Page 23 of Rising Out of the Darkness
“How can you live with yourself?”
“Go burn in the fiery depths of Hells!”
Shock wafted through me, along with something unfamiliar. I placed my palm over my chest, trying to quell the overwhelming feeling of despair and shame. These words were enough to make anyone feel something, but my brain couldn’t process why I was feeling shame. None of these words were directed at me so why was I?—
Realization struck me as sharply as these emotions that had invaded my body. How could I have forgotten?
These were not my own emotions. These were coming from the man behind me. Only someone with Empath dynamis could pull the emotions from another. I’d been so overwhelmed with the idea of being the Light Phoenix that I had completely forgotten the gods blessed me with the dynamis of an Empath first.
I curled my hand around the hood of my cloak and carefully turned around to view the prince. He gripped the reins and the veins in his neck thickened with blood, no doubt fueled by the vicious words ringing all around us.
Normally, I would agree with them considering all the atrocities his father (and apparently, he) had inflicted upon our kingdom. In all honesty it should probably make me terrified, but when my eyes searched his, all I saw was remorse. The prince’s face remained stoic, almost bored. His eyes, however, were glossy with unshed tears, and the small crease between his brows told me a much different story.
We passed the edge of the town and made our way forward. Releasing one hand from the reins, the prince lowered my hood. Smoothing out my hair, I turned to say thank you when a bloodcurdling scream interrupted me.
All eyes turned back toward the town as a woman ran with a child dangling limp within her arms, both covered in blood.
“Black wolf! She’s been bitten!” The woman turned down the road into the town as a small crowd began to gather. “Gods! Help, someone help!”
Blood coursed through me, and I pulled forward on the saddle, readying myself to jump down. Strong hands forced me down.
“No!” The prince shouted.
“They need help. I can help!” I snarled, my blazing glare meeting his own.
“It’s too dangerous. Hells woman, did you not just hear everything that they said as we passed?”
“I did,” I huffed. “And it’s all the more reason why you should let me go!”
His shoulders slumped. Shame swelled within me once more, this time from me. “I’m sorry, I—I just want to help…I need to?—”
“They have others who can help. Just let it go.”
The burn of my new dynamis thrummed through me as his eyebrow rose, reminding me of the promise I’d made. All I could think about was the overwhelming need to get off this damn horse and go to help.
So that was what I did.
I leapt from the horse, taking him by surprise, but his reflexes were fast. He grabbed my cloak in his fist at the same time as I ripped apart the button, freeing me. I fell straight to the ground with a thud. A groan ripped through me as I scrambled to my feet.
My legs carried me off in a sprint towards the town. I didn’t dare look back. All my focus remained on willing my feet to go faster.
Declan
Fury wafted off me in waves, tangling alongside my shadows. I couldn’t believe Elena disobeyed me after everything she’d just heard about me, after the promise she’d made. None of it seemed to matter. She had tossed it all aside and gone barreling straight into the fire.
Killian’s horse snorted next to me as I groaned into my hands. “Want me to zephyr after her?” Killian asked.
“Hells.” I rubbed my hand against the stubble on my jaw. “No, let’s all go. I believe she truly just wants to help, but I have a feeling we’re going to need all of us, just in case things turn sour.”
I tugged at the reins, turning my horse around and back into the town behind us.
All eyes peered at us once more, and I tried my best to not let their glares seep into my skin. I was aware of what they thought of me, and I knew what I had done. Some days I wished I could sit them all down and explain the truth. Unfortunately, that was not an option, and I had a Light Phoenix to track down.
Narrowing my eyes, I scanned through the small crowd until I saw the flash of auburn waves ripple around the corner store. I motioned for Liam and Killian to follow behind me.
As we rounded the street corner, I spotted her kneeling in someone’s overgrown herb garden. Raising a hand, I motioned to the men behind to stay put.
“Elena,” I whispered, making my way towards her, while keeping an eye on a few men beginning to crowd around us.
