Page 56 of The Dark Rising
I lean on the balustrade, closing my eyes briefly to shut down what my body wants to do. What it’s warring to have.
“My childhood was happy for the times I was with my parents,” I relent, wanting to try and distract both of us. I won’t go deep, but I can give him this if it stops me from wanting to rub all up against him. “My mom taught me all about Vrohkaria and Heirs, constantly telling me stories as my dad taught me to hunt as much as a child could. They were happy and they made sure I was too. I was always off exploring as a child, curious about the lands, but I could only go so far. It felt restrictive, so I spent a lot of time in the woods and fields of lesia flowers.” He doesn’t say anything, but I know he’s listening. “Me and Josh became best friends when I was around five, he was always at our home as he was an orphan. My parents basically took him in as their own. It was a great childhood, until the rest of it was stolen from me.” I feel myself starting to numb, not wanting to go into detail aboutafterI was trapped in the basement.
He comes to stand next to me, his arm brushing mine and I feel our wolves greeting each other. “Your mom was an Heir?”
“She was, she was the most amazing being in the lands.” I swallow over the lump in my throat.
“And she chose Charles to be your guardian?” I nod. “But you don’t know who Warden is?”
“I didn’t have a guardian named Warden, I haven’t seen him before.” I don’t tell him that my mother and father named Edward my other guardian. I don’t trust him enough to tell him about the person that saved not only my life, but Josh, Cassie and Kade’s too.
“He’s a Higher. I don’t know why Charles told us he’s your guardian when you don’t even know him.”
“I don’t know, but who knows why Charles does the things he does anyway.”
“You have a point. I have realized I cannot trust what he has told me over the years.”
“That would be smart to consider.” He turns to look at me, and I can feel his scowl.
“Do you know Aldus? He was the one who gave me the memory crystal,” he tells me.
“I have heard the name, and if Aldus gave you that crystal that is wrong, then he is also on my shit list,” I say, looking up at the star-filled sky.
“He’s on mine too, I’m trying to track him down.” I look at him then.
“You are?”
He nods. “Higher Aiden hasn’t been seen in a few weeks, I think Aldus is out looking for him and doing his rounds on behalf of all Highers to the people, but I will find him eventually.”
I say nothing in regard to Aiden, he won’t find him. I did kill him after all. Soon enough, the rest will follow. A smile forms at the thought.
“Anything I need to know, little wolf?”
“Nope.”
“Hmm, you will tell me, eventually.”
“You seem so sure,” I say, looking at him.
He dips his head, looking down from the balcony. “In this, I am.”
Confident male.
“When will I see the memory stone, you said you wanted me to see it.” I’m also curious to know what everyone saw.”
“I have been trying to locate it, Charles refuses to let me have it.”
“Of course he does,” I sigh. “How am I supposed to look at it and try and see if I know anything about the rogures if you don’t have it? Wasn’t that one of the points of bringing me here?”
“I will get it, I just need some time. We hope we can see something we missed with the ritual that was performed, and with it showing you, maybe you can see why we thought you were the traitor.”
“I don’t think that matters anymore.”
“It does.” His tone is firm as he says that, like it’s important.
We stay in silence for a while, looking out over the lands. Its not uncomfortable, but standing next to my enemy, sort of allie, mostly asshole, I take in the view before me, knowing this is one of those other precious moments to look upon.
“Is Kade still at the castle?” I dare to ask, looking back up at the stars.
