Page 96 of The Dark Rising
“I will find out.”
I huff and move through the stalks of grass to pass him, but I soon find myself on my back, anoomphleaving me as Darius’s weight falls on top of me. “Darius,” I growl, shaking my head to get a piece of hair out of my face.
He braces his hands on either side of me and looks down, a small smirk on his sinful lips that I can’t help my eyes from going to, remembering where his mouth has been on my body. “Let’s try and get your wolf to come out and play if you won’t tell me what I want.”
I suck in a breath as his power slams into me without warning, thick, black strands coming from behind him and reaching for me. They come to my sides, so many of them that I can only see a few green slivers of the grass I grew. My back arches at the sudden attack, a small sound escaping me as I struggle beneath him, my hands gripping his sides.
“Calm,” he orders me, and my eyes narrow. It’s too intense, always intense. He watches me intently, his gaze flicking between my eyes. “Let some of your power out.”
I shift a little underneath him and call my power to the front of my body, annoyed that I did what he asked without question, but instinctively, reacting to his power. Runa wakes at the feel of his magic, backing away inside of me with a snarl. I ignore her, mentally shoving her forward but she won’t budge, her paws digging in to keep her still. I grit my teeth in frustration. These sessions are exhausting, and Runa’s not willing to help at all. She just flat-out refuses and it feels like the bridge between us, as rocky as it always has been, is crumbling and collapsing bit by bit.
Darius leans further down, his face so close to mine as he watches my internal struggle. His markings appear on his neck, the black, harsh lines pulsing gently and I feel the call to my own, my skin warming as my own appear. He watches in fascination as he always does when they come to the surface. He trails his eyes up from the side of my face, to my temples and then resting in the center of my forehead, taking in the delicate design. His eyes brighten slightly, and those silver flecks appear in his light green eyes that I’m always transfixed with.
“She’s as stubborn as you.” I let out a huff. “We’re going to try something new.”
“What?” I whisper, feeling his power tickle my sides.
He doesn’t answer, but strands come up to my face, caressing my skin and I flinch, my fingers digging in his waist. I feel them follow my markings, tracing them with tenderness. I shiver, the touch doing...somethingbut not quite sure what.
Suddenly the whites of Darius’s eyes turn black, the flecks more prominent and his green eyes glow eerily. His black strands come to my temple, adding a firm pressure so I can’t move my head, and that’s my limit. I call more of my power, readying myself to push him off of me, but he restrains my hands to him, his magic wrapping around my wrists to keep them there and darkness swallows us as he releases his dominance.
All I see is black around us, the green glow to Darius’s eyes and the blue strands of my power being slowly swallowed by his darkness. Panic starts to set in as Darius’s eyes pin me still, unable to move. Those strands at my temple feel like they’re digging in my skin, wanting to get beneath the surface and I let loose a gritted scream, pain shooting through me and straight down my spine. Darius’s hand comes to my throat, squeezing gently, a warning or comfort, I’m not sure.
My power swirls inside of me, rage and wildness twisting so violently that it feels if I don’t let it out, I’ll burst. Darius leans further into me, and then I’m completely immobile.
“Darius—“ I choke out, unsure what’s happening.
“Calm,” he tells me again, eyes intent on mine, reassuring. “Relax, let me in.” His power at my temples rub soothingly over my skin, and it’s so tender in contrast to the pain rushing through me that I want to cry. I shake my head, refusing to let him get anywhere near inside of me. “It’s the only way to bring your wolf out, for you to have control of your power, Rhea. Let me in,” he demands, and I squeeze my eyes shut.
Runa stands inside of me, protective and unmoving as she snarls at Darius trying to get inside, trying to get to her. I whimper, knowing she’s just as scared and knowing what I’m about to do will upset her.
“I can’t.” My whole body is trembling, shaking so much with the force of all that is him that my teeth rattle. My eyes squeeze shut.
“You can, you must,” he growls, his lips moving over mine as he speaks. “We don’t know how much time we have, you have to give it to me, little wolf.” A tear trails down my cheek and I slowly open my eyes, locking them with Darius’s. “You can trust me with this, little wolf. If anything at all, you can with this.”
At his words, I slump into the earth beneath me, giving him what he wants.
My submission.
He doesn’t waste any time, his eyes flare and the power at my temples crawls into my skin at such full force that all I see is nothing.
Not a single sliver of light.
The last thing I hear is Runa howling, and a deep growl before I give myself to the darkness.
Thirty Five
Darius
BlacksurroundsmeasI step forward into...nothing. I look around the space, my wisps of power brushing against me as I assess the situation. Magic crackles around me, small specks of blue shining randomly here and there. Taking a step forward, approaching whatever I can sense in front of me with caution, I reach down for my blade but feel nothing.
I’m not sure how I did it, but I’m sure I’m in my little wolf’s mind space, just like she came into mine at Wolvorn Castle.
I continue forward, the blues around me appearing more often in a frantic motion the closer I get. A low growl suddenly echoes into the dark space and I pause, tilting my head as I consider the sound. Then I hear shuffling and I follow it, turning to keep the sound at my front as it circles me.
“Hello, wolf,” I say into the darkness, a smirk pulling at my lips. “You have been causing Rhea all sorts of problems, haven’t you?” Another low growl and I chuckle, unbothered as Drax’s ears perk up inside of me, intrigued by the sound. “With your reluctance to come out, you’re exhausting her, did you know that?” More movement, nails scraping the floor. “She can’t help anyone in this state. How do you expect her to get Kade when she can’t wield her power the way it should be?” A low whine echoes around me and the sound of movement halts.
Suddenly, blue sparks spread out in a wide arc, illuminating two piercing, ice-blue eyes in the distance in front of me. Rhea’s power spreads out, branching into strands as it creeps closer to me. I stand still, readying myself in case of an attack, yet they halt just before me. Not touching, just observing. Curious and almost scared.
