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Honorable Mention 2021 - B

An Arrow to the Heart

Dina Eltawil

It was that arrow, the one that pierced his shoulder, the one that would have pierced my heart had he not leaped in front of me, that cleared away any doubts I had and made my life miserable.

I fell to my knees, trying to stop the bleeding. We locked eyes, the realization dawning in our eyes. He was my mate. I screamed then, screamed and screamed until the palaces guards came running. I later woke up in the infirmary next to his sleeping form. I whispered the words, needing to say them out loud, if only once “You are my mate”. I took one last look at him, once my most loathed enemy now the keeper of my heart, and left the room, knowing that my life would never be the same.

In the days that followed I passed through the halls of the castle like a wraith. Basil healed quickly, at least, that’s what I’ve been told. Ever since learning what he was, what we were, I avoided him, not trusting myself around him. It didn’t matter what we were, he was engaged to none other than Laila, my best friend. I knew there was no real love between them, the marriage was nothing more than a political alliance, but I couldn’t do that to her. I decided to leave the castle and the mess I had found myself in. As I walked through the barren halls in the dark of night a voice stopped me in my tracks.

“Dahlia. If you run, I will chase you. I will not stop until I catch you”

I stilled and slowly turned to see Basil standing before me, anger burning in piercing green eyes. He was beautiful and strong… and is promised to another. The urge to go to him, to reassure herself of his presence was overwhelming.

There were a thousand things I wanted to tell him. Instead, I said “I must go”

He closed the distance between us. “Why” More of an accusation than a question

I looked into his eyes and wished things were different “You know why”

“We are mates. You are mine and I am yours. There is no one else for me, there never was and there never will be”

Hearing him say that almost broke my resolve. I thought of Laila, my best friend, and managed to tear myself from his grip. “It doesn’t matter. You are already promised to Laila. What’s done is done

” He paused then and murmured, “We’ll see about that” he turned and said “Guards, please escort the lady back to her room and see that she stays in it” then left her alone in the dark halls of the castle.

I let them drag her back, knowing that resistance was useless. Fate lead me here and was not done with me yet. I could only hope that what came next would not leave my heart shattered or my friendship destroyed.