Page 64 of One Last Promise
We’d been in the valley for almost three days now, and both knew we needed to head home.
“I’ll wait until that day then.”The smile on his face didn’t quite reach his eyes.“It’s getting harder saying goodbye to you.”His honesty floored me.I felt exactly the same way but I couldn’t tell him that.
“You’ll see me intwo weeks.”I finished tying my boots and stood up.
“That’s still too long.”Darce pulled me into his arms and ran his fingers through my hair before touching the side of my face.“I’m going to look into Noxlin and Dylin fornication a little more while we’re apart.I know I promised to try if you ran away with me, but I need to know I’m not risking you.”
“Okay.”After kissing the breath out of me, Darce called to the pups and we made our way out of The Shielding Valley together.
“Look after her, you two.”He looked at Loki and Enyo before pecking my lips once last time.“I’ll see you in two weeks.”Nodding, I stroked his face before turning on my heels.
I could still feel his eyes on me as I began to walk away.Noor was going to be angry because I was over sixhourslate.Darce and I had so much to talk about that the time had slipped away from me.
****
“WE’RE GOING TO BE INso much trouble,” I muttered a while later, looking at Enyo.She tilted her head as Loki lifted his nose high in the air, scenting something.A long growl escaped his lips before Enyo caught the scent too, and both of them took a protective stance in front of me.
I was only an hour away from Dallethas.Nothing too dangerous should have been this close to town.The heat haze made it difficult to see too far into the distance, but I could make out something moving towards me.As it drew closer, fear struck me.It was a light leaper moving at extreme speed.
Soleil was suddenly standing in front of me, silencing Loki and Enyo with a loud roar.XavierandNoor were on his back.What had she done?
Motioning for Loki and Enyo to stand down, Noor began to speak, “Alora before...”
“This hasnothingto do with you, Noor.You canleave!”Xavier interrupted.
“You think I’m going to leave her alone withyou?”she spat, moving to stand in front of me.I was so stunned that I hadn’t even moved.
“ALORA!Is it true?”Xavier bellowed, his voice echoing around the mountains to the far right of me.“Have you been trained in battle by a Dylinmale?”How had he found out?“ANSWER ME!”he yelled.He tried to step forward, but Noor used a strong gust of wind to push him back.
“You are not getting anywhere near her with that temper!”she threatened, pushing me further behind her.
“Alora, you will answer me.I need a name so I cankillhim!”The image of Darce entered my mind, and I watched Xavier run his blade straight through his chest.I would never allow that to be Darce’s fate!
“You don’t know him!He’s a Dylin that left Dallethas alongtime ago!”Lying with a little bit of truth was the best option.
“A NAME, ALORA!”Racking my brain, I tried to think of a name.Only one sprang to mind.
“Anwar!”I blurted out, thinking back to the story Darce had told me earlier.Lustre’s general that I had never heard of.
“Anwar?” Xavier frowned, the anger still radiating off him.“How old is this male?”
“I have no idea, and if you must know,yes!Iamtrained in battle.”Noor shot a blast of wind at Xavier as he tried to come for me again.
“You’ve gone against your father’s wishes!Do you have any idea what he’ll do to you when you return?”
“All she did was learn a few defensive moves.”Noor responded.“She won’t train anymore.Isn’t that right, Alora?”She turned to me, pleading with her eyes.
“Uri’s vision suggested more than afewdefensive moves, Noor!”Uri’svision?“Where is thisAnwarnow?Where do you meet him?”
“It’s different each time,” I replied.“I have no idea where he lives.All I know is that it’s somewhere in the Barren Lands.”Xavier shot a bolt of fire from his hands, startling Noor.It gave him enough time to push her out of the way and grab hold of me.
“How long have you been going to him?”Xavier roared, shaking me.“Has he touched you?You’ve been playing me this whole time, haven’t you?He’s not going to get you!You aremine, Alora!Mine!”Noor was screaming, trying to use her power, but Xavier kept shooting fire in her direction.The fire whirled up like a tornado as Noor tried to manipulate it.“I’m taking you home and bonding you to me tonight!Once Zohar learns of your treachery, you’ll have no choice.”Loki and Enyo were growling loudly, but Soleil wouldn’t allow them near me.
“No!”I cried out, kneeing him hard in the bollocks the way Darce had shown me.Xavier released me, crumpling to the dirt in pain.
As I rushed over to Noor, I saw seven large figures stalking towards us while Xavier was still on the ground.Their wild, white eyes were all glowing in my direction.The beasts licked their lips before moving into an attack stance.The noc beast pack had found us and I was defenceless without a sword.
“Get on Soleil and run back to Dallethas,now!”Noor screamed, pushing me towards him.
