Page 42 of Rising Out of the Darkness (Divine Guardians Duology #1)

Elena

P lacing his hand in mine, Declan intertwined our fingers, tugging me through the bodies surrounding us.

He leaned into Killian’s ear and told him we were leaving.

From behind Declan, I sheepishly waved at Clara as we made our way to the exit.

Nayla and Liam had returned to our table, laughing and clinking their glasses of ale together as we approached.

Liam grabbed Declan’s cloak from his chair and tossed it over to him.

The three of them exchanged a knowing smile.

My gaze fell to my feet, the heat warming my cheeks as usual.

With a tug, Declan nudged me in front of him.

Hands gripped my hips as he guided me through the mass of Elysians inside the tavern until we finally made it out the door.

Night air cooled my heated cheeks as we strolled through the cobblestone street. I trembled under the proximity of Declan’s presence. His hand brushed against mine, catching me off guard as I stumbled over a cobblestone. He grabbed my arm swiftly, righting me before I could blink.

When I looked up at him, a sinfully handsome grin made my legs wobble once more.

Golden light from the shops shone across his tan skin as his forest green eyes glistened.

For once, he seemed calm, perhaps even at peace.

He swept his fingers through his hair. My teeth pinched the flesh of my lower lip as I watched.

His darkened eyes caught me and rolled down to my lips, where they lingered.

“We’re going to have to work on those little habits of yours, Lena. Before they completely undo me.”

The sound of his voice rumbled all the way down my body, warming me. He placed my arm inside his own and we continued to walk back to the castle.

“The people seem to struggle here, like we do outside the city walls. Yet, beneath it all, I can still see the vibrance of the city that once was. The one you still find beautiful.” I spoke tentatively, trying to distract the tension between us with conversation.

“I suppose I don’t understand how opinions about you differ so much from one Elysian to the next. ”

Declan flinched before wiping his face clear of emotion. “They do the best they can to thrive, even when my father and Alastor do nothing but blockade their happiness.” He paused his steps, considering how much more he wanted to share.

“The city lives in a constant state of fear, always afraid of what might happen. If something rubs my father or Alastor the slightest way, disastrous things happen. My father will deprive them of food, block their access to our aqueducts. Sometimes”—his gaze dropped from mine— “he’ll even enforce raids, taking men and boys right out of their homes, conscripting them into the Royal Guard. ”

My lips parted in disbelief. Guilt flashed across his face, and his eyelashes lowered to the cobblestones.

“I told you, Elena, I am not a good man.” The words hung in the air between us.

An argument formed on my lips, but he placed his thumb over them, pinning them closed.

“I’m the general of the Royal Guard, Elena.

Who do you think enforces all their commands?

Who do you think has to watch the faces of my people fill with agony or terror as we approach?

I have done terrible things in the name of my father.

Actions that will haunt me for the rest of my life. ”

“I’m aware of your broodiness and your occasional moments of rage,” I jested, trying to lighten the mood, but the joke fell flat.

I cleared my throat and tried again. “However, the more I get to know you, the more I see how compassionate you are. It’s so genuine that I don’t understand how others cannot see it as I do.

You’re clearly nothing like your father. ”

Declan’s entire body tensed as he absorbed my words. “I wish that was true, but I fear I’m more like him than you think.”

“Explain it, then.”

He smoothed a hand over his mouth. “Not tonight, Lena.”

Observing the tension rolling off him in waves, I concluded this part of our conversation was over. “I’m still trying to figure out why everyone was so cordial to me tonight. I’ll be honest, I’m not used to this much social interaction, much less ones that are positive.”

“Having the Light Phoenix alongside us seemed to lighten their spirits a bit. It gave them something to focus their attention on. It filled them with something we all haven’t had in a while.

” Declan played with the ends of my hair that had fallen across my chest. Shivers ran down my back as the heat of his fingers brushed against me.

“What could my presence possibly fill these people with?” I questioned, still trying to find distraction from this tension between us.

Though I might be the Light Phoenix in their eyes, I was just Elena Morrigan. They didn’t know the real me, the one consumed by fear and weakness lurking underneath her mask. What could I possibly offer these people?

“Hope.” His words silenced my thoughts. “You’ve given them hope, Elena. You are a living symbol of a chance for all of us in this kingdom to find peace once more.” He stepped closer as my breathing picked up pace.

“You’ve given me hope. Just being around you makes me want to be a better version of myself.

Wildfire, you radiate so much light and goodness with everything that you do.

Hope is the most powerful magic within us.

It’s unwavering faith that no matter what shadows the darkness tries to cast over us, we will always be able to find our way through. Hope is our light in this darkness.”

“Dec, I’m not all light and goodness. I know what it feels like to be judged, looked down upon for your failures…

your differences.” The tears began to well, but I blinked them back.

“I’ve lost patients because of my failures.

I wasn’t enough to find a cure, or create an elixir, or even save…

” My throat swelled up, and I couldn’t bring myself to mention my mother.

“I have no right to inspire hope in these people. They deserve better,” I breathed.

“Elena,” He wrapped his palms around my arms and held me straight. “You’ve been underestimating yourself from the moment I met you.”

He tucked my arm underneath his and started to walk towards the castle. I wasn’t sure if it was from the whiskey or our conversation, but I was still feeling a little unstable.

“There’s something I’d like to show you.”

W e walked in silence up the hill and over the bridge towards the castle.

Instead of heading through the door we’d come out of earlier, we took a turn, walking through the courtyard in front of the castle.

The fragrant smell of herbs and flowers could only be described as heavenly.

Violet wisteria swayed in the breeze above us as we walked under the arches that lined the gravel path.

Approaching a stone wall covered with layers of ivy, I noticed a smaller wooden door.

“I’d like to show you one of my mother’s favorite spaces in this castle. One that has become special to me as well.” As he pushed the creaking wooden door open, my breath stilled. Declan gently nudged me inside.

This garden was the most magical place I had ever laid eyes on.

Little orbs of light, no doubt summoned by simple magic, hovered in lanterns hanging from the trees around the garden.

There were flowers in every color, shape and size, all in glorious bloom.

The light from the lanterns made everything shimmer in a golden haze.

My eyes landed on the twisted trunk adorned with vibrant citrine leaves that looked aflame under the moonlight. It lured me towards it with its ethereal wonder. Declan followed behind me and paused when I stopped underneath the canopy of branches.

“I’ve always wanted to see a gods’ tree in person. It’s absolutely breathtaking.”

Declan rounded the side of me, and we both stared in awe. “It is. We used to hold ceremonies here, even bring in members of the city…until…” Declan’s throat bobbed. My hand found his and it tightened around my own.

The trunk was darker than I had imagined, but not entirely. In fact, it almost seemed like it had darkened from the roots up. I reached out in curiosity to touch the bark of the tree.

The moment my fingers touched the bark, my dynamis flared, jolting my body. A loud hum vibrated inside my head, like the buzz of thousands of beehives.

I jerked my hand back and the connection was broken. My gaze fell to my hand. A dim glow pulsed where the dynamis still swirled beneath.

“You alright?”

“The bark just scratched me a bit,” I fibbed, and tucked my hand out of sight. With a nod, he turned and walked towards a bench surrounded by pastel-toned peonies.

Confusion swirled through me almost as quickly as my dynamis. I decided whatever had just happened must have been a result of the whiskey still muddling around in my brain. As I walked towards the bench where Declan was sitting, I beheld the most alluring sight in this entire garden.

As if he could feel the heat of my gaze, his eyes rose to meet mine. Declan stared at me the same way I had viewed this garden, in awe.

I sat down on the cold stone, and he placed a hand on my thigh. Goosebumps prickled over my arms.

“May I?” His grin widened at my shocked expression, then he dropped his gaze to the dagger strapped to my thigh. I palmed my red face and nodded.

He removed the dagger, then stepped behind me towards the peony bush.

With a quick slice, Declan cut off a bloom from the bush, twirling it around in his fingers as he walked back towards me.

Then, he bent down on one knee and placed my dagger inside its sheath.

With his other hand, he lifted the flower towards my face. “For you.”