Page 78 of Rising Out of the Darkness
Our kiss was slow and tender as he explored every curve of my lips. He treated my mouth like an uncharted land that he was desperate to discover. A low rumble rose from his chest as he wrapped his hand around the back of my neck, pulling me tighter. I gasped at his touch, and he pulled me on top of his lap.
Every kiss became more needy, passion blooming within every caress. Grabbing the back of my head and tilting it up, he deepened our kiss. His tongue invaded my mouth, swirling with the same intensity as his lips as they crashed against mine. The earthy scent of forest and spice invaded my nose, and he tasted like sweet whiskey, a seductive combination that overloaded my senses. There was nothing I wanted more than to devour a whole bottle of him, to be intoxicated by his entire being.
If I was honest, I’d wanted this from the moment he’d slammed me against that tree in the forest. Everything about this moment was all-consuming. I craved to feel this goodeverywhere.
As if reading my mind, fingers tightened around my hips, and my entire body felt aflame. Declan’s hand slid its way up my back, tracing along the ridges of my spine. He tugged at my hair, exposing my neck to him. Lips wrapped around my earlobe, followed by the sting of his teeth as they scraped over the smooth surface of my skin.
There was no stopping my thighs as they clenched around him, and his hands dug deeper into my body in response. Each delicate kiss he pressed into my neck sent my emotions spiraling even further. Sharp pain pierced my body as the thrum of dynamis shivered against my skin.
It was all too much, yet not enough. I never wanted the moment to stop, but I knew it needed to. No matter how much I wanted Declan, deep down I knew it could never be, and the emotions created by those fears were crushing me.
“Dec,” I panted, placing my hands on his chest, struggling to push away from him.
My swollen lips quivered, tears building behind my eyes. This was the most incredible moment of my life, and here I was ruining it. Declan made me feel like no one else had ever made me feel. Whether I liked it or not, he always told me the truth.He’d seen me at my worst, most vulnerable moments, and still pursued me at every turn. A strange sense of familiarity arose every time he was near. Sometimes when he was around me, I even caught myself feeling like we’d been here before.
However, the overwhelming guilt of what I had just done was dragging me under. The king and Lord Alastor would never allow anything to happen between us. Gods, if they ever found out what happened tonight, I could only imagine what terrible things they might do to Declan or the people in the city he cared so much for.
Guilt tugged at my stomach as my mind wandered to the first boy to have tempted my heart, Will. The tear he’d sliced in my heart still felt raw and unresolved. Yet here I was, on the lap of another man. Lately, I was starting to not recognize the person I was turning into.
Each sting throbbing inside me was a reminder to stop being so selfish and remember what I was truly here for. Silly romantic feelings weren’t important, and I should never have let them get in the way. If the king followed through with his deal, I’d be free to go back to my town. All I needed to do was follow his orders, and I’d be able to go back to protect the ones I loved. As delusional as that idea might be, it was a hope that I clung to.
“What’s wrong, beautiful?” Declan tilted my chin with the tip of his finger.
“I—I’m so sorry…” My voice trembled as I spoke. “I want to, but I—I just can’t,” I whispered, choking down a sob, a tear running down my cheek.
Swiping it away tenderly with his thumb, he looked at me with such a sincere and heartfelt grin that I almost abandoned all common sense and kissed him all over again.
“There’s nothing to apologize for. Wildfire, you have completely entranced me. I fear you have sassed your way into my cold, brooding heart and I can no longer evade my feelings.”
My lips twitched at his attempt at humor.
His forehead pressed against my temple as he continued to whisper. “Patience is not something I’m well known for, but for you, I would do anything. Especially when it’s something I’ve grown to value more than all the wonders of this realm.” A mischievous smirk tugged against his lips.
“So, Elena. I’ll wait. For you, andonlyyou. No matter how long it may take. In this life or the next, I’ll be waiting.” He placed his hand over my thundering heart. “When you are ready to open this to me”—he tapped my chest, then placed my palm over his—“I’ll be there with open arms ready to protect it with all of mine.”
If those words weren’t enough to shatter me completely, he leaned forward and placed a tender kiss upon my forehead. The same warmth that had enveloped me at dinner with the king cascaded over me. All at once, the pain that penetrated my body from my emotions ceased. Hushed were the endless rambling thoughts of my mind.
“Let’s get you back to your room. You’ve got to sleep off all that alcohol before we train tomorrow.” He waggled his eyebrows and I couldn’t bury the laugh that welled out of me.
Shoulder to shoulder, we walked all the way back to my room. Each brush of his body against mine ignited shivers through my already sensitive skin. When we came to my door, he lifted my hand and pressed a kiss into my palm. “Sweet dreams, Elena.”
With a nod goodbye, he strolled down to his room, opening and closing the door behind him as I watched, frozen in the moment. Every instinct in my body shouted at me to run after him and jump straight into his arms.
Instead, I forced my legs to carry me into my room. Once inside, I leapt into my bed, clothes and all, and curled into a ball.
Tears tore out of me until I faded to sleep from exhaustion.
Chapter 30
Elena
Iwrapped my arms tightly around myself, trying to stop the shivers. Our town was quiet, perhaps a little quieter than normal, even at this time of night. Father and I had been out hunting to feed ourselves and those in town who were unable. Both of us were exhausted as we walked in silence towards our cabin. The only sound was the crunch of soil underneath our boots.
That was until the screaming began.
All at once, shouting tore from homes around us. My father’s eyes locked on mine as he reached out to grab my arm and pull me closer. Just as he did, the cabin next to us exploded in a burst of flames, and the people within let out agonized cries.
The streets were filled with Elysians running out of their homes in hordes. They scrambled around as men dressed head to toe in black, heavily armed, chased after them. My body grew numb as air faded from my lungs.
