Page 139 of Rising Out of the Darkness
“I think my cousin needs to be reminded of who makes his heart pulse.” Clara held out her hand to help me stand.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I whispered, swallowing down my fear one last time. I placed my arm through Clara’s, and we made our way towards the ballroom.
Tonight, I planned to take charge of my destiny, in more ways than one.
Declan
There wasn’t enough whiskey in all Ehora to make this night any less difficult.
Tossing back the last remnants in my glass, I motioned to the server for another. The collar of my tunic threatened to deprive me of air until I unhooked the two buttons of my black dress shirt. The simmering heat that had been torching my body since I’d stepped into this ballroom began to cool.
With a refilled glass of courage, I made my way unwillingly back towards the conversation I had needed a reprieve from.
The grand ballroom dripped with gold and lavish linens and table settings. Long tables lined the hall, full of fine meats and fresh fish drizzled in the finest sauces. Trays of sweet rolls and cakes that were iced to perfection sat in the middle of each elaborately decorated table, alongside the thousands of colorful blooms that were cut fresh this from morning my mother’s garden.
Wincing at the memory of the state of the garden after so many blooms had been ravaged, I tried to ease my annoyance by reminding myself that I’d spend some time repairing it all tomorrow.
Our kingdom was suffering. So many were struggling to even put food in their mouths. Yet here we were reveling in an opulent ballroom, knowing much of this food would be tossed to the animals the moment the ball ended.
Disgusted by the depravity of it all, I felt the fire flare within me to leave this place behind once and for all and take my place in Oria. Once I knew that Elena would be safe, then I would leave.
“Better now?” my father grumbled beneath his breath.
“Exceedingly,” I sneered, lifting the glass to my lips to take another swig.
He rolled his eyes and continued talking with Lord Edan Drake. Clenching my teeth, I tried to control my urge to strangle them both as they continued to talk about Elena like she wassome sort of stallion to be broken and trained to do their bidding.
“Yes, I believe with the right motivation her fiery spirit can be tamed.” Drake swirled the wine around in his glass. “Give her a week or two with my Adara and Will, and I’ll get her on our side.”
“I have several ways of making people bend.” Adara’s gaze fluttered towards mine. Her eyes were still lit with hope that I would eventually change my mind.
If I couldn’t have Elena, then I would have no one. Consequences be damned.
The blond boy next to her gave me a glare of death. For a moment I felt a thread of sympathy for Will, having to be stuck this past month with Edan.
Then I was reminded of everything he’d done.
I’d almost torn him apart when I caught him with his tongue practically down Adara’s throat last week. I’d tossed him down the stairs after she left. It had only been four steps—he’d survived.
He’d tried to seduce Elena the moment he set foot in the castle. He’d had a choice between the most caring, strong, and enchanting soul in our kingdom, or the life of luxury Edan had promised him. Thankfully for me, he’d chosen wrong.
“She has no need to go to the City of Ash,” I growled. “I’m perfectly capable of continuing to train the Light Phoenix here.”
Lord Drake shot me a deadly glare, his fingers clenched around his wine goblet. I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face at his displeasure.
“All to be determined after our little demonstration tonight, right, son?” My father leaned over ever so slightly, making sure that I was the only one to hear his words. “Let’s hope you don’t embarrass us any further. So help me, if you let me down tonight, we will have a conversation you won’t like.”
The veins in my neck bulged, rage building from deep within me. Wisps of my dynamis rippled shadows across my arms. “Would this conversation happen to take place in a particular dark room you and Alastor are so fond of? No need to feed me false threats when we both know what will really happen.”
With another huff, he grabbed the arm of a passing server, demanding she refill his glass of wine. I took another long draw of whiskey, silently full of mirth that I could still ruffle my father’s feathers so easily. That was when a chill rolled over me, causing the hair on my neck to stand at attention.
“Careful, boy,” Alastor seethed.
The man looked even paler tonight. His light blue eyes seemed darker and more sunken into his skull. As my father stalked over to him, stirring conversations with a few other lords, I couldn’t help but take in his appearance as well. I’d noticed that he had been growing weaker as the months passed by, but I’d been too distracted lately to really take in his outward appearance.
The king looked frail, like he had lost a considerable amount of weight. His complexion appeared to be pale as well. I rubbed my chin as an unfamiliar worry for my father wound inside my stomach.
My father used to be kind, thoughtful, and respected by many. Not selfish and full of pride, lusting for more power at every turn.
