Page 114 of Rising Out of the Darkness
“Get a little rest, Lena. Dinner won’t be for a few more hours anyway.” Her smile warmed me, and some of the worry began to flee.
“See you later, Clara.”
I made my way through the double doors of the library and ran right into Alastor Grimshaw. The books clattered to the floor, and I almost toppled with them before hands wrapped around my shoulders and held me steady.
My flesh chilled underneath his palms, and my head filled with the sounds of thousands of horrified screams. My wide eyes locked onto Alastor’s. He appeared to be just as fazed. The connection was shattered when a familiar voice from home filled the air next to us.
“Elena?”
Will.
“Everything alright?” he asked, looking between the two of us.
The boy who stood before me seemed quite different than the one I grew up with. His skin looked tanner than I remember, as if he’d spent days in the sun. His normal floppy, blond hair had been combed back and styled. And his clothes looked pristine, not a wrinkle or speck of dirt on them.
Alastor’s hands fled from my skin and he stormed down the hallway without so much as a backward glance. Still reeling from what had just happened, I barely noticed that Will had picked up my books and was holding them out towards me.
“It’s good to see you again.” His words were gentle.
I grabbed the books from him with trembling hands, and then he threw his arms around me. Thrown for a loop, Istruggled between wanting to recoil or letting myself relax into something that felt so much like home.
The shock wore off, and I remembered the hurt he’d left me with only two weeks ago. Shoving myself away from his arms, I took two giant steps away.
“What are you doing here?” I asked tersely.
His smile faltered, and he brushed his hand over his mouth before he replied. “After the prince left, Alastor sent a raven to invite all of us to come stay at the castle until the ball.”
Of course he did. Hells.
“Where did the prince go?” I asked without thinking.
“Why do you care?” He glared.
“I just?—"
Will stepped forward, and my words fell silent as I shifted backwards, leaving me pressed up against the library doors. A sly smirk grew on his face, and all I wanted to do was smack it right off him. “After dinner tonight, I’d like to take you for a walk. There are some things I need to talk with you about.”
I pushed him out of my, storming only three steps before his words halted me in my tracks.
“Elena, I want to apologize. I miss you, and I haven’t stopped thinking about you since the moment I rode away.”
He walked tentatively towards me once more, and for some reason my legs felt like they were stuck in thick mud. Will picked up my hand and placed a chaste kiss upon the top of it. “Please let me apologize tonight, Lena.”
Tears pooled underneath my eyes as he walked away like his words hadn’t just shifted my world upside down…again.
Chapter 45
Elena
By the time I made it up to my room I had tucked away my feelings, my mask in place once more. This was not the time or place to fall apart. That would have to wait for later tonight when everyone else was asleep.
Eloise was already in my room when I entered, preparing my gown for tonight’s dinner. I tossed my books on the table and flung myself down onto the bed.
“Are you alright, sweet girl?” she asked.
“Will’s here, and he’ll be staying here until the ball.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
