• Ayaan stood by her side, his hand lightly brushing against hers, the warmth of his touch grounding her, even as her thoughts spiraled into chaos. He had always been her anchor, the one person who kept her steady when the world seemed to shift under her feet. But now, for the first time, she feared that their love might be the very thing that would pull them into darkness.
• “I can’t lose you,” she whispered, her voice breaking. The tears she had been holding back spilled freely down her cheeks, the weight of her fear and uncertainty finally breaking through.