Page 39 of Rising Out of the Darkness (Divine Guardians Duology #1)

Elena

A s soon as we parted inside the castle, I ran up the stairs and down our hall towards Clara’s room. She accepted the invitation, on one condition—I had to let her help me get ready. There was no argument from me. Even the gods knew I needed help in that department.

After taking an extremely long, steamy shower, I made my way over to the armoire to find something to wear tonight.

Pulling out a pair of black leather leggings and some high-lacing boots, I thumbed through the different tunic options I had.

I settled on a black one with flowy arms and lace around the plunging neckline.

It needed a little cinching around the waist, so I found a black corset.

Clara would have to help me put it on when she arrived.

Just as I was finishing lacing up my boots, I heard pounding at my door. I shook my head as I made my way over to the door. Before I could open it all the way, Clara shoved her way in.

“Let’s get you ready for tonight! Full disclosure, I brought wine.” Her face dropped. “Oh, and Alaric wanted me to bring this to you as well.”

In her hands was a small envelope sealed shut with a wax stamp bearing the king’s crest. With trembling hands, I opened it and read the contents.

Clara pushed me over to the small blue velvet chair next to the desk where Eloise had helped me get ready the night before. “Well, what did His Majesty have to say?”

Tossing the envelope onto the desk, I sighed.

“Tomorrow begins my first parade of the dignitaries. An early brunch, and I must wear one of those hideous dresses.”

Her eyes darted to the open wardrobe and cringed at the sight of some of the feathery gowns. “Does he want you to literally embrace the Phoenix?” We chuckled in unison.

“That is a lot of extravagant feathers.”

She shook her head while she helped me lace up the corset. “Declan is going to have a very hard time concentrating tonight with you wearing that .” She began working on braiding parts of my loose hair.

“Your cousin doesn’t look at me in that way.” I smiled weakly, knowing that was a half lie. “Even if he was, it would be forbidden. Also…” I sighed heavily as Will rushed through my mind. “I’m not sure I’m ready to open my heart again.”

The brush stilled against my hair and she held my gaze in the mirror.

“Elena, you’d have to live under a rock to not see the way he looks at you.

In fact, I haven’t seen him look at someone the way he looks at you in…

well, I don’t think I’ve ever seen it. Until now,” she mused, until she noticed me gnawing on my lip.

“The Flame, the one who lived in your town. Is he the reason you don’t want to open your heart again? ”

“Yes.” My stomach churned just thinking of it all again. “We were friends. Well, until one day when it became…more.” The memory flashed before me. “Everything seemed great, until he—until he blamed me for ruining his life and being the reason he has his dynamis.”

“That’s horrible, Lena. You don’t believe that though, right?” she hummed from behind me. “Right?”

“No.” The lie was barely audible as it fled my lips.

Clara must have felt my mood turn sullen, because she didn’t say another word. As she finished arranging my hair into a beautiful half-up, half-down style, I observed my transformation from peasant to courtier. She spun me around and told me to close my eyes as she began to work on my face.

“Speaking of people being distracted tonight…” I stole a glimpse of her biting her lip. “What do you think Killian is going to think about what you are wearing?”

Her chestnut locks were braided into a similar style as mine. The rest hung loose and curled down around her waist. She wore a long satin dress that was a deep shade of plum, setting her bright eyes alight. “Changing the subject, I see?”

“Can you blame me?” I shrugged. Clara chuckled to herself, as she applied a vibrant peach shade to my lips. “You know, he was blushing when I asked if I could invite you to go with us tonight.”

“Really?” she whispered.

“Really.”

The cutest pink tint flushed her cheeks. “We’ve been dancing around each other for years. Every time I thought he was going to take a chance, he would talk about his duty to the kingdom. He has always been extremely focused on making sure nothing gets in the way of their mission…they all have.”

I sat for a moment as I considered her words. Assuming “they” was the group of captains and a brooding lord, I was curious what mission they were all so intent on fulfilling at all costs. It had to be something important enough to overlook finding happiness with someone they loved.

Instead of falling into the spiral of what ifs, I chose to cling onto hope. Hope that Killian and Clara would have their chance one day. I couldn’t think of two people more perfect for each other. Just the idea of it made my heart sing.

“All done, Lady Elena.”

She turned me around so that I could look at myself in the mirror. Gold flecks sparkled over my eyelids, and the way she used the charcoal to line my eyes made them appear more open and wider than ever before. Just like Eloise, she had managed to me feel beautiful, something I didn’t feel often.

“Thank you.”

“Anytime, Lena.” She tilted her glass of wine to her lips, finishing it in one gulp. Clara noticed my raised eyebrows and let out a snort.

“Being trapped inside this castle for so long, you learn how to grow a tolerance for a hefty amount of wine.”

I followed suit and drained my glass in one gulp. “I might as well join you then.”

“You’re a quick learner, Lena.” We assessed our appearance once more in the mirror, and she squeezed my hand. “Let’s get going before Liam drinks all the whiskey.”

C lara practically dragged me down the stairs. I thought my arm might detach from my body. By the time we set foot in the open-air Killian, Liam and Nayla were all waiting outside.

Clara ran ahead and jumped into Nayla’s arms, knocking her over, and they tumbled onto the ground. The men chased after them, trying to bring both back to their feet. Nayla and Clara just pulled them straight down to the ground alongside them.

An ache blossomed in my heart as I watched the four of them laughing on the ground. The only friend I’d ever had was Will, and now I was questioning if that friendship had been as real as I’d thought it had been.

I’d known this group of people for an incredibly short time, yet somehow, they’d filled a void in my soul that I hadn’t known I needed filling. They replaced the emptiness that I’d had since the day we rode out of my town.

They’d been a flicker of light in the dark.

Despite the fact they lived in proximity to such evil—the king and Alastor—here they were thriving, living proof that light could still grow in the darkness.

I might not always understand the decisions of the gods or fate, but a glimmer of hope settled in my heart that these people had been brought into my life for a reason.

As I started towards them, a thick arm wrapped around my middle, pulling me back.

“You look absolutely enchanting tonight, Lena.”

“Dec—?” I breathed. He spun me around before I could finish speaking.

With one hand still wrapped around my middle, he smoothed away a rogue hair that had fallen into my face. Just the slightest caress of his calloused fingers, and I melted like a puddle.

“Are you ready to see the city?”

“Yes.”

One word. That was all I was able to squeak out. Declan spun me around and gave me a gentle shove to the small of my back towards the direction of our friends. Adrenaline rushed through me, and I couldn’t help but feel giddy. The night air felt electric, and my soul felt alive with pulsing energy.

“Let’s go have some fun—that is if you wild animals can find your feet again,” Declan quipped.

In unison, they all shouted back.

“To the tavern!”