TWISTED FATE (Twisted Path Book 1)

Chapter 21

Becca

He tilts his head slightly, eyes thoughtful, as he scans the night sky. "See that one right there?" he says, pointing toward a cluster of stars that seem to shimmer with a faint, hazy glow. "The Pleiades constellation, also known as the Seven Sisters."

I squint, trying to make out the faint shapes hidden in the vastness. "I don't know what I'm looking at," I admit, feeling a little sheepish.

He smiles, a soft, patient look in his eyes as he shifts a little closer, our shoulders touching as he helps guide my gaze. "Look there," he says, his voice gentle and warm. "The cluster of stars, close together but distinct. Each one represents a sister, each with her own story. But my favorite is about Alcyone—a goddess, daughter of Aeolus, ruler of the winds—and her husband, Ceyx, a mortal king."

I sink into his warmth, captivated by the way his voice wraps around each word like he's inviting me to experience the ancient tale firsthand. "What happened to them?"

He takes a deep breath, his voice lowering and drawing me in. "Alcyone and Ceyx were madly in love. But one day, Ceyx had to embark on a journey across the sea. Alcyone begged him not to go, terrified of what might happen, but he wouldn't be swayed. She waited every night by the shore, looking out over the water, praying he'd come back to her."

His eyes flick from the stars to meet mine, a vulnerable tenderness in his gaze. In my mind, I picture Alcyone standing on a lonely shoreline, her heart breaking as she waits for the man she loves. A shiver runs through me, and I ask, almost afraid to know, "Did he... come back?"

Shane shakes his head, his gaze shifting back to the constellation. "A storm took his ship down. Ceyx drowned at sea. But Alcyone didn't know. She kept waiting for him, night after night, believing he'd return. Until one day—thanks to the gods who took pity on her—his body washed up on shore." He pauses the heaviness of the story, filling the quiet around us. "In her grief, unable to imagine life without him, she walked into the waves and let them take her, too. The gods, moved by their love and devotion, transformed them into halcyon birds—Kingfishers—so they could be together, flying free in the afterlife."

My heart aches at the story, feeling every bit of Alcyone's despair. "She couldn't live without him," I whisper, the echo of her pain settling over me.

Shane's fingers trace a gentle line along the back of my hand, grounding me in the warmth of his touch. "Yeah. Even though their love cost them their lives, it was worth it in the end. Because now, they're up there, together, forever. Their love written in the stars." He gives my hand a gentle squeeze before intertwining his fingers with mine. When he turns his head to look at me, his gaze is deep and unwavering. It's like he's communicating so much more than just the story.

The sky now feels larger somehow, filled with legends of love and loss that defy time and even death itself. And suddenly, Shane's words feel like a promise—a silent vow whispered under the stars.

I lean my head against his shoulder as our bodies have inexplicably drawn closer to one another. "Tell me another," I whisper, my voice barely breaking through the surrounding quiet.

Shane lets out a soft, nervous laugh, his thumb tracing little circles over the back of my hand. "You're going to think I'm some kind of hopeless romantic."

I tilt my head, catching his eye, a playful smile tugging at my lips. "Well, aren't you?"

His smile widens, a hint of shyness softening his gaze. "Yeah, maybe I am. Guess I can't help it. I've always liked the idea of love. Especially the kind of love that's fated, the kind of love that's big enough to be written in the stars."

A warmth spreads through me, drawn by his openness and the sincerity in his words. On impulse, I lean in, brushing my lips over his in a gentle, lingering kiss. "Then tell me another. Just one more."

His eyes soften, and with a lazy smile, he looks up, scanning the sky. "Alright," he murmurs, lifting his hand to point out another small cluster of stars. "See those stars right there? They're kind of faint, shaped like a stretched-out 'V.' That's Andromeda."

I follow his fingers, squinting as I trace the stars he's pointing to. "Andromeda. I've heard of her. What's her story?"

He draws a breath. "Andromeda was a princess known for her beauty and kindness. But her mother, Cassiopeia, couldn't resist boasting—claiming Andromeda was more beautiful than even the sea nymphs. Poseidon—god of the sea, was furious at the arrogance and decided to make them pay. As punishment, he sent a monstrous sea creature to destroy their kingdom. To save their people, Andromeda's parents made the choice to chain her to a rock at the edge of the sea as a sacrifice—hoping to appease the angry god."

I feel my breath catch in my throat at the image of poor Andromeda, chained and frightened, waiting for her death. "They just... left her there?"

Shane nods, his voice soft. "Yes. She was alone and terrified, waves crashing against the rocks around her, with nothing to hold on to but hope. Then, along came Perseus—the son of Zeus, a warrior returning from slaying Medusa. He spotted her from above, helpless and vulnerable. And when he saw her, he didn't hesitate. Perseus flew down to her parents and offered to rescue her in exchange for her hand in marriage. With their promise in place, he faced the sea monster, risking everything to save her."

My chest clenches, moved by the thought of Perseus fighting so fiercely for Andromeda's life, for a love he'd barely glimpsed but felt was worth every risk. "He saved her?"

Shane nods, his gaze holding mine with an intensity that makes my heart beat faster. "He did. Perseus broke her chains, fought the monster, and freed her. After that, he took her hand, and they left together, ready to face whatever else the world had in store for them. Some say they loved each other from the moment they met—two strangers brought together by fate, willing to risk everything for each other."

He rolls onto his side, propping his head on one hand, his eyes never leaving mine as his other hand brushes over my cheek. His fingers trail softly along my skin, sending a warm shiver through me. "That's Andromeda's constellation," he whispers, his voice a caress in the quiet night. "Up there, just like Orion, Alcyone, and all the others... reminding us that some loves are worth the risk. Worth fighting for, no matter the cost, no matter what it takes."

His gaze is filled with deep and dangerous unspoken promises, ones I'm afraid to believe yet desperate to cling to. As he leans in, his lips meeting mine, I know I'm already lost—bound to a man I can't seem to let go of, even with the odds stacked against us.

I know I should tell him my secret, reveal the truth about my connection to the Klines. I should also ask him about last night with Amanda, confronting the uncertainty that lies between us head-on.

But instead, I surrender to this magical moment, barely daring to breathe for fear that any movement might shatter the fragile bubble around us, ending the fleeting fairy tale that is being with Shane Montgomery.

Want to read ahead? The next 2 Chapters are available FREE if you FOLLOW ME on REAM!!! (Link in my profile)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NEW CHAPTERS post at 3:00 PM EST on Fridays!!!

For updates on this and future stories, remember to follow me.