The nature of the Star-Crossed curse between Darius and Tory means that if they are alone together, violent cosmic storms erupt. These storms symbolize the tempestuous and passionate nature of their relationship. Darius and Tory’s relationship has never been straightforward: Darius severely bullied her when she first began studying at the Zodiac Academy. Even though Tory is attracted to him, she does not fully trust him and this leads her to reject him when he shares that she is his Elysian Mate (leading to the Star-Crossed curse). Their mutual attraction means that this rejection does not spell the end of their relationship, but they continue to face many obstacles, exemplifying the stormy dynamic that typifies their relationship. The trope of using violent weather to reflect tempestuous emotional dynamics can be traced back to classic works of literature such as Wuthering Heights. (“Wuthering” refers to describes a strong, turbulent wind that produces a roaring or blustering sound.) 

While the cosmic storms unleashed by proximity between Darius and Tory symbolize the conflict that surrounds them (and the many obstacles they face), the storms also create symbolic opportunity for them to manifest their devotion by “braving the storm.” In Chapter 36, Darius and Tory are swept away by passionate feelings and trigger a violent storm when they begin kissing. They use magic to create a semi-protected space in which they are shielded from the storm and can enjoy intimacy together. Afterward, Darius muses that “despite the fact that the stars were determined to keep us apart, we’d managed to fight back and claim a slice of our happiness” (537). The storms symbolize the violence and conflict that surrounds Darius and Tory’s relationship, but also their determination to overcome it.