Page 78 of One Last Promise
When I entered thethrone room, I discovered that Uri’s vision was still the same: that I would help bring down Eallarim.My father seemed pleased.I also found out from Uri that I would be gone for over a month when Darce came to collect me in a few days.None of them had suspected that he had been in my bedchamber, either.The ancient warding spell was still intact.
Of course, our actions were clouded in darkness, but Uri could see that I would come back unharmed.That was all my father wanted to know.
“Xavier can’t take his eyes off you,” Noor muttered into my ear a while later.“He was trying to persuade your father to bond the two of you the entire time you were gone with the Noxlin.”She still couldn’t speak Darce’s name.
“Why doesn’t that shock me?He’ll try to mislead my father at any opportunity he can.Promise me you’ll keep a close eye on him while I’m away.”
“Of course.I’ll have to spendallmy time with Lito, if you’re not here.It will be easy to find out what Xavier is up to.”
“Oh, the hardship!”I snorted, linking arms with her.“Have you two gone all the way yet?”Noor blushed, looking away from me.“Youhave, haven't you?”
“We’ve been active for a while now.”She pulled me away from the crowd, towards one of the back pillars so we could talk more privately.
“Seriously?And you’re only telling me thisnow?”
“You know we’re not meant to speak of it.Only to our sexual partner.”
“Noor, it’s me.We can talk aboutanything.”Nodding, she gave me a small smile. “Yourfirsttime...how was it?”I was trying hard to not make it too obvious that I was curious, knowing Darce and I might finally make that huge leap soon.It made me wonder what it felt like.
“Painful, but quite enjoyable.It’s better now.Lito says the more we practise, the better I will become.”
“Are you getting some pleasure out of it at least, before he penetrates you?”Noor’s big, cool blue eyes widened at my understanding of foreplay.
“Alora, you shouldnotknow so much about this when you haven’t been deflowered yet!”Biting my lip, I tried to hide a smirk.“Youdocare about that Noxlin, don’t you?Tell me!What has gone on between the two of you?”
I couldn’t contain my thoughts a second longer.I knew they were safe with her.If I didn’t tell someone how amazing Darce had made me feel, I felt I might explode.“Foreplay, Noor.Lotsof foreplay,” I whispered, leaning against the pillar out of view as she looked at me with her mouth wide open.“The sexual attraction didn’t happen quickly between us.Trust me when I say we triedeverythingto fight the desire we have for each other.”
“Are you insane?Holy Ether might smite you.Dylin and Noxlin donotmix!What if she is denying you your powers because of it?”
“I think Holy Ether brought Darce and I together.I have no idea what to do, but we can’t keep away from each other.”
“Alora, hekilledyour mother.”
“He explained that to me.Noor, Zohar has lied about so many things.The Noxlin race aren’t what we believe them to be.”
“He’s brainwashed you.Listen to yourself!”
“If you can believe me about anything, please let it be this.Iamof sound mind.Nothinghas been forced upon me.Darce allowed me to come to this conclusion all on my own.Eallarim, it’s...beautifulandcivilised.It’s not the hell hole depicted in our history books.You’ve seen Darce with yourowneyes.He’s not beastly, yet he’s over threethousandyears old.None of his race are beastly.They arealla little like us.”
“It makes no sense.”
“He’s trying to work out why our races went to war in the first place.The Books of Elder World might hold the answer.”
“Books?I thought there was only one?”
“There are supposedly four in total.We have one, Eallarim have two, and one is missing.”
“The Noxlin told you all this?He trusted you enough?”
“Wetrusteach other,” I admitted, looking straight into her eyes.“I can’t tell you too much because I don’t want to get you involved, but Darce and I...Shit, it’s pretty fucked up.I don’t even know how to explain what’s going on.”Falling for the Noxlinprince...it was more than fucked up.
“Can you please stop using that vulgar language around me?”
“Sorry, he’s rubbed off on me more than I realise.”When I became lost in a thought of him, Noor shook me.
“You reallydocare for him.”Care wasn’t a strong enough word for what I felt.“I can’t hate Darce if you see the good in him.You wouldn’t give your feelings away easily, and I’ve seen how he protects you.”
“I’m inlovewith him, Noor.”The words felt invigorating.I would never be able to say them to Darce, but saying them out loud...they had never felt truer.“I cannevertell him that, though.Loving him is pointless when we can’t be together, but after everything I have learnt about my mother and the things he’s done...my feelings haven’t changed.This is why I want to rule over Dallethas alone when the time comes.There will be no other for me, only him.If I have to love him in secret for the rest of our existence, I’ll take it.If all I get is one night with him every century, it’s better than losing him completely.”Noor was dumbfounded as she gazed at me.“I don’t care how ridiculous it sounds.It’s how I feel.”
