Page 48 of The Discovered
“You’ll get what’s coming to you, you crazy bitch,” the burned man screeched. “He will eat you alive.”
“That’s enough of that,” Daelon said, revealing the cursed dagger that had been hurled at my face. In one swift movement he brought it down into the man’s chest, where it sunk down into him and glowed black. The skin around it festered and turned gray.
I looked away. I felt like I was going to be sick. The power was still teeming in my periphery, waiting on my next direction. I sent it away, and a wave of exhaustion followed.
Daelon caught me as I swayed. “I need you for just one more minute, little witch. We have to get back.”
I steadied myself wordlessly, letting him intertwine his fingers through mine.
In one last flow of magick the world around us melted away and transformed into familiar scenery.
Chapter14
Iwas suddenly cold and empty, having lost the euphoria and sense of purpose my power had given me in battle. The sky was back to its normal appearance; the sun had freshly disappeared below the horizon. I was dizzy and disoriented, glancing around at the clearing as my head pounded.
Daelon studied me, concern etching his features. He reached a hand to my face. I flinched at the movement unconsciously, still hyperalert. He frowned, dropping his hand to his side. “Are you okay? Talk to me.”
“I’m overwhelmed,” I said, and my voice felt detached from myself. I was reacclimating to normal existence—coming back down to earth after a trip to the cosmos. “It’s as if I became someone else for a moment. Or a different version of myself. I don’t know—it’s hard to put into words. It was like I became one with what I channeled, not separate.”
Tears welled up in my eyes. I could still smell the rot of burning flesh.
“I can’t begin to understand how you’re feeling,” Daelon said, his features finally softening. “You’re incredible, Áine. Watching you was like nothing I’d ever seen before.”
“Who am I, Daelon? Why do I feel everything all at once?” I looked away, willing myself not to cry. “I’m not alone in this magick. I feel the guidance of so many others…” I trailed off, shaking my head.
“I wish I had more answers for you,” he murmured. “The truth is I only know vaguely about why you were born. I don’t know why you feel the way you do. Or how exactly all of your power works. I can only speculate.”
I clenched my fists in frustration. Part of me thought Daelon would eventually make everything clear—that he would one day answer all of my questions, and I could finally carry out whatever purpose I was designed for.
“It has something to do withhim,” I ventured, watching Daelon’s features closely. Lucius. “And righting a wrong.” I furrowed my brows, quickly reaching my emotional and mental limits. I was so drained.
“Yes. You’re right,” he said, but his face was far more impassive than I would’ve liked. “I’m going to help you find all the answers, Áine, I promise you. You did amazing today.”
My mind quickly flashed back to the fight with the energy vampires, the images of bodies flying through the air and a man nearly burnt to a crisp still vivid. I looked away, shivering in the cold night air. “I can’t believe you did that,” I said. He started to speak but I cut him off. “Why? Why would you force me into that situation without any warning?”
Daelon faltered, seeming to weigh his words carefully. “I can’t lose you Áine. I needed to make sure you could defend yourself without me, and that required realistic practice.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, my breath billowing out in a white cloud in front of me. “That’s not an apology.”
He hesitated, which was enough to earn my narrowed gaze. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left you out of the decision. I just thought you might…”
“Refuse?” I finished. “That’s kind of the whole point of giving someone a choice.”
He nodded. “Come. Let’s get you inside.”
He reached for me, but I shrugged him off. Then I turned and headed off toward the house, leaving Daelon to follow behind me. With barely any effort, I cleared the snow away from the path as we went. I tried to focus on this task instead of the horrible, gut-wrenching energy of the vampires and their many victims, or the way I practically reveled in their destruction—up until I sent the fire away. But my efforts were in vain. One thing I couldn’t shake was the realization that no matter how evil the vampires’ auras, they paled in comparison to the suffering and darkness of Lucius’s.
And that begged the question: What hadhedone?
My emotions and exhaustion had overcome me by the time we made it inside. There was too much to analyze, too many secrets and monsters lurking in the dark.
Daelon sighed, watching me wipe a hot tear from my cheek. “Come here.”
He pulled me into his arms, and I eventually relaxed into his embrace, clinging to the comfort the solid shield of his aura provided me. I breathed in deeply as I pressed my cheek into his chest. He pulled away, moving his hand down to intertwine with mine. As much as I wanted to resist him, to hold him at arm’s length until I knew all of what he hid, I couldn’t deny the power he had over me. I wanted Daelon to quiet the chaos of my mind. I wanted to let go—to trust in him the way he wanted me to. I wanted to trust him so badly it hurt.
He wordlessly pulled me down the hall to my room, stopping in front of the bed. “Sit here a moment,” he commanded softly.
I watched as he disappeared into the bathroom. Soon after, I heard the sound of running water. I stared out the window, barely noticing when Daelon returned.
