Page 36 of One Last Promise
“This conversation is far from over,” she responded, frowning at me.
“Give her a break,” Noor chimed in, standing up.“Come on, let’s give the princess some space.Do you need a servant to draw you a bath?Do you want me to get the pups fed?Do you have a name for them?”
“Loki and Enyo,” I smiled, pointing to them individually as I said their name.“And, yes, please.They’ll both need a wash, too.There is no need for a servant to be called.I can draw my own bath, thank you.”
Scooping them up, Noor ushered Nell and Luz out of my chamber.“We’ll let you rest.I’ll bring Loki and Enyo back once they’re ready.”After nodding, I made my way towards my own plunge pool.
The light of the suns warmed my face as I stripped and slid into my bath.The warm water made my body strain in protest.Now that the pure adrenaline was easing, my body ached everywhere.
Submerging my head under the water, I washed all of the dirt from my hair.When I came back up for air, I gazed out into the distance, wondering what Darce was doing right now.Was he still in the Barren Lands or had he gone back home to Eallarim?
Four weeks and I would finally see him again.I only prayed it wouldn’t be our last meeting.
Darcehadto train me.Mydestinydepended on it.
Chapter twelve
When you’re immortal, time has no presence.It’s a monotonous gift that most of my kind took for granted.This last month, I had felt theeffectof time for the first time in my existence.The need for it to pass by more quickly was unbearable.All this suffering was because I wanted to see Darce again.I could barely get my head around the apprehension I felt for our next meeting.The need to see him was there, but the fear that it might be the last time was stronger.In such a short time, Darce had somehow burrowed into my mind.He’d awoken a part of me that I was wary of.A deep, maddening power was growing within me each passing day.Whether it was Noxlin trickery or not, I was already succumbing to the force.That both excited and terrified me.If Darce was going to be my downfall, it appeared that I might give my life willingly one day if these...feelingscontinued to develop.It was safe to say, being around me was a little difficult for the last month.
Noor believed my low mood was to do with my father.That was only partly the case.He’d hardly said a single word since my return.I only saw him at our rituals and blessings.Even at those, he hardly looked in my direction.For him, because my powers hadn’t manifested, he didn’t see any achievement with my completed task to Nantu’s sacred mountain.This fact made it clear: I had to keep my powers a secret at all cost until I could control them.My destiny wasn’t going to be taken by bonding with Xavier.Darce might be able to help me learn control as part of my training.It felt wrong to pin all my hopes on a Noxlin, but Holy Ether had sent a message with the wisp.I had to have faith that Darce would train me.
“What do I wear today?”I asked Enyo while she chewed on a deer bone.Loki was outside on my balcony, soaking up the sun.In a month, they had tripled in size and almost came up to my knee.Luz believed they would be fully grown in a few centuries and be a formidable force.Their teeth were forming, and the claws on their paws had already shredded numerous fabrics in my bedchamber.They were devoted to me, and if anyone they didn’t like got too close, they made their intentions clear.Xavier got growled at regularly by them.My pups could sense my unease around him.Once they were fully grown, I’d have the ultimate protection.
Looking away from Enyo and Loki, I tried to decide what to wear.Today was finally the day we were heading to Shielding Valley to pay Darce his gold and learn his decision.
Wearing my normal clothing wasn’t an option, but I had to look noble enough to serve in the palace.I finally decided on my pale cream trousers and opaque tunic.I completed it with gold trim under garments.I was lacing my leather boots when Noor wandered in.
“I noticed your lights were on.Where are you heading to this early?”She frowned as Loki and Enyo rushed over to her excitedly.“Hello, pups!No, I don’t have any food,” she snorted as Loki nudged her hand.
“I’m going for a walk.I had more nightmares about Raiden.I need to try and clear my head.”
“Did you need any company?You can walk in silence if you need to.I don’t like the idea of you being alone right now, Alora.”
“I know, but I would rather go by myself, if that’s okay.I wouldn’t be good company,” I lied, looking towards my hell dryads.“Loki and Enyo will keep me safe.You don’t have to worry.”
“But you know I do!You’ve not been the same since you returned.I can’t quite work out what is different, but I can see it in your eyes.You have a burden on your shoulders.I wish you’d talk to me about it.You’ve been so withdrawn since you got home.”
