The Star Caster (14 page)

The star before us brightens and fades, leaving behind a burst of light that indicates the end of it all. Sterren turns to me and pulls me into him. His skin is warm against mine, and I am overjoyed with everything that is happening.

However, things change a moment later, and I am left with a pain that brings me to my knees. I feel those same headaches, the ones that caused my metamorphosis, and know that I am losing my powers, my stars. Beside me, Sterren is on his knees as well. A trail of delighted tears trail down his face, and I smile, for he has never looked more beautiful to me.

Ten torturous minutes later, I
am on the ground, hardly breathing. My hands are balled into fists underneath my chest, and I am relieved that it is ending. “Are you okay?” I ask Sterren. My voice is a whisper, a soft breeze.

He mumbles assent next to me and I lift myself up so that I can see him. Sterren is sitting there, staring at the sun as it rises over the horizon. His hair is messy and is pushed from his two grey eyes.
“Now, I have no reason to fear the nighttime,” he says as he stands. He reaches his hand out and pulls me up beside him.

I blink, taking it all in. I had been a Star Caster. I had been forced t
o harm people and kill men. I had been forced to grant wishes. But now, it was gone. All of it was gone.

“You are going to be the perfect lawyer,” Sterren says from beside me.

I look up at him and smile.

“Your wishes can now come true,” he says as he turns to face me. His hand reaches up to cup my cheek and I lean into him, falling into him like so many times before.

“Let’s make them come true together,” I suggest as I pull him into me and kiss him senseless. Hey, I did say that he deserved one earth-shattering kiss.