All Chapters of Bound by Crystals and Shadows: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

I paused briefly, then added, “But learning doesn’t mean losing control over my own life.”That drew a longer silence.The older woman shifted slightly, her gaze settling on me in a way that felt more focused now.“She is not wrong,” she said calmly. “A ruler who has never chosen her own path will struggle to lead others.”The man beside her didn’t immediately respond.Instead, his attention shifted back to me.“And what is it you think you are choosing now?” he asked.“I’m choosing how I go,” I said. “Not whether I go.”That was the truth of it.I didn’t have the power to refuse. Not really. Not without consequences I didn’t fully understand yet.But this... This, I could shape.“I will come to the capital,” I said clearly. “I will train. I will learn everything I need to. But I won’t do it alone. Corin and Rhys come with me.”The words settled heavily in the room.The man’s gaze flicked briefly toward Corin, then to Rhys, before returning to me.“That is not standard,” he said.“Nei

Corin went still. His jaw tightened, and something in his expression changed as his eyes moved over me. “And what is it that you want to do?” he asked, his voice lower now.I stepped between his knees at the edge of the bed, my heart racing though I tried not to show it. “I’ll be damned if I spend my last night of freedom doing what everyone else wants,” I said. “Tonight, I’m doing what I want.”His hands came to my hips slowly, warm and steady.“And that is?”I leaned closer until my mouth was only inches from his. “You.” For a moment, he said nothing.Then his grip tightened slightly, and a slow smile touched his mouth. “You walked in here bold,” he said quietly.“I had to,” I whispered. “If I thought about it too long, I might have lost my nerve.”That earned a low laugh from him as his hand slid up my side, sending heat across my skin. “You’re dangerous when you decide something.”“I’m learning from you.” He shook his head slightly, still smiling, then pulled me closer until I had

Garrick looked at me for a moment longer before reaching out and gripping my shoulder firmly.“Keep your blade close,” he said. “And trust fewer people than you want to.”“That sounds dark.”“That’s because it’s good advice.”I smiled faintly. “I’ll miss your warmth.”“Don’t get used to saying that.” Then, after a pause, his voice lowered. “You did well here, princess.”The words caught me off guard more than they should have. “Thank you, Garrick.” He gave one short nod and stepped back like the moment had lasted long enough.More farewells followed after that. Some warm. Some awkward. Some spoken like they did not know what else to say.I thanked them all, but the knot in my chest only tightened.I looked around the courtyard, at the training grounds, the crystal-lit windows, the stone walls that had become familiar.I had arrived here with no memory, no place, and no idea who I was. Now leaving felt like losing something.Corin stepped quietly beside me. “You can still breathe,” he

Sleep came easier than I thought it would. The long day on horseback had left every part of me aching, so by the time I crawled beneath the blankets inside my tent, I was too tired to think much about the capital, the Council, or everything waiting for me there. The mattress beneath me was thin, but after hours in a saddle it felt better than anything luxurious ever could. Outside, the camp slowly settled into the sounds of night. Voices near the fire grew quieter. Boots passed now and then over the earth. Horses shifted and snorted softly in their sleep. Somewhere farther off, someone laughed once before the sound faded into the dark. I remember staring up at the canvas roof above me and thinking how strange life had become. This morning I had woken in Corin’s arms, safe inside the guardian hall, and now I was lying alone in a traveling tent somewhere between the only place that had felt like home and a capital I had no desire to see.At some point, sleep took me.I did not know how

By the next morning, I was convinced horses were created purely to torture people.Every part of my body ached. Not just one place. Everywhere. My back hurt, my legs hurt, my shoulders hurt, and I was fairly certain there were muscles in my body I had never used before this journey that now hated me personally. Even sitting still in the saddle hurt at this point.I would have given anything for a hot bath.Not even a luxurious one. Just warm water deep enough to sink into and stay there for an hour. Maybe longer. I wanted to wash the dust from my skin, the smell of horse from my clothes, and whatever part of my soul had died somewhere along this road.Instead, I was once again riding through endless stretches of land while the morning wind hit my face and the horse beneath me continued its personal mission of ruining my life.I did not know how much longer I could take this.Ride all day. Stop at night. Set up camp. Sleep for a few hours. Wa