Page 162 of Rising Out of the Darkness
Nothing could compare to the stillness of the space surrounding me. The hidden valley of Oria encompassed everything I had imagined the heavens to be.
Lush green foliage and acres of trees heavy with fruit spread across the valley slopes. A waterfall cascaded into a glistening lake below. Homes were carved into the stone walls of the mountain, and some stood tall on their own, probably created from the stone they’d carved away. Lanterns lit each home, as well as the gravel paths. Rows of crops covered a majority of the valley bottom, alongside the riot of wildflowers that lit up every vacant spot.
Nature was majestic, almost transcendent in the way it made me always feel so full of life and light—the soothing trickle of water, the sublime warmth of the sun as it melted across yourskin, or the way the soil squished between your toes. A grin spread across Declan’s face as he caught my glance.
“Empaths always feel calmer in nature. Especially here.”
“It’s breathtaking.”
“Welcome to Oria,” a low, rich voice hummed beside us.
“Fallon.” Declan embraced the broad-chested, chocolate-haired man. Stepping aside, he held out an arm towards me. “This is Elena Morrigan, our Light Phoenix.”
The man stepped forward and lifted my palm to his lips, giving it a peck. “It’s a pleasure to meet the woman who tamed the brooding Lord of Shadows.”
A scowl grew over Declan’s lips as a deep, hearty laugh burst free beside him.
“I like him.” I followed Fallon down the hill to the valley.
“Of course you do,” Declan scoffed, lifting me over his shoulder and giving me a swat on my behind before careening down the hill like a wild babe.
When we reached the bottom, he placed me back on two feet and bent over laughing.
“What has gotten into you?” I placed my hand over his forehead to pretend to check for fever. “No fever, maybe it’s just the madness.”
As I removed my hand, he seized it, pulling me into him, then captured my lips with a mind-altering kiss. His hands threaded through my locks and cupped the back of my head as he devoured every inch of my lips. When he pulled back, my legs were weak and my body trembled with need.
“This place feels more alive with you here.” His thumb brushed the side of my of jaw as he held it. “Everything feels more alive with you, love. You’ve made me see life through a whole different lens, one not clouded and tarnished by my past and my fears. This lens is clear, bright and full of hope.”
I leaned into his lips once more, needing him to feel what my words could not express on their own. I gripped his tunic, and we lost ourselves in each other once more.
“Whoa…perhaps we should come back later,” Liam said from beside us.
Breaking apart, we laid eyes on the rest of our family, all grinning. Clara whistled low, and I melted into Declan’s shoulders to hide the flush of my cheeks.
“Time for dinner, lover boy,” Liam jested, earning him a grunt from the man with his arms around me.
“Go get cleaned up, we’ll save you a spot at the table.” Killian wrapped his arm around Clara and kissed her the top of her head.
We parted ways, and Declan guided us down a gravel path to one of the many rooms carved into the rock. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to them being together. Every time I think about it, it’s like picturing my brother and sister together.” He cringed as I burst into laughter.
“Well, you’re just going to have to deal with it, because those two are madly in love.”
He shook his head and opened the large wooden door in front of us. The bond in my chest ached as I took in his room.
A whiskey bottle and an array of maps adorned the small table in the corner. Fur pelts covered the bed, and a stack of books lay on the side table, alongside a pair of spectacles.
“You wear glasses?”
A flush blossomed on his cheeks. “Sometimes when the light gets dim, I need them to read. You know”—he prowled towards me, causing the back of my legs to bump against the edge of the bed— “we still have some time before dinner.”
I placed a hand over his chest, but it took everything I had in me to push him back. “As much as I would like that, I’m exhausted, dirty, and absolutely ravenous, my love.”
He motioned towards a small basin and water pitcher on his desk. “You can use that for now to clean up, but later I’ll show you one of my favorite spots for a more … thorough cleansing.”
His words sent shivers down my spine, and it was all I could think about as I wiped off the grime and we made our way to dinner.
Even after everything we’d been through the past few weeks, Oria had brought me a sense of peace.
