Page 77 of Awakened Light

“Can’t I?” I sat up with her.

“It’s tradition! You have to!”

“I’m so sick of tradition. What about free will? Evolution? Adapting to changes? The rest of the world out there has changed and moved forward, but we are here on this island stuck in the same cycle. Over and over and over again. Why can’t we change it? Why can’t we start a new tradition?”

“Because of the pact with the werewolves, that’s why.” She lifted her eyebrows. “If we break it, they can kill us all. The pact says that they get to marry the leader of our clan.”

“Then you be the leader.”

“What?” She gasped.

The moment I said the words, I felt the weight of my lifetime of forced duties lifting from my shoulders. As the seconds ticked by, I became even more convinced that this was the right choice.

My choice.

“You have always been better suited to the position than me. I’ve never wanted it, but you...” I took her hand in mine. “You have always been the better choice to lead our tribe. You’re kind, fair, strong, and you love your life here on the island... a life you can spend with the man you love. Let me step aside, and you marry Uradech and ascend the throne.”

“We can’t! It’s never been done before! The eldest daughter ascends... that’s how it’s always been done.”

“Then we start a new tradition. Today. I’ll tell Mother I’m abdicating the throne to you, and you can marry Uradech and take over.”

“She’ll never allow it!”

“I will not marry your love.” I shook my head and sighed. “And I will not give up mine.”

We sat and stared at each other for a long moment, and I saw the pained look in her eyes, giving way to one filled with happiness.

“You would really step aside? Are you sure? I can’t ask you to do that for me.”

“You’re my sister. I would do anything for you. This is the right choice... the right choice for both of us, and for our people. Will you accept?”

Tears filled her eyes, and she nodded vigorously than tossed her arms around my neck and held me tight.

“Yes! More than anything, yes! I would love nothing more. Thank you, Catrain. I love you so much.”

“I love you too.”

Her grip around me loosened as she sat back, and our worry-filled eyes met. “What do you think Mother will say? What if she doesn’t think I’m worthy?”

“No one is more worthy. At first, she will fight me on this because she lives her life never breaking tradition. But there are times to change tradition... and this is one of them. I’ll convince her.”

“Okay,” she said as she chewed her lip... the same nervous habit I had.

The door to the hut opened, and Calita popped her head in. “They’re ready.”

Alpia and I shared a worried look before I lifted my chin and straightened my shoulders. “Come on, Alpia. Let’s go tell Mother the new plan.”

She held my hand as we started out the door. Even though it was nighttime, the shadows of the trees swayed in the sand underneath the full moon.

Alpia tugged me to a stop. “Wait. If you’re going to be with Thorne, does that mean you’re leaving the island?”

I met her concerned gaze and shook my head slowly. “I’m not sure. I know Mother will never allow him to come here, but maybe when you’re ruling, you can lift the rules and allow us to come back to the island to visit.”

“Anytime,” she said and pulled me in for a hug. “If you say he’s a wonderful man, I believe you. You will always be welcome here... and so will he. Even if he has to sleep in a cave.”

I sucked the air through my teeth, remembering the promise I’d made him and his family. “About that. Once you have full powers, I’m also going to need you to lift their sunlight curse.”

Her eyes widened as I gave her a wide sheepish grin.