Page 60 of One Last Promise
“I can’t deny you anything or stay angry with you.”I sighed, moving in for a more passionate kiss.“Damn you.”
“I always knew you wouldn’t be able to resist me.”
“Prick,” I breathed against his lips.Darce chuckled, deepening the kiss.
“You and Xavier seem to be getting on better these days,” Luz commented while I helped her collect the flowers for today’s blessing.“Have you set a date to be bonded?”
“We’re taking things slow.We don’t want to unbalance my power if it’s starting to surface.”
“Well, whatever you’re doing, it’s working.Your aura is glowing.Even I can even see it these days.It’s so pure.”She reached out, almost seeming as if she was touching it.Nell had been the only one able to see my aura before.It was a way of foreseeing great power.“Your power must be greatly connected to the ground if I can see it.”
“If only Holy Ether would hurry up and bestow them upon me.Then we would find out.”
“Take an extra offering to the blessing.”Picking a sacred, white iris, Luz handed it to me.“This might do the trick.History suggests that the iris was the first flower Holy Ether created.It’s a symbol of pure light.”
“Thank you,” I muttered, taking it and stroking the delicate petals.“I’ve never read that in the library.”
“It’s in the ancient, restricted books.The Book of Elder World, I believe.”
“Where is that in the library?”
“Uri has it under lock and key.Zohar ordered it to be done not long after losing...your mother.”Touching my arm, Luz gave me a sympathetic half smile.“I was only allowed to check the pages about up-rooting roots, and Uri guarded me the entire time.I managed to save the rose garden just in time with its help.”
“Why would a book need to be under lock and key?”
“It has a lot of ancient information.It’s rumoured to have been written by Lustre, herself.The pages are unreadable due to the ancient language and age of the book, but some pictures I saw paint quite a different version of Afterlight.”
“In what way?”I didn’t realise I was clinging to her arm so hard until Luz pulled away.“Sorry.”
“I couldn’t quite tell.Uri turned the pages so fast.It was difficult to work it out, but our two suns and moons appeared to be joined in one image.”Did she mean an eclipse?Darkness taking over the light?I needed to get access to these books somehow.There might be information about Noxlin and Dylin fornicating.“Alora, I know that face.Don’t go poking your nose into business that doesn’t concern you.Uri will not give you access to those books.Why would you even need them?”
“I wasn’t even thinking that,” I lied, giving her a shy smile.“Come on.We need to make our way to the temple.Noor and Fynn will be waiting for us.”
I was distracted at the blessing.Voices chattered around me, but all I could think about was the image Luz had seen in The Book of Elder World.What if the eclipse picture had something to do with Noxlin and Dylin finding peace?What if a Dylin and Noxlin had fallen in love before.Was there a way for Darce and I to be together?My heart soared at the tiniest amount of hope.I knew the image could have been about a darker time, when darkness almost corrupted light, but my feelings for Darce had me praying that I could find some answers for us in that book.
“Alora, are you even paying attention to what I’m saying?”Xavier touched my arm gently, breaking me from my thoughts.
“Sorry, my mind was miles away.”
“Are you still concerned about your powers?”he inquired, pulling me towards one of the large pillars in the temple for some privacy.“Your offering was a wonderful idea.I’m sure Holy Ether will hear your plea.”Pretending to become friends with Xavier had worked better than I could have imagined.He believed we were building a foundation of friendship before we took things to the next step.I had to allow him the occasional touch, though.It may have been his hand lingering a little longer on the swell of my back, or a gentle kiss, but Xavier never pushed it too far.He was desperate to win my affection.
“Luz gave me the flower.”Xavier played with the few loose strands of my hair, twisting them around his fingers.
“Perhaps taking our relationship to the next level would please Holy Ether?”
“I don’t think it works that way,” I chuckled, brushing off his comment.“Are you coming to The Falls later?Nell, Luz, Noor, and I are all going.”
“I have to sort out the patrol teams,” he sighed softly, moving in to inhale the scent just below my collarbone.Knowing his schedule, it was easy to invite him to events I knew he couldn’t attend.I had been doing it for years.“If I can make the time, I will try.”
“I’m having dinner with my father and Elin next week.Perhaps you could join us then?”
“I will try and clear my plans for that.”With a glance over my shoulder, he saw that Jarious was trying to get his attention.“Excuse me, Alora.I am needed.”Pecking my cheek, he quickly left.
“What was all that about?”Noor made me jump, coming up behind me.“You two looked cosy.”
“Oh, he was telling me he can’t make the tavern.He’s sending more patrols out.”
“It’s probably because of all the beast attacks.The last four patrols and a few pilgrimages have been ambushed.Lito was telling me that they fear it might be a pack of noc beasts.”
