Page 107 of The Dark Rising
I hurry through the rest of my shower and step out, wondering what that sound was. Drying off, I put on the t-shirt that is far too big and ends above my knees. I lift the collar and bring it to my nose, inhaling the scent of Darius before I enter the bedroom. I spot him near the balcony doors with a scowl on his face. I follow his line of sight and my eyes widen.
“Illium,” I breathe, and rush over to him, moving past Darius and opening the doors. He comes, cawing at me and flapping his wings, lifting himself to perch in my hands as I sit down on the floor and pet him.
Gods, it’s been too long since I’ve seen him.
“You know this Croneian?” Darius asks, coming to stand next to me as he eyes Illium like he just shit in his breakfast.
“Yes. he’s Edwa—“ I cut myself off and freeze. Darius doesn’t know the name of the person who has helped me, only that they have. I peek up at him, looking at the confusion on his face and then look back down at Illium. He’s got a small leather strap around his neck with a small piece of rolled-up paper attached to it.
I gently pop Illium on the floor and take the strap up and over his head, scratching his chest before I untie the strap and unroll the small piece of paper.
I hope you are safe. I’m sorry I haven’t been able to contact you sooner, Charles is not… himself. He is keeping us all busy searching for you, but also punishing those that are either rebelling against his rule, or wanting sanctuary within the castle walls. I am trying to save those that fall under his wrath, but Rhea… things are worse than ever before.
Stay safe, and I will contact you soon as I think I may have found where he has been keeping those he stole, and where he sent your pack.
Wait for my letter.
Edward.
The note is snatched out of my hand and I startle. I get to my feet and pick up Illium, walking through the balcony doors and murmuring words of thanks before I send him off in the morning light, which he should not be flying in. I watch until he’s just a speck before I turn to Darius, nervousness wracking through me after reading that letter.
I’m glad Edward is safe enough to contact me, though I never know how Illium finds me, but that he also may know where those that were stolen are? Will my pack be there?
“Who the fuck is he?” Darius growls, prowling toward me. I hold my hands up, backing away from him but he just keeps coming.
“He is—“
“No male should be messaging you,” he says quietly, but no less deadly as he stalks forward and I move back. I look over my shoulder and peer down at the ground over the balustrade, wondering how to explain before I shout in alarm as I’m lifted, and my ass is slammed onto the stone. I grip onto Darius’s shoulders, my eyes wide as he steps between my legs and grips the back of my neck, his face full of fury. “Why the fuck is this male sending you messages, how does he know you are here?” He gets right in my face, eyes sharpening and bleeding black.
“He helps me,” I breathe, trying not to panic with the thought of falling Gods knows how many feet to my death below me if he lets go. “He’s the one—“
“The one who what?” he growls. His hand on the back of my neck squeezes and his nostrils flare. I pause, and really take him in, on why he’s so angry. I huff out a breath when I realize.
“Darius,” I say calmly, but with an edge to my tone. “Back. The fuck. Up.” My power slithers out of me in warning, and he responds just like I knew he would. He starts breathing heavily, a wild look in his eyes as his power trembles with the rage pouring off him. “Dar,” I say more gently, shaking my head and moving my hands up the sides of his neck, stroking my thumbs over his skin, feeling the power thrumming beneath it. “Stop being jealous.” I scrunch up my nose. “He’s like a second father to me.”
He stills, before he lets out a long breath and finally relaxes. His hold on my neck loosens, but he doesn’t take it away as his power moves more gently, a casual flow as it seeks out mine and intertwines with it. The blue and black twirl around, the strands wrapping into each other between us.
“You will not touch another male,” he grunts, his nose coming to my hair and his lips skimming my temple.
Possessive male.
“Nor will you touch another female,” I tell him.
Fuck, I’m a jealous female.
“Never,” he says, and his hands go to my thighs as he lifts me to him. I wrap my legs around his waist and he brings me into the bedroom, taking a seat on the chair and bringing me with him, resting on his lap. “Tell me,” he orders, and I move my hands to mess with the bottom of his t-shirt, scrunching it up and releasing it.
“As he said, he may know where Charles has taken others too, my pack may be there, we just have to wait.”
“Not that, tell me about Edward.” When I say nothing, he huffs. “I thought no more secrets?” he says, and I look up at him.
“I told you, he’s like a second father to me. He’s the one I told you about, who has helped me. He saved me, well, us.” He raises a brow and I clarify. “Josh, Cassie, Kaden, and I. We were wandering around Vrohkaria, doing anything we could to survive. He found me at a market one day when I was trying to steal some food,” I say sheepishly, but he doesn’t say anything about that. “He followed me. He told me he knew my mother. I didn’t believe him, but he said arbiel cana to me. Only my family knew those words.”
“We bleed wolf,” he says, and I nod, forgetting he’s spent the last few months learning the language.
“When he said that, I knew he knew my family, and that he was appointed as my guardian.” I watch as that bit of information sinks in. “He told me about Eridian and I didn’t believe him at all. Until he took me there. All he asked in return was for me to help others that needed a safe haven. I didn’t like the idea at first.” I shift on his lap, realizing all I’m wearing is his t-shirt. “Didn’t like being around others much, or being touched a lot.” His hands move to my thighs and squeezes. “Josie helped me get past that over the years,” I say quietly, looking over his shoulder toward the windows.
He releases a long breath, his thumb moving lazily over my skin. “I didn’t know that would happen to Josie or Danny that day. I didn’t agree with it. They were killed in cold blood. They will pay for their deaths.”
