Page 44 of One Last Promise
“Alora, it wasonekiss.You’re overreacting,” he called after me.
“This isn’t about the kiss.Youtrickedme.These are the mind games I was warned of about your kind when I was a child.”
“Alora, please.Can we talk about this?”Darce pleaded, but I was already inside the cave.I had nothing left to say to him.My mind was in pieces, as was my heart.
He felt nothing for me, that much was clear.Where did that leave my feelings for him?How could we possibly continue the training now?
Darce had ruined it with his games.
Chapter fifteen
Ididn’t go back totraining for a few months.I wanted to get my point across.Although it may have been obvious that I hadsomeattraction towards him, Darce couldn’t play with my emotions and trick me that way.The way he had kissed me showed that he had his own desire for me.It may have been emotionless, but he had been lying about not finding me attractive.No one kissed someone that way unless there was clear sexual magnetism.
Walking to the Shielding Valley three months after our kiss, I wondered if Darce would even be there.He probably had more important things to do than train a Dylin female.What if I never saw him again?Enyo nudged me, making a low, soft grumble in her throat.She was so attuned to my emotions lately.Darce needed the gold; he’d be there.
As the entrance came into view, Loki and Enyo held back, turning their necks to look at me.“Go on.Let’s see if they are there.”They would have missed Boulder.I hated keeping them apart for so long.Loki charged for the entrance first, picking up their scents, I hoped.Enyo kept a little closer by my side as we entered the cave.
My eyes found Darce sitting on a large tree stump as I emerged into the clearing.He was stroking Loki, who had already reached him.Boulder came hurtling at Enyo and me, almost knocking me over with excitement.
“We missed you too, Boulder,” I laughed, watching the three of them begin to chase each other around the lake.
Darce was walking towards me with his hands in his pockets.“I wasn’t sure if you’d show up,” he called out to me.
“I almost didn’t.”
“Alora, look, about the...”
“I don’t want to hear it.I’m paying you totrainme.You can think what you want of me, but I’m here to accomplishonething: become a warrior.I want to completely forget about our last meeting.”
“I didn’t kiss you as a trick.”
“Really?You could have fooled me!”
“Damn it, Alora!”Darce let out an exasperated groan.“You want the truth?Well, here it is.Yes, I am attracted to you.If you had stayed long enough to hear me out, I would have apologised sooner and told you the truth.”What was he saying?No, this couldn’t be true.
“Why are you telling me this?”
