Page 51 of Rising Out of the Darkness
“I…” I swallowed, trying to regain my composure. “I suppose I came here to apologize for all of my sass from earlier.” A smile blossomed on my lips. I knew damn well I wasn’t sorry at all.
He crossed his arms over his chest as he peered at me with a smirk. “Yes, I can see just how much it has tormented you.”
I couldn’t help but smile and roll my eyes, as I let out a small laugh. Honestly, the way this man’s moods shifted so quickly, he deserved all my sarcasm and more.
In a flash, Declan grabbed me and shoved my back up against the tree. His knee was wedged between my thighs, his body was flush against mine, locking me into place against the tree. He anchored himself above me with one hand while the other gripped my shoulder.
Wide-eyed, I watched breathless as he leaned towards my face. Heat rushed through my body, and there was an overwhelming worry that his lips might press against mine. Guilt began to creep in, because I knew deep down inside, Iwouldn’t stop him this time if he tried. Surrendering, I shut my eyes.
Instead of feeling our lips collide, I felt his drag across my cheek towards my ear. My toes curled inside my boots. Calloused fingers brushed against the side of my neck as they tucked a few strands of fallen hair behind my ear. They trailed down my braid and played with the loose hair at the end as he spoke. The deep, rumble of his voice roused what felt like tiny ripples of lightning to course throughout my body. Everywhere he touched my skin, my dynamis ignited, almost as if it yearned to follow his touch as much as I did.
“Elena…what can I do to ensure you never roll those beautiful eyes at me ever again?”
All that came out of me was a soft hum.
“Tell me, Wildfire,” he purred.
Dear gods.
As my mind went blank, my body took over. I could no longer formulate words. Declan’s fingers traced a slow, delicate path down my arm, finally settling on the top of my waist. I squirmed against the tree, my thighs squeezing against the sides of his knee. His grip around my waist tightened as I tried to shift my body out of his grasp. All that did was provide enough pressure to relieve some of the throbbing erupting between my inner thighs.
“Maybe this will teach you a lesson.” His words faded, replaced by teeth grazing the side of my neck. I gasped, holding my breath as he continued. My body quivered underneath him.
“Or perhapsthis…” His warm lips trailed down my neck towards the opening of the cloak. With a swift maneuver of his hands, the cloak puddled around my feet. His lips caressed the spot where the cloak once was, and I felt as though my body was melting into the tree. My breathing quickened, heart racing intooblivion. That same pull in my chest that seemed to only happen around him tugged voraciously.
That was it. I’d officially lost my mind.
There was no way I should want this. Hells, we’d been fighting since we’d met. As usual, my traitorous body had other plans. Everything inside me called out to tell me that this was right. It was almost as if my soul knew him more deeply than I did. Like they were old flames, reunited once more.
Once again, Declan grabbed my chin, tilting it back to meet his gaze. He gazed upon my lips, his chest rising and falling at the same rate as mine.
“Actually, I think there’s only one way to smother all the sass.” He tapped his index finger against my lips. “And it has to do with these.”
Just as his soft lips brushed mine, a bloodcurdling yell followed by a thundering growl came from behind us.
Declan’s body tensed. More shouts arose from the guards on duty, and the clang of metal swords clamored against the wind. He quickly turned around, arms out to shield me from whatever had made that growl in the distance. However, nothing could shield me from seeing the mammoth beast that drew closer to us.
The beast before us was twice the size of any wolf I had ever laid eyes on. Its paws were enormous, probably the size of my head. Each claw looked like it could rip us to shreds with one swipe. Blood coated its snout. A guard’s body lay lifeless beneath it. Black sludge also oozed from its fur. If that wasn’t enough to make me go pale with terror, I was staring into two dark voids where eyes should have been.
The beast roared ferociously this time, causing me to jump. As it arched its neck back, its mouth hung wide open, displaying its sharp, yellowing teeth. The smell of death and decay clouded around us, and it took everything I had in me to not lose mydinner in the bushes. I swallowed deeply, cautiously bending down to grab my dagger from my boot.
As soon as I rose to my feet, the beast began its sprint towards us.
“RUN!” Declan growled, unleashing his shadows and all the darkness along with it.
“No!” I pushed around him and threw my dagger straight towards the beast’s head.
The dagger found its target, but the beast didn’t flinch or stop its charge towards us. All my muscles tightened with fear. My heart was racing uncontrollably, and my feet felt frozen to the ground. This feeling was all too familiar. I’d felt it once before—the night fear froze me in the doorway of our home as I watched my mother being murdered before me.
The beast snarled as some of the guards began to use their dynamis. As it turned its sights on them, Declan grabbed a hold of my arm and tugged me behind him.
More screams pealed from behind us before the chill of silence replaced them. Our feet slid over the mud, but Declan dug in his heels and continued to run for the thick cover of trees ahead of us.
Behind me, I could hear muffled shouts and the sound of padded feet as they rumbled against the ground. When I risked a look over my shoulder, my foot rolled over a rock, sending me barreling into the mud. Waves of anger, panic, and desperation crashed into me as they slipped out from under Declan’s ward. My hands kept slipping against his arms as he tried to lift me up. Forgoing my arms altogether, he threaded his hands under my armpits and lifted me up. In another burst, he tossed me behind him and launched his dynamis.
He threw everything he had at the beast. His shadows struck, ripped and tore. Bits of flesh and sludge flung through the air. Shadows wrapped around the beast’s body, weaving tightly toslowing it in its tracks. This was no ordinary animal. This was something darker. It felt like something made of pure evil.
“Go now, Elena!” he rasped through gritted teeth. “Listen to me for once,please!”
