The light from the Nexus Heart intensified, a blinding force that hummed with power. Nia’s heart pounded as she stepped closer, Jax and Eli at her side. But there was something in the air now something heavier. The bond between them, once solid and unspoken, had shifted, become strained.

Eli’s eyes flicked between Nia and Jax, his jaw clenched. He had always been the calm one, the steady force that balanced her chaos. But today, something in him was different. His gaze lingered on Jax a moment too long, and Nia caught the faintest flicker of something sharp in his expression.

Jax, for his part, seemed oblivious to Eli’s quiet tension, but there was a noticeable edge in his posture, the way his hand hovered just a fraction too close to Nia’s.

“Stay focused,” Nia said softly, her voice breaking through the silence. She couldn’t afford distractions now not when they were so close.

Eli’s eyes met hers, his expression unreadable. “I am focused,” he muttered, but the words felt hollow, and Nia could sense the undercurrent of something unspoken between them.

Jax didn’t respond, instead taking another step forward, his eyes locked on the Heart, as though it were calling to him, as though it were his alone to claim.

The air crackled with tension, and for a moment, Nia wondered if they would be able to move forward as a team. Or if the stories, the very thing that had brought them together, would tear them apart.

They reached the Heart together, but as Nia extended her hand toward the glowing core, she felt the weight of the unspoken conflict between Jax and Eli, the silent rivalry that hung like a shadow over the group. Neither man spoke, but the strain was palpable.

Nia hesitated for a moment, her fingers just inches from the Heart’s pulsing surface. She could feel the energy thrumming beneath her skin, as if it were sensing her uncertainty, her confusion.

It was then that Jax finally spoke, his voice low, almost dangerous.

“You know what has to be done, Nia. Don’t let him talk you out of it.”

Eli’s eyes flared, his fists clenched at his sides. “I’m not the one you should be worried about, Jax.”

Nia’s breath caught in her throat, and for the first time, she realized just how much was at stake how much the Heart, this moment, could change. She wasn’t just choosing the fate of the stories anymore. She was caught between two worlds, two men who both claimed pieces of her heart.

Tension crackled between them, the weight of the decision too much for any of them to bear alone.

“Stop,” Nia finally said, her voice trembling but firm. “This isn’t about us. It’s about what comes next.”

Jax and Eli exchanged one final look, and the tension between them simmered, but they stayed silent.

And with that, Nia placed her hand on the Heart, feeling its power surge through her, ready to face the consequences of her choice whatever they may be.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

"The Choice of Fate"

Nia’s hand hovered above the glowing Heart for a moment longer, her breath shallow, each pulse of the Heart resonating deep within her chest. She could feel the weight of her choice pressing down on her, the intensity of the moment stretching out like an eternity. Behind her, Jax and Eli stood still, both watching, waiting. But Nia knew they weren’t just waiting for her to make the right decision. They were waiting for her to make their decision the one that would determine everything that followed.

“You can feel it too, can’t you?” Jax’s voice broke the silence, rough and low. “The Heart calls to you, Nia. It knows you. It’s waiting for you to claim it.”

Nia’s fingers brushed the surface of the Heart, and a shock of energy shot up her arm. The power was overwhelming, flooding her senses with visions of a thousand worlds, each one pulsing with potential. But it was more than just power—it was knowledge, a deep knowing of every path that could unfold.

She pulled her hand back, her heart racing. “I don’t know if I can control it,” she whispered, more to herself than anyone else. “I’m not sure I’m ready.”

Jax’s voice softened, his usual bravado slipping. “No one ever is. But this is the choice you’ve been given, Nia. Don’t waste it.”

Eli stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. “You don’t have to listen to him, Nia. You don’t have to let him sway you. This is about you your decision. And the Heart isn’t the answer to everything.”

The words stung more than Nia wanted to admit. Eli had always been her anchor, her steady hand when everything else had been chaos. And yet, here he was, challenging her, forcing her to confront the choice she had been trying to avoid for so long.

“I’m not trying to sway her,” Jax interjected, his voice sharp. “I’m just telling her what’s at stake. You know what happens if we don’t act. The stories, the worlds they’ll all be consumed by chaos. The Heart is the only way to stop it.”

Eli’s gaze hardened. “And what if it doesn’t stop? What if it makes things worse? You think we can control that kind of power? It’s too dangerous.”

A tense silence fell between them, the distance between Jax and Eli growing with each word that passed between them. Nia stood in the middle of it, the weight of their conflicting arguments pulling at her from every direction. Both men cared for her, in their own ways, but their views on the Heart and the world they were fighting to save were completely at odds.

For a long moment, Nia said nothing. Her mind raced, each thought a tangled mess of fear, hope, and uncertainty. But beneath it all, there was one constant: she had to act. The Heart was her responsibility now, whether she was ready or not. And she couldn’t afford to let herself be paralyzed by indecision.

Nia reached out again, this time more confidently, her hand meeting the Heart’s surface. The power surged through her, but this time, she was ready for it. The rush of energy enveloped her, filling every corner of her mind with visions worlds crumbling, characters reborn, paths diverging. The stories that had once seemed so distant, so separate from her own life, now felt like a part of her, a reflection of the choices she had made.

“Nia,” a voice echoed in her mind, soft but clear. It was the Heart itself, speaking directly to her. “You’ve been the author of your own fate. Now, you must decide what comes next.”

She closed her eyes, letting the words sink in. The choice was hers, but the consequences those were shared. The Heart had no agenda of its own. It was simply the tool, the conduit. What happened next depended on the choices she made and the alliances she forged.

“I have to do this,” Nia said, her voice steady, as much for herself as for the others.

She looked at Jax, then Eli. “We’re in this together. But I can’t be torn between you anymore. The Heart is mine to wield, and I’ll decide how it’s used.”

Jax’s expression softened slightly, but there was still a flicker of something regret? Hope? Nia couldn’t be sure. Eli, on the other hand, clenched his fists at his sides, his face shadowed with doubt.

But there was no turning back now.

Nia’s fingers pressed fully into the Heart, and the world around her dissolved into a blinding light. The stories had begun to change once more, and this time, she would be the one to shape their future.