Page 50 of One Last Wish

IT’S THE MIDDLE OFthe night when I wake up.Dallethas...which book was that from?Eallarimsounded familiar, too, but I couldn’t placewhy. Moving to grab my phone so I could make a note of those places before I forgot them again, I noticed my hands.Fuck!I hadn’t glowed for almost a week. As I studied my fingertips, I realised that the light was brighter than before. When I switched my lamp on to see if it would shatter the illusion, I gasped. My fingertips seemed to be drawing the light from the lamp. It was making my hands glow so bright it was dazzling me. Heat coursed through my hands, but it wasn’t painful. I felt in control as a small circle of light appeared in my palm. Power surged down my arms. I could have sworn golden tattoos lit up on the inside of my wrist. This power craved to be released, I couldfeelit. I had to fire it somewhere.

This had to be a dream. My fucked up head couldn’t manifest this. Rushing to the window and opening it, I spotted a trash can and fired my light bolt at it. Before I could even blink, there was a very small, silent explosion, mostly of light. Slamming my window shut, I rushed to the bathroom to cool my fingers under the cold water.

My body shuddered and fear took over. What if this was it? My mind had collapsed and there was no sane thought left.

I inspected my hands once I was back in my bedroom. They were back to my normal, icy white colour, and had cooled down. If this was the start of my breakdown, perhaps Darce was right. I had to live whatever life I had left. That meant going on a date with Theo so I could say I’d had a date, and going out clubbing with Evelyn and dancing until my feet hurt. And Darce...I needed as much time with him as I could possibly get. He was the only person that made me wish Icouldfeel.

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THE ORCHESTRA CONCERTgrounded me, or was that Darce? Listening to the brass, woodwinds, percussion and my personal favourite, string instruments, calmed my head more than I thought it would.

“How’s your head?” Darce asked once the concert finished. I’d blamed my quietness the last few days on a migraine that I was struggling to get rid of. Telling Darce the truth—that mymindhad made my fingertips shoot a ball of fire into a trash can—yeah, that would have ended in a trip to the asylum for me. I hadn’t gone to visit that trash can, either. I didn’t want to see more evidence that I was insane. I was already worried enough. This could be the downward spiral I had been dreading all my life.

“It’s a little better,” I lied, not meeting his gaze.

“I’ve noticed you haven’t agreed to go on a date with Theo yet.” Why did he keep bringing this up?

“I will, but it’sonedate. To proveyouwrong. Theo isn’t the kind of guy I would fall for...if Icouldfall. I’ve been busy starting to plan this grand ball for next year, anyway. I have to make that a priority right now.” It was also a good topic to use to change the subject.

“Oh, yes, the Fairy Ball. Will I have to wear tights?”

“You’re going to come?” I gasped. I’d been sure a fae ball wouldn't have been his kind of thing.

“Weallare. Even Ned is in.” I didn’t know what to say. “Daisy really wants to help you plan, but she’s too scared to ask you. Of course, I’ll help whenever you need it.”

“Your painting skills are very good,” I mused. “I’m sure I can put them to work.”

“And Daisy?” he questioned.

“She can help me a little.”

“Wow! Look at you being sociable,” Darce chuckled, nudging me. Something in the distance caught his eye as we walked through Bryant Park and he stilled. My eyes focused on the most beautiful, petite, dark haired woman I’d ever seen. The long, black fitted coat she was wearing showed her curves off well. She was heading straight for Darce with a wicked smile on her face. “What are you doing here?” Darce snarled as she reached us.

“I got bored.” The striking, dark brunette shrugged, casting her eyes over me. Up close, she was heart-stoppingly beautiful with high cheekbones, full red lips, and her eyes were the colour of melted chocolate.Fuck!This must beher. The woman Darce loved.She wasn’t dead, it would seem!As I looked between them, I realised that they were well matched. They both had the power to steal someone's breath with one look.

“Nyx, we spoke about this!” Darce cautioned her. “You can’t just show up here!”

“I wanted to see her.” She turned her gaze to me. “Hello, Alora.” Oh, she knew who I was.Awkward!

“You’ll have to excuse Nyx. She has no manners,” Darce commented, moving closer to me. I found it a little odd if this was really the woman he was in love with. “She doesn’t get out much.”

“And who’s fault is that?” Nyx crossed her arms, looking around at all the Christmas stalls with the twinkle lights on them. “This place isstrange. How do you cope staying here?”

“New York is a lot of things,” I replied, looking up at Darce. His eyes were burning into Nyx in a reprimanding way.

“Don’t you have somewhereelseyou need to be, Nyx?” Darce’s tone was threatening.

“Not that I recall,” Nyx responded, tapping her chin with her finger.

“Excuse us for a moment, Alora,” Darce muttered softly to me before grabbing Nyx’s arm and dragging her away roughly.

I tried not to watch their body language while they were deep in discussion in the distance. Darce clearly wasn’t happy that she had bumped into us, but I didn’t understand why. The anger radiating off him as he chastised her made me wonder what was going on with them. Their relationship waspainful.That was what Darce had told me. What had Nyx done to him?

Nyx stormed off in a different direction once Darce had finished yelling at her. He turned back towards me, his eyes softening as he strode my way.

“I’m sorry about that,” he apologised. “Nyx has a mind of her own.”

“I’m guessing she’s thepainfulproblem?”

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