Page 95 of One Last Promise
“Does everyone move out of your way?”I asked, lifting one eyebrow at him as we began to move to the rhythm of the soft music.
“They are only trying to get a better view ofyouin that dress.”Nyx came into view in the distance and gave me a wink.“Breathtaking doesn’t even cover it.”
“I never thought you would bethischarming.”
Pulling me a little closer against him, he leaned down against my ear, his breath tickling my neck.“I never planned on falling this deeply.”My heart began to hammer in my chest at his slight confession.“Careful, Starshine,” he murmured as his shadows caressed me.“You need to control that light power in here.”Shit!Did someone notice?Darce sensed the panic on my face.“I caught it in time.I’m pretty attuned to it now.Your body begins to heat up first.”
“Perhaps on my next visit we can practise somewhere safe?”
“I know just the place,” he beamed, spinning me around.The music changed into a more solemn mood, and I smiled.Thiswas what I’d been practising the steps for.
Sinking to the ground in a bow, Darce held his hand out to me.I took it, rising slowly to my feet.He raised his hand in the air, leading me to glide around his body.The melody was so beautiful it was making my heart sing.I did a few turns around him, switching directions for each turn, before the tempo slowly began to increase.Everyone had cleared the dance floor to watch us dance.Darce radiated confidence, and in his safe arms I had no fear of being observed by everyone in this room.With one arm cupping the side of my waist, we began to coast across the dance floor.My arms moved to the rhythm of the string violin.This melody was making my body come alive.After taking another turn across the dance floor, we stood in front of each other.This time, our hands were almost palm to palm, but not touching, as we swayed back and forth.The current charging around us was making wisps of dark and light swirl in the small space between our fingertips.Darce quickly overpowered my light, though, making sure no one could see the connection of light and dark.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this right,” I giggled as he spun me around his body slowly.
“You lookperfect,” he beamed, pulling me close to him and lifting me into the air as our final move.
I laughed as I slid back down his body.The moment my feet touched the ground, his lips found mine.Our kiss was deep and exploring as I gripped his strong shoulders.By the time we broke apart, everyone was back dancing around us.
“I think I need some fresh air,” I muttered against his lips.“It’s getting a little hot in here.”
“If you head through the royal library over there, I have a private balcony.”Darce motioned to two large, open glass doors.“I’ll get us a few more drinks.”
I made my way through the crowd and breathed in the cool air as I found the library.It wasn’t an overly large room, but the balcony did look very inviting, lit up in moonlight.
“You showedtoomuch of yourself tonight,Lora,” a voice hissed from behind me.When I turned, Charna stood directly in front of me.“Did you honestly think you could take him from me?”Her laughter was deadly.“You’re not even hisrace!How did you think that could possibly work?He’s been hiding youallthis time!”
“If you tell Tamas and Duna, Darce will destroy you...”My voice was shaking as she backed me against a wall.
“He won’t find out if I kill you now.You haven’t even come into your powers.You are defenceless against me!”How did she know that?Just how powerful was she?Charna had managed to put a love spell on Darce; I already knew the answer.
“Darce will find out.He’ll kill you himself,” I seethed, trying to bide my time.
“You love sick fool.You think he cares that much for you?You are merely a plaything for him.He’ll tire of you within a century.I’m the one that can match his power.One day, we’ll rule this veil together.He cannot run from his destiny, which, my dearLora, is linked tomine!You will never have him because Darce belongs tome!”
“Take another step closer and I’ll scream,” I threatened, throwing the books that were on the shelf behind me.
“You and your books.They can’t save you this time.”Shadow and sparks of electricity emitted from her hands.“Any last words?”she cackled, shooting her power right above my head.“I’ll make sure Darce receives them.”
Closing my eyes, I waited for the final blow.“Alora!”Darce bellowed, rushing into the room while surrounding me in some form of dark mist forcefield.“Charna, what are you doing?”
“She isDylin,Darce!What were youthinking?I am saving you!She will get you killed!”
“And you think taking her from me won’t kill me?”
“We can’ttrusther!”
“No, Charna, it would appear I cannot trustyou.”She dropped to the floor in pain.“You would really hurt a defenceless creature?I should kill you for that myself,” Darce seethed.With a twist of his hand, her screams of pain increased.“I will not end you now, but our loyalty bond is broken.You are nothing to me!If you speak ofanyof this to Tamas or Duna, Iwillkill you!”
“I’m your chosen one, Darce,” she cried out.“You cannot do this to me...to us!”
“I’ve made my choice.”Darce turned to look at me with loving eyes.When he moved towards me, the mist forcefield evaporated.He scooped me up into his arms and carried me away without so much as a look towards Charna on the floor.“Are you hurt?”he asked once we had cleared the room.
“She knows what I am.”
“I know.Now might be a good time to send you home.I cannot risk you being here until I sort her out.No matter how much I enjoy having you in my bed every night, I cannot afford to be selfish.Not where you are concerned.”
“We knew you couldn’t hide me forever.You may have changed my hair colour, but I still stand out a little.”
