Sacrifice by Mayandree Michel

don’t think it can be helped at this moment.”
    “It can’t be helped when someone is strategically trying to divide us.”
    “Someone?” he asked.
    “You.” I pointed my finger at him.
    “I didn’t go to the council to turn them against him. I wanted to express why I thought we should wait a while longer before restoring his strengths. That’s all,” he said.
    “That’s not all. You knew that I’d be up against a wall.” I tried not to let my temper flare up. Evan’s explanation, which wasn’t much of one, irritated me.
    “You make it seem as though I was purposely trying to sabotage your plans. You know that that’s not true.”
    “I don’t know that. It looks as though you were and guess what, you succeeded,” I huffed.
    “Delia, they already had their minds made up before I got there.”
    “You should have never been there. Not without me. It was my argument.”
    “I didn’t see it that way. I was actually seeking their advice and wanted to see for myself where their heads were at on the matter. ”
    “Admit it Evan. Your sole reason was to screw Victor out of getting his powers back,” I snapped.
    “That’s not true,” Evan snapped back. “And I didn’t steer them in any direction.”
    “You were supposed to stand by me. You stood by me when I wanted to send the warriors on the mission and the elders opposed. What’s so different now? We can all benefit from Victor’s strengths.”
    “I do stand by you on everything… but this.” Evan looked away from me.
    “If we stood in front of them as a united front, as one will with one agenda, the elders wouldn’t have objected the way they did last night.”
    “They would have,” he disagreed.
    “Well, the elders stated that they trust your opinion, over mine,” I said, glaring at Evan.
    “Come on Delia. The council is so transparent. You know how they feel on everything. They don’t even try to hide it. They feel that they are superior when it comes to knowledge.”
    “Well, I’m glad you said that. Did you know that the elders declared, once again, that we are not destined to be together, forever? They went as far as saying that we are doomed.”
    “Doomed?” Evan asked, laughing into a cough. “That sounds like Delilah.”
    “Exactly,” I nodded. “She said unless we are with our matches, we’ll experience nothing but pain from the gods.”
    “And what did you say?” Evan asked.
    “What do you mean?”
    “Did you tell them that we don’t care and that we will fight for each other, no matter what?”
    “Of course,” I said.
    “Is that what you still believe, Delia?”
    “Yes, and you?”
    “Yes, of course,’ he said pulling me close, again.
    “Then why are you behaving like a jealous fool?”
    “Are we resorting to calling each other names now?”
    “You’re right, I’m sorry. Nevertheless, I want to know why you’re acting so insecure. You shouldn’t feel that way because I love you .”
    “I don’t know. I just don’t want him to take advantage of your kindness.”
    “Don’t worry, I can take of myself,” I said, sounding snippier than I had wanted to.
    “I know that, darling,” Evan said, and then sighed. “Pain from the gods, huh?”
    “Are you scared?” I asked as I brushed my hand tenderly across his cheek.
    “No. Why would I be afraid when I have you to protect me?” Evan asked, laughing, but the smile never reached his eyes.
    “That’s right. I’m here for you and I will protect you Lord Evander,” I said in a poor attempt to sound like a husky male.
    “And who am I supposed to pair off with if you choose your match over me? My so-called match died with her parents’ years ago,” Evan said, contemplating the elder’s foreboding remark. He looked down at his empty hands as if he just realized that he had something in them.
    “You wish Victor died along with his family too, don’t you?” I asked as I read the angry thoughts whipping through Evan’s mind.
    “I never said