Page 60 of Rising Out of the Darkness
“Hmm?” She placed a brush inside the dresser.
“Elena. It’s my name. Friends call each other by their names.”
She gave me a bow. “Of course, Elena.”
Head held high and shoulders back, I strode out of my room ready to take on anything in my path.
That path ended quicker than I expected when I slammed right into a giant chest of armor.
“You know, we really have to quit meeting like this.” The slow drawl of Killian’s voice slid towards me. I massaged my aching forehead and nose. “For someone who seems to have a keen grasp of her senses, sight seems to be not one of them.”
“Hilarious,” I said flatly. One side of his lip curled up as he wrapped his arms around me. “It’s good to see you too.” My words were muffled by his armor.
“We’re so glad to see you safe. You gave us a good scare, Freckles.”
I choked on a laugh. “Freckles?”
“Everyone’s got a nickname for you. I was feeling a bit left out.”
“Keep trying,” I deadpanned, which earned me a laugh.
Killian extended his arm for me to hold. We began to walk down the corridor in silence. The pounding of my rapid heartbeat echoed in my head. The surge of dynamis within me tingled at the surface, taunting me. Before I entered that dining hall, I needed to gain control.
Inhaling deeply, I did the best I could to pull a mask of calm over my body. I let it wrap around me like a blanket. It was nothing more than a flimsy shield, but I hoped it would be enough to get me through the entire dinner.
As we approached the white doors trimmed in gold, my knees buckled. Killian placed a palm over mine on his arm, forcing me to meet his gaze. “It’s just dinner, Elena, you can do this.”
“Ha!” I grumbled. “Justdinner?”
“Declan will be with you the entire time.”
“I still haven’t decided if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.” A small shaky laugh escaped my lips.
“I believe you’ll find out for yourself sooner or later that it’s indeed a good thing, Freckles. Boy, do I wish I could see his face when he sees you in this dress.”
Suddenly, I was very aware of my rosy cheeks. Oh, gods, was I wearing the wrong dress?
As if Killian could hear my thoughts, he replied, “Oh, you definitely chose the right one, Elena.”
Some of the tension released from my shoulders. I’d only just met these two men, but knowing that they would be the ones looking after me made me feel a whole lot safer.
“Deep breath,” Killian said as he knocked on the doors and they both opened wide on command.
Rolling my shoulders back and tilting my head up high, I glided into the room.Here we go, Elena.
Chapter 22
Declan
“Ican’t believe you put the girl in the room next to you, Declan. What message do you think that will send? By tomorrow morning the entire city with will think we’ve begun to go soft on the lesser Elysians.” My father seethed.
The piercing ache in my head reminded me why I avoided these dinners as much as possible.
Rubbing circles over my temples, I tried to erase the fury that burrowed inside. Nothing would make your appetite evaporate faster than sitting across from the man who had killed your mother and brother, and beside your father, who still refused to believe it.
Since I’d arrived, my father and Alastor had begun a torturous interrogation about the past few days with the Light Phoenix. Still heartbroken and fuming over what Eloise had told me earlier, I couldn’t contain the glare that was currently locked on their faces.
My shadows rippled like steam along my arms and I took long draws from my whiskey glass. That seemed to quiet them for a while, and they got lost in conversation about plans for the ball that they would be holding to show off the Light Phoenix’s dynamis.
