Page 29 of One Last Promise
As I passed Darce somecornbread while we sat around the fire, I gave him a questioning look.“What?”he asked, frowning.
“No complaints about howawfulit tastes?I think you’re starting to like it.”We were already over a week into my journey back home.We had passed the Mountain of Life with hardly any difficulty.We’d also paid a visit to where the noc beast fight had occurred.The land had claimed back the evidence of all the creatures lost, including Raiden.Darce gave me a few moments to grieve my friend before we carried on.It felt much longer than a few weeks since that night.So much had happened in that time.
“Okay, I have to admit...it’s not too bad once you get used to it.”Darce looked at the last bite of the bread, almost trying to study its ingredients.“It does keep really well, too.How do you manage that?”
“We add tears of our enemies,” I teased wickedly.
“Careful, Alora.You’re beginning to make jokes as dark as mine.”
“We must be spending too much time together.”
“I would gladly leave you here alone if it weren’t for all the gold you’ve promised to pay me.”Warming himself over the fire, he winced.
“How’s the arm?”Darce had fought away a large pack of night howlers a few days ago.I had managed to take a few out with some new arrows I’d made, but one had bitten him quite badly on the forearm.
“Stop fussing.I’ve told you I’m fine!”he snapped.He wouldn’t even let me look at it for him.He was acting like a child.
“I was only asking.”I held my hands up in surrender before I reached for the water at the same time as him.Our fingertips touched and sparks ignited between us.Darce recoiled quickly, acting like he’d been burnt.“Sorry, was that me?”I stressed.My power had been a little unpredictable since coming down from the sacred mountain.Trying to channel it wasn’t as easy as I thought.I’d burnt out on a few occasions already.Darce had been oddly amiable in helping me try to take charge.
“No, that was my fault.I wasn’t concentrating.Sorry.”Gazing out into the night, he seemed lost in his own thoughts.
“Are you still worried about the dread shifter?”One had gotten a little close to our camp earlier, but both Darce and I were protected from it.It was the first time I had noticed the charmed, gold chain around his neck.It was similar to my gold, daisy chain.The shifter had taken the form of my mother, and had been easy for me to realise she wasn’t real.He had looked a little startled at what he’d seen, but in usual Darce style, he wouldn’t tell me what that was.
“I’m tired, Alora.It’s been a long three weeks.”Was he saying I was a burden?Had he had enough of me already?
“Don’t let me keep you up.You don’t have to entertain me.”
“Don’t I?You’re paying mesowell, I presumed I’d have to stay awake with you.”
“Stop being a grouchy asshole and get some sleep.”
“You’re an imperious little thing, aren’t you?What exactly is your role in Dallethas?”
Thinking of the first thing that came to mind that wouldn’t give my real identity away, the words fell out of my mouth.“I’m one of the priestesses’ maids.”
“And you live in thepalace?”
“Most of the priestesses reside in the palace.”Judging by the look on Darce’s face, I’d gotten away with the lie.His eyes looked heavy.Exhaustion was finally hitting him.“You should sleep if you’re tired.I don’t mind being on lookout for a while.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.I’ll manage.Sleep!”Darce didn’t need to be told twice.Within seconds, he’d gotten comfortable on his back and closed his eyes.
****
STARING INTO THE FIREa while later, I thought about the progress I’d made since Raiden’s death.I had to admit, I was shocked I’d gotten this far.Trusting a Noxlin had felt like a death wish at first, but here I was now, six days away from finally being back home and thriving.Gazing over at a peacefully sleeping Darce, I had him to thank for that.As I watched him, I wondered how it was possible that I found him more attractive now than when I’d first laid eyes on him.Those soft,condescendinglips were becoming more desirable with each passing day.His daily insults were becoming a drug to me.I welcomed the banter.I got off on it.
His arms were bare, and I had to resist the urge to run my fingertips over every crease of his muscles, just to touch his skin so I could feel the electricity that surged through my body when we connected.
Did he truly find me plain, or was he using that as a coping mechanism to keep his distance?Why did I care what he thought about me?He wasNoxlin, I wasDylin.There could never be any kind of bond between us.
A flicker in the corner of my eye drew my gaze, pulling my attention away from the camp.Tiny specks of glimmering gold light were joining together to form a figure near the base of a small tree just outside of the firelight.I rubbed my eyes to ensure I wasn’t seeing things.The figure beckoned me over with an arm.Wait!Was I seeing awisp?It beckoned me again, seeming to smile at me.Getting up, I cautiously made my way over to the base of the small tree.The camp was still visible.
“Alora, we mean you no harm.”The voices were young and in harmony.“Come closer.”Instantly, they put me at ease.Once I stepped closer, I could make out the outline of a beautiful, elegant face.“The Holy Mother has been watching you.”Holy Ether!This was a message fromher!
“What message does she have for me?Is it about my powers?”
“No, this message doesn’t concern your powers.”I furrowed my brows, allowing the wisp to continue.“You alone can break the curse of Afterlight.Everything has been set in motion.Can you feel the change within you?”Thishadto be about my power.
