Page 28 of Rising Out of the Darkness (Divine Guardians Duology #1)

Declan

“ E lena seems to be healing well. You’re lucky you got her here just in time. She lost a lot of blood.” Clara rubbed my shoulder as we stood outside on the balcony of Lena’s room. “Relax, Declan. She’ll wake up soon. I can feel the tension all over you.”

The warmth of her dynamis flooded my body. It healed my tense muscles, as it washed over them. Exhaling deeply, I was finally able to relax my shoulders.

“Thank you for that,” I breathed.

A smile spread across her face. “Of course. I did it for purely selfish reasons though.”

“Oh, really?” A hint of a smile tugged at my lips.

“Absolutely. I only healed you because when you’re in pain you become an insufferable brooding ass.”

Laughter poured out of her, just like the ocean waves crashing back and forth below us. I shook my head as her laughter dulled into a lighthearted sigh.

“So, what will happen now?” Clara tilted her head toward the open balcony door, toward the direction of the sleeping Light Phoenix.

“You know my father and Alastor are going to want to parade her around. However, we’re going to teach her to understand and strengthen her dynamis…teach her how powerful she really can be. After that, no one should be able to stand in her way.”

Something mischievous flickered in her eyes for a moment before she rested her elbows on the smooth, white stone of the ledge. “Sounds like a good plan.” Silence passed between us. “I’m close, Declan. By the end of the month, I really think… I—I think I’ll have a cure.”

Emotion swelled inside my chest as I imagined what it would feel like to be free of this leash that Alastor had put on me years ago.

Clara had been working herself into the ground day and night trying to find a cure ever since.

She and I were no strangers to the feeling of being caged inside this castle.

Wind whipped around the thin white curtain of the open balcony door, diverting my attention through it to the woman I feared I’d begun to have feelings for. Clara leaned over, her eyes followed my line of sight, and a small grin danced about her face again.

“Who knows”—she cleared her throat—“maybe the Light Phoenix might be a little part of the cure as well.”

A scoff tumbled out of me as I crossed my arms in front of me.

“I’ve never seen you look at someone like that before.”

“What do you mean?” My lips pursed together. I hated the fact that she could see right through me. There was no fooling her.

“Like she’s something precious, something you’ve been longing for,” she whispered, and my eyes fell to my boots. Fear festered inside of me, because she was right.

“Speaking of something precious…” Clara pulled something out of her pocket and placed in my palm the smooth, white stone feather pendant that had been around Lena’s neck.

The entire necklace had been drowned in blood and mud, so I’d had Clara clean it up the best she could for her.

It must have some importance, because I had caught Elena running her fingers through it several times during the journey.

“I couldn’t clean the twine that originally held it, so I replaced it with an old chain I had.”

“It’s perfect, thank you.” I placed the pendant in my pocket and pulled Clara into my side, watching the waves as they rolled back and forth in the midday sun.

Elena

T he ground crunched beneath me as I ran through the trees, barefoot and only in my nightdress. Branches clawed at me as I sprinted, tearing away pieces of my hair and ripping into my sensitive flesh. Tears streamed down my cheeks as a scream tore out of me. “Help me!”

My head whipped back so I could see how far the beast was, only for me to trip and slam hard into the dirt below. The beast pounced on top of me, howling as it turned me over with its paw, claws slicing into me.

The act ripped a gargled scream from me as it lowered its foul snout to hover above my face. Its void eyes glared upon me as a branch cracked beside us.

Stepping from the shadows behind him, cloaked in darkness and death, came the same hooded figure that had haunted my dreams for far too long. Its voice was low, raspy and ominous. It sent a wave of nauseousness throughout my body.

“Join me,” it growled. “Give in, Elena. Release your dynamis, and together we will make this world feel our pain.”

“Never.”

The being chuckled, sounding more like spurts of growls. “One day, Elena, one day soon, you will give in to me. Consider it a promise.”

My only response was spitting in its face. The beast roared as its teeth plunged into my neck.

“Wake, Elena! Wake! ”

I woke up breathless, with my hands wrapped around my neck. Thank the gods . A dream. Only a dream.

Using both of my hands, I rubbed my face, trying to regain a sense of my surroundings.

Warm golden light illuminated the massive room, and the breeze from the balcony made the sheer white curtains dance.

My eyes roamed over the luxuries that filled the space: soft blue velvet chairs, paintings of ocean waves and sunsets hanging in elegant gold frames.

On the side table next to the bed was a vase of white peonies. Each petal looked as smooth as velvet.

The massive oak bed that had swallowed me whole was filled with cream sheets and cloud-like pillows. My body sank into the softness of the mattress. It appeared I had made it to the capital, Vrine, the City of Shadows. The castle that was meant to be my home for the unforeseeable future.

The realization made my stomach fill with unease. Staring at the ceiling, I felt surprised, yet entirely thankful that I was alive. When I’d last closed my eyes, I’d assumed that was the last time they would open.

My hands lay over my stomach, reminding me of the attack. I lifted the silk nightdress that I was now wearing to peek at the damage, only to find nothing but smooth, pink skin. The signs of healing.

The king must have an incredibly strong Healer, because from what I could remember, my body had been torn to shreds before I passed out. I massaged my temples to release the memory of the blood that had spilled over my hands.

Hums of conversation spilled into the room from what I assumed to be others on the balcony.

Carefully, I slid my legs over the side of the bed.

Without the warmth from the covers, my entire body shivered from the coastal air.

The sheer slip I was wearing did nothing to cut the chill.

Draped over a chair was a silk robe in the same navy shade as my nightdress.

Grabbing it, I threw it on before my teeth chattered their way right out of my mouth.

I tightened its sash around my waist and wobbled my way towards the balcony doors.

As I approached the doors, I could distinctly make out Declan’s voice, but it was the voice of a female that halted me in my tracks.

Stepping onto the balcony, I gazed upon two bodies entangled in each other as they overlooked the ocean from the railing. Anger and jealousy coursed through my body as Declan rubbed the shoulder of the tall, slender brunette next to him.

She was stunningly beautiful. Her skin was smooth and sun-kissed, almost the same shade as Declan’s.

Her long, dark chestnut hair swirled in the wind as they spoke softly.

They appeared to be laughing about something as she turned to give him a sweet smile and he bent down to kiss the top of her hair. My heart sank and my shoulders sagged.

Something inside me deflated at the sight.

It was a ludicrous feeling to have, especially since I knew the man before me was forbidden in every way.

However, I wasn’t blind to the fact that something inside of me yearned for the affections of the dark and mysterious man who had been my travel companion these past few days.

Perhaps this was divine intervention, the gods telling me this wasn’t the path for me. I should have known that a man as handsome as the prince would be in a relationship. It was silly that I’d even entertained the thought that he might have feelings for me.

Suddenly, my gaze heated on the back of his head. How dare he try to kiss me when he had someone else waiting for him at home!

An audible snarl rumbled through me, and my breath hitched from my mistake.

Pivoting out of the doorway, I made it about halfway towards the bed before a strong hand grabbed my wrist, whirling me around to face him.

Once our eyes met, Declan dropped his grip, slipping his hand back inside his pocket.

“Elena, it’s good to see you awake.” He spoke softly as his eyes dropped down towards his shoes.

A polite cough arose from behind Declan, breaking the tension between us.

Gracefully, like she floated on air, the slender brunette strolled around the side of Declan.

She paused next to him and folded her delicate hands in front of her, giving me a warm smile.

It took everything in me to return a smile as I bent into a small bow.

“My apologies, Your Highness, my lady.” I spoke sullenly. “I didn’t mean to intrude on your conversation. I’ll just return to the bed. Sorry again for disturbing you both.”

Nope. Not sorry at all.

Declan was shielding the smile on his face with one hand. Crossing my arms in front of my chest, I wished my glare could kill or at least induce some sort of bodily harm.

“Elena, it is such a pleasure to meet you.” The sweet voice approached me from the right, dislodging the lock I had on Declan’s face.

“I’m so glad you’re up and awake. When Dec brought you to me you were in such a terrible state.

It took practically all the dynamis in me to heal you.

I had to sleep for a whole day! I haven’t had to do that since I first received my dynamis years ago.

” She giggled, reached out for my hands and held them between her own.

My mouth gaped wide. “Oh, I’m not complaining at all though, it was my pleasure, truly!

Declan was just telling me all about you. ”