Page 67 of One Last Wish

“Why? You clearly know what’s going on with me!”

“Too much information too quickly can be dangerous.” Darce sighed, watching me intently. “Trust me. I wish I could tell you everything.”

“That night, on the bridge...that was you, wasn’t it?”

His eyes softened and he reached out to touch my cheek. “I’ve never been one for watching beautiful creatures die.” Running his fingertips along my jaw, he sighed again. “I know you have questions, Alora, but I can’t promise that I’ll be able to answer all of them right away. What I can promise is that everything I’m doing is to protectyou. You cannot talk to anyone else about this, do you understand? Not even Evelyn.”

“You’ll answer what you can, though?”

“Within reason, yes.”

“Can you do that cool shadow swirl with your finger again?” I smirked, biting my bottom lip. If I thought Darce was sexy before, my libido had tripled for him now.

“No! It’s not a party trick, Alora.” He scowled. “We need to get you home before you catch a chill.”

“Can’t you whisk me away with your shadows?”

“They arenotshadows!” Darce snapped, closing his eyes as he tried to calm himself. “Alora,” he pleaded when he reopened his eyes, “please. Give me a chance to process all of this! I'm using what little patience I have left right now.”Not shadows? They sure as hell looked like them to me. I didn’t press the matter, though. It was clear that whatever had happened with my hands tonight had surprised Darce, too.

When I touched the fairy lights and branches as I walked past them, he gave me a questioning look. “I’m making sure it's all real, and that I haven’t gone crazy.”

“Trust me, this isreal.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “We might have to take the subway. It’s a bit of a trek if we walk.”

“I don’t mind walking.” It would mean more time with him, and right now, my heart was telling me that was all I wanted.

––––––––

“WHY DID YOU SAVE MEthat night on the bridge? Were you watching me?” My dreams about the shadows flashed in my mind. It made me wonder if that had been him, too.

“Yes. I’ve been watching you for a while.”

“And I thought Theo was a stalker,” I snorted, eyeing him. He smirked slightly. “It was my hair, wasn’t it? That’s what attracted you, and the fact I have the skin of a corpse.”

“You stand out for many reasons, Alora.” Darce turned around a corner, and I followed, realising we were near Gapstow Bridge. It didn’t bother me that we probably had a three hour walk ahead of us. It gave me plenty of time to ask him questions.

“I love this part of the park.” I stepped onto the bridge with a smile. The water below was frozen, and the backdrop of snow-sprinkled trees and bushes made the most magical winter wonderland. “When I was younger, my Dad and I used to make the trip from Bridgewater when it snowed here. I’d pretend I had fallen into a magical realm and had to save its people.”

“And what do you dream of now that you’re here with me?” Darce’s voice was soft. He reached out and pulled me towards him. The specks in his eyes were burning brighter than ever before.

“I’m not sure, but my entire body hums with a need that I only get when you’re with me.” His hands moved to the side of my face. “I have no idea what is going on. The only thing that makes any sense is when youtouchme.” His lips were against mine in seconds, and I moaned into the kiss, savouring the taste of him. The kiss was urgent and thirsty. It felt as if Darce had waited forever to kiss me this way. He took me over completely, controlled me fully, and I gave in willingly.

“You are all that makes sense to me, too.” he breathed against my mouth once he’d finished claiming my lips. I was giddy and lightheaded.

“Have you bewitched me with your shadows? Is that what all this is about?” Looking down, I noticed my hands were glowing again. Did they shine forhim? In all my dreams, when I had glowed like this, Darce was always there. “You want to consume me? This light is my soul and you want to drain me?”

Letting out a loud laugh, he gave me the most beautiful smile. “Alora, I havemorethan enough power. Your light is your own. I have a need to consume you inotherways, but we better not get into that right now. I suspect your light will shine brighter the more you remember.” When Darce began walking again, I followed.

“Remember what?”

“Nice try. I can’t tell you that.” Thinking back to the dreams I’d have over the last month, it made me question if they’d been dreams at all. What if they werememories?

“You taught me to fight.” He instantly stilled, turning to look at me in disbelief. “I have no idea why, but you trained me to wield a sword.”

“How do you...?” Darce stopped mid-sentence.

“I’ve been having these dreams about us. I thought I was making them up...”

“Tell me what you can remember from these dreams.”

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