Page 140 of Rising Out of the Darkness
Ever since Alastor had found a hold over me, a small part of me had begun to question if he might be doing something similar to my father. On darker days, I sometimes wondered if he had even gotten to my brother as well. He might have summoned Keir to get rid of our mother and then himself. I shuddered at the despicable thought, taking another deep swig of my whiskey.
Finishing yet another glass, I began to stalk towards the bar for another until the doors to the ballroom thundered open. Time stood still. My heart stopped dead in my chest.
Every one of my thoughts became consumed by the only distraction that I’d ever let break down my wards. Mesmerized by the living goddess who had just floated in, I barely noticed the rest of the ballroom fall silent.
The glass between my clenched hands began to crack. Thankfully, a server swayed by, replacing my empty cup with a new full one. I stood frozen with a clenched jaw, trying desperately to stop the blood from draining out my head and trailing down towards a less discreet part of my body. Of all nights, this was one where I needed my wits about me, but the way she looked tonight?
I’m doomed.She might very well decimate the shreds of restraint I had left.
My gaze lazily rolled over her soft skin, dusted in starbursts of golden freckles, evidence of her ethereal display of dynamis only two evenings ago permanently ingrained into her skin. Long auburn waves cascaded over her shoulder and down her back. The white dress shimmered underneath the chandeliers filled with thousands of candles that adorned the room. Thin straps wrapped over her delicate shoulders, the neckline plummeting down her body, like a deep chasm between her breasts.
As a dignitary from Atheling shook her hand, she turned, and I could see the back of the dress was almost non-existent. Golden citrine and opal gems decorated the bottom of the dress, making it look like her dress was set aflame. With one scorching look from across the room, my Wildfire lived up to her name, igniting my soul.
It reminded me of every piece of her light that I would be missing if I continued to push her away instead of fighting to hold onto her.
I’d lose her vibrant personality and her brilliant mind. No longer would I witness her compassionate heart and the way she could light up a room with her infectious smile. There would be no one to challenge me the way she had, either. No one understood the darkness of our minds in the way we both did.
I’d been a fool to think I could ever let her go. Even more dense to think that I was saving her from me, when she was the one who had been saving me since we’d met.
Elena was a walking firestorm of inner strength, a storm I wanted to surrender to fully. I knew it wouldn’t be easy to ask for forgiveness, I knew I had hurt her severely. I prayed the gods and hoped that for once they would be in my favor.
Now to see if she still burned for me the way I blazed for her.
Chapter 55
Elena
“Breathe, Lena,” Clara mumbled under her breath, so hushed that I barely heard her at all.
“They’re all staring,” I whispered between my trembling lips.
Run.The word kept pounding inside my head. Every instinct told me to kick off these ridiculous heels and leave this place just a distant memory. Reaching for the mantra that often pulled me out of my spiral, I let it repeat in my head, praying the weight of the moment would fade.
I am the light, no darkness can bind me. I have it within me to hold and to guide me.
The tension in my shoulders and back began to release as my eyes fluttered back open.
I can do this. No, Iwilldo this.
Not only for myself, but for all of those holding onto the hope that the Light Phoenix would bring them out of the darkness that was decaying the kingdom. Shoulders back, chin tilted up, I let that hope strengthen me, replacing my fear with the confidence to help me make it through the night.
The ballroom murmured back to life, music replacing the silence from a few moments ago.
That was when I felt his gaze, stirring that tug in my chest that kept me connected to the one man I couldn’t seem to erase from my mind. His verdant eyes called to me from across the room, beckoning me towards him.
“Come on, Light Phoenix. Let’s get this over with so you have the rest of the evening to…persuademy cousin.” Her pearly whites beamed towards me, as she tugged my arm, setting us on a course towards our hosts for the evening.
Everywhere the candlelight touched glistened with opulence. Even though it was dark outside, the stained-glass windows that depicted the forest landscapes and shorelines of Ehora were brought to life by giant pits of fire outside.
It was unlike anything I had ever seen, and instead of being awed by it, I was overwhelmed with nausea. Mostly due to the sight of the guests from poorer districts of the city with plates piled high with food, while others dressed in fine silks and pearls sneered toward them.
The ache in my heart pulsed. This was probably more food than many of them saw in a week. I knew, because I’d been there as well.
Several days ago, during our last gathering, I had suggested that the king extend an invite to his entire city. Before he was able to reject my idea, several other dignitaries agreed, causing him to send out invites the next day.
Clara relaxed her pace as we approached the circle of powerful people in front of us. Declan’s eyes still roved over my body, locking me in an impenetrable gaze.
I held tight onto my ward, trying to not let my feelings spill into the other Empath in the room. However, the physical reaction to his heated gaze seemed to not be as easily contained. Warmth heated my cheeks and flushed down the sides of my neck.
