Page 57 of One Last Promise
“Have you craved any other males since your sexual awakening?”
“Why would that matter?”She shook her head, making a cool breeze push the branch further away as Loki was about to grab it.Loki and Enyo loved this game.
“Alora, you still havesomuch to learn.If this male is all you can think about and desire, youarefalling for him.Do you have any idea of the dangers you are putting yourselves in?”
“I’m using him for training.That’s it.”
“Do you really think you can fend Xavier off with a bit of sword training?He has his sights set ononlyyou.Without your full powers, you have no choice but to be bound to himandcontrolled.He may even make you forget this other male if he ever finds out.”
“My powersareslowly manifesting.You know this.”
“That’s not enough power to stop him.You’re lucky he has no idea that you havesomepower.”
“Xavier saw my hands glow last month,” I admitted, dropping my gaze to watch Loki and Enyo fight over the branch that was still in the water.
“What?Why didn’t you say anything?Is that why he’s been more physical with you?”
“I’m not sure how much longer I can fight him off.He knows my sexual awakening is blooming, too.”
“Why hasn’t he told your father?Surely Xavier would want to bond with you as soon as possible.”
“That’s what has me concerned.What if my father already knows and they are biding their time?”
“For your powers to manifest so Xavier can claim that, too,” Noor finished my thought.It was my biggest fear: that I’d be taken in the middle of the night and bound once my powers revealed themselves.
“It’s clear that if anything ever happened to my father, he would want Xavier to rule rather than me.A queen supports her king.Shedoesn’trule.”
“That’s the way Dallethas hasalwaysruled, Alora.Male Dylin are stronger.They are built to lead.”
“Oh, come on!You couldeasilybeat Lito in a battle, Noor.You’re one of the most powerful females in this town.You’ve even knocked Fynn down a few times.You know we’re stronger than the males say we are.Change isn’t a bad thing.Why shouldn’t we be allowed to protect ourselves?Imagine the army we would have if the females trained, too.”
“You’re talking treason, Alora.It doesn’t matter whatwethink.Zohar is the kingandyour father.We can not go against his wishes.Holy Ether might smite us and take away our powers.Or worse, our lives.You have to fall in line.Why can’t you spend some time with Xavier, get to know him.You might be surprised.”
“That’s your advice?To be a good princess and allow my father tocontrolmy life?”Anger filled my body.After all this time, Noor didn’t understand the pressure I was under. She might be happy giving herself to Lito, allowing him to control her, but that wasn’t going to be the life for me.
Iwouldrun away with Darce if bonding with Xavier was my only option.I wouldneverwillingly allow Xavier to have me.
“Alora, you carry the Dylinbloodline.If anything happens to Zohar, the power of the light will flow throughyou.Are you saying you would give that up?Without a pure bloodline, our race could be destroyed.Descendants are never as strong as a pure heir.You know this!Is that what you wish for our race?To be ruled by a descendant if your father was killed?Your loyaltyusedto be to your kind.When did you become so selfish?I hardly recognise you these days.”Of course I knew what happened if I rejected the light power if my father was destroyed or he gave up his life.The power would flow to the next strongest bloodline, a descendant that has some royal blood in them.It could be a bastard son or daughter of Zohar, or a distant relative.Without the pure bloodline, the light would be weakened, though.The descendant would only be granted the power they could control.
“You can’t see it from my perspective at all, can you?”Tears formed in my eyes.“Giving myself to Xavier woulddestroyme.Is that what you want for me?Am I not allowed my own choice?I could rule this kingdom better alone.”
“He’s the general of the Dylin army.Do you have any idea how many females wish they could bond with him?”Noor didn’t know Xavier like I did.All the unwanted advances, how he was always trying to touch me like I was his possession.
“They areallwelcome to him!”
“Where is the harm in getting to know him if you tell him you want to take things slow?It will give you more time.The more you push him away, the more he’ll chase you, Alora.”She had a fair point, but the thought of spending time with Xavier made my skin crawl.“I’m trying tohelpyou.All this rebelling isn’t getting you anywhere.”
“Is this what you, Nell, and Luz talk about when I’m not with you?”
“We’re all concerned for you.I don’t know what they would think of your battle training.”Giving her a stone cold glare, she held her hand up to me.“I’m not going to tell them.Your secret is safe with me.”Loki jumped out of the waterfall, shaking his fur at Noor and me.“LOKI!”Noor giggled as the droplets of water fell on her.“Bad dryad!”He tilted his head but shook his fur again.
Keeping Darce a secret was the key.As long as Noor believed I was safe, I could continue with my training and become the warrior I was destined to be.
Xavier was a problem for another day, though I hated to admit that Noor was right.If I wanted to get him on side with me, I had to give the impression that I might be interested one day.If he thought I was saving myself for his touch, he might back off.
****
WALKING THE GARDENS, I tried to force a smile on my face.Xavier and I had spent the afternoon together.
