Page 37 of Rising Out of the Darkness (Divine Guardians Duology #1)

Another stream of shadows leapt towards me. I narrowly dodged them.

“Remember in the forest? You managed to pull the strongest of your power while simultaneously attacking a massive, unearthly beast. Elena, if you can do that, then you can surely call forth your dynamis right now to halt a few of my shadows…” He taunted me again with a mischievous smirk. “Maybe.”

Pulling on the well of my dynamis I felt burning inside of me, I decided to try to force it out, just like I had done before with the unwanted emotions. Perhaps I could create a blast of wind swift enough to knock him on his ass.

I began to call forth my dynamis, until unease crept into my mind. What if I accidentally released the light power that had burned through my hands on the night I’d melted the beast?

Don’t get me wrong, I was furious with the man in front of me, but I didn’t want to incinerate him... yet . A dangerous smile pulled at my lips at the thought, and Declan lifted his brows.

Shoving out my emotions alongside a wisp of dynamis, I launched it forward with everything I had.

The blast of air was so strong it ripped the leather off the end of my braid, releasing it into the wild wind I had created.

The rapid rise and fall of my breaths gradually simmered to a calm, just like the dust and wind from the gust I had created.

My breath hitched when I saw the powerful gust of wind had flung the prince all the way down to the shore. He lay still and unmoving as the tide rolled against his body. Damn! Too far, I went too far .

I scrambled over him, fell to my hands and knees and pressed my head against his chest. Breathing, thank gods . As the waves crashed against my thighs, I pushed my fingers against his wrist and counted the beats of his pulse. My grip on his wrist stirred a groan from him, and I sighed in relief.

Leaning over his listless body, I placed my palm across his cheek. It was amazing how peaceful he looked while unconscious. Maybe I just need to knock him out more often?

I chuckled to myself, placing my palm against his chest to push myself up. I’d need some help getting him back up to the castle. There was no way that I was carrying him up those steps. I was halfway up when strong arms shoved me to the side and I tumbled over him, falling flat onto my back.

In the blink of an eye, Declan was on top of me, caging me in with his arms and legs.

A devilish smile danced across his face.

I rolled my eyes, my head sinking into the wet sand beneath it.

This man was truly infuriating. How either of us was going to survive training together over the next month was beyond me.

The idea of him becoming a pile of ash had become more appealing.

“Never underestimate your opponent, Wildfire,” he said, as a cocky grin spread across his face.

His gaze rolled lazily over my body beneath him as I huffed and rolled my eyes.

Declan leaned closer, halting my attempts to get out of his cage of arms. “How brave of you, Lena. You know, we’ve talked about you rolling your eyes.

” A low growl rumbled deep within his chest.

It sent warmth to more places in my body than I’d care to admit. Damn this man ! How could he make me so furious in one moment, and in another have me trembling with feelings quite the contrary?

“Do you suppose we could continue this conversation somewhere else?” I scoffed as the tide swept against the side of my face. “I don’t know, maybe somewhere with less sand…and water?”

A smile replaced the devious twitch of his lips. He was on his feet instantly, extending his hand for me to take.

“I’m not sure I trust you after everything that just happened,” I jested, pretending to withdraw my hand.

“Just take my hand, woman.” he said, shaking his head as he chuckled quietly.

“Fine.”

Before the word finished leaving my lips, he had pulled me back onto my feet.

As I dusted off the wet sand from my leathers, he gathered my hair and twisted, wringing out the salty water.

It felt far more intimate than it should have, and my body reacted uncontrollably.

Heat flushed my cheeks, and my skin pebbled with goosebumps.

Thankfully, what I was wearing had my skin mostly covered, and he wouldn’t be able to see. Hopefully.

We walked across the shore and back up the stairs, no sound but the scrunch of wet leather as we continued towards the back door of the castle. Its stark white stone was breathtaking against the bright blue of the morning sky. I paused for a moment to take in the rest of the city.

We were high enough to see the city below.

Each shop and home were vibrant with color—warm sunshine yellows, pale peaches, blues and magentas.

It was curious to me how the City of Shadows could be alive with so many brilliant colors.

I had always imagined it to be cold, dark, and distant, just like its ruler.

Observing the city below, I realized how wrong I had been.

“Enchanting, isn’t she?”

As he whispered into my ear, shivers spread through me. I tilted my head, coming nose to nose with the prince. “Who?”

“The city.” He breathed, swallowing deeply as he took a few steps to the side.

“Mmhmm,” I whispered. “Yes, she is.”

In the back of my mind, I had a feeling he wasn’t talking about the city at all, because his gaze had never once left mine.

“Let’s get you inside and out of those wet clothes before you catch a cold.”

Nodding, I turned around, following him back inside.

“Change into another pair of leathers. We still have some more training to do this afternoon,” he said with a sly wink.

Of course we do.

“Oh, and Elena?” He paused, noticing my eyebrow quirk up. “Don’t forget your dagger.”

A grin grew on my lips as he strutted towards the kitchen.

C ontinuing towards my room, I was startled by a squeal of excitement from my right. Arms squeezed around me and waves of chestnut hair flooded my vision.

“Elena! I’m so happy I ran into you!” Clara beamed as she released me. It was so infectious that I couldn’t help but join her. “Oh, gods, you’re soaking wet.” She wrinkled her nose in disgust as she looked down, realizing she was now soaked as well.

I burst out laughing. The feeling of lightness spread through my body like the rays of the sun. There was something relieving about laughter. It was almost like a dynamis itself, with the power to erase every worry, stress, and fear. If I could, I would do it every hour of every day.

Once we both calmed down, she told me she wanted to check the state of my healing and followed me back to my room.

After entering, I excused myself and took a quick rinse in the shower Eloise had introduced me to last night.

It was even more amazing than the bathtub.

It was like being inside of a waterfall—truly magical.

Wrapping a fluffy cloth around my hair when I was done, I threw on another set of leathers and tunic.

Leaving the tunic untucked so Clara could look at my healing injuries, I waltzed back into the room.

She seemed pleased with the progress, but she placed another palm on top of the pink flesh. “I just want to make sure everything heals internally as well. This will speed it up even more.”

Her palm felt warm, and the heat seemed to spread within me across my entire scar. When she was done, she had a smile on her face, waiting for me to look. I gasped at what I saw. Where the pinkish flesh once resided, now all that was left was normal skin, as if nothing had ever happened.

“Clara, that is absolutely amazing,” I said, still frozen in awe. “You truly have one incredible gift. So much good you can do with your dynamis, so many you can help.”

A forced smile spread across her face before it wilted. “Unfortunately, I only get to help those within these walls. Even then, there are limitations. My dynamis can only be used when the king allows me to.” Her voice faded into a whisper.

My eyes widened at her confession. “I’m so sorry, Clara, I can only imagine how difficult that must be for you.”

“There have been so many people I could have helped if I’d been allowed…even my own mother.”

“No!” I gasped. “Clara, he didn’t.”

She swallowed back a sob. “Even his own sister was deemed unworthy of my gift. She was extremely unwell, and my father sent word to have me return home. When I went to ask His Majesty’s permission, I was denied.

His excuse was that my dynamis was far too sacred, and I needed to remain inside the castle walls in order to protect the kingdom, him , at all times.

He felt that two days away from the castle was too much of a risk, then proceeded to blame my mother’s illness on her own decision to leave Vrine.

Two days later, she passed away,” Clara said, tears silently falling and splashing onto the wood floor beneath us. “I didn’t even get to say goodbye.”

“I knew the king was cruel, but what he did to you and your family is unforgivable, Clara.” I pulled her into an embrace and gave her a tight squeeze.

How could someone deny their own flesh and blood something so precious as the gift of healing, of saving their life? Gods, he was more despicable than I had ever imagined.

“So…you’ve never been outside the city walls?”

She shook her head. “Once the king found out about the strength of my dynamis, I was sent here to live indefinitely.”

“How long?”

“Since the day after my Ascension. Over fifty years ago.”

My mouth gaped open, and not at her age—as an Elysian, she had been locked into ageless beauty the day she went through Ascension. Instead, I was appalled by her admission that she had been stuck inside this city for so long. Clara was being kept like a bird in a cage.

Something spurred inside me, and my dynamis flared. I made a vow in that moment that I would figure out a way to get Clara out of here. One day, I’d find a way to help her spread her wings and fly.

Unraveling the cloth wrapped around my hair, I wiped her tears away with it, guiding her to sit in the velvety armchair. I plopped my body down in the one beside her.

Eloise had snuck up some chocolate when she brought me breakfast this morning, telling me I’d probably need it after training today.

Gods, if only she knew how right she was.

Tossing Clara the box of chocolates, I reached for two glasses and poured wine into both.

Mouth half stuffed with chocolates, she smiled.

“I knew from the moment I talked to you I was going to like you.” She picked up the wine glass and raised it towards me.

Giggling, I lifted my glass towards hers until they clinked together. She handed me back the box, at which I shoved two delicious chocolates in my mouth.

“Just wondering.” She paused to take a sip of wine. “How exactly did you get so wet during your training with Declan this morning? I could have sworn Declan said he was going to teach you some meditation techniques to help harness your dynamis.”

“Your cousin does have some interesting training tactics, that’s for sure,” I scoffed.

“Is that all you find interesting about my cousin?” she hummed playfully.

“Clara, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Lie.

“Well, my cousin sure seems to find himself quite distracted as of late. I wonder what must be on his mind. Curious, isn’t it?” Her smile wrapped around the lip of her glass and she took another sip as I tried to become invisible inside the chair.

Standing up, she took the last swig of her wine and leaned down to give me a hug. “I think we are going to be great friends, Elena.”

“Me too. Clara, thanks again for healing me…for saving me.”

A warm smile spread across her face. “I’m glad I was able to do some good. This kingdom needs more of it, and I think you might be the one to help us achieve that.” She left the room before I had a chance to respond.

The sound of swords clanging against one another flooded through my open window. Sighing, I pulled my boots over my feet and laced them. After tucking my tunic back inside my leathers, I strapped my leather sheath onto my thigh and slid my dagger inside.

Time for round two of training, here we go.