Page 50 of Rising Out of the Darkness (Divine Guardians Duology #1)

Elena

“ W e do this together!” Declan commanded.

The mammoth beast stood about twelve feet away from us, snarling as it crouched down, preparing to attack. The captains rushed forward, flanking Declan and I on both sides in the narrow street.

Our hands still intertwined, he spun my body in the direction of the beast. All of us prepared for the battle in front of us as the beast raised its snout into the air and howled.

It was low, deep, and rattled against my bones.

As a group we extended our hands forward, waiting for Declan to give us the signal.

Growls echoed between the buildings, drawing our attention away from the beast in front of us. Two more foul beasts appeared from the side streets behind the first beast. Goosebumps rippled over my skin, and I began to tremble. Declan and I had barely survived one of these beasts last time.

How the Hells will we take down three?

Declan’s thumb stroked over the back of my hand. In that small second of calm, his commanding presence filled me with hope that we might be able to survive this.

Anchoring my feet firmly into the ground, I set my sights on the dark beasts in front of us.

Once more, I dug down deep to my well of dynamis, summoning it forth.

In the corner of my eye, I could see that both Declan and I were glowing a faint violet shade.

His hair whipped around wildly, as did mine.

“NOW!” he shouted.

Dynamis of all manner leapt forward towards the beasts. Screeching howls pierced through my ears, but our efforts didn’t halt their attack. We watched in horror as they clawed their way towards us.

Just like before, scraps of their dark, matted fur flew into the air as our violet light peeled away meaty layers of flesh. Sludgy, dark blood spilled over the cobblestones. Together, our power was doing far more damage than either of us on our own.

Nayla and Liam impaled the beasts with shards of stone and ice. Killian launched several daggers attached to him, conserving his power, just in case we might need to be zephyred out of here.

Declan took a step forward, as I did. More dynamis thrummed through our fingertips, striking the beasts. This time, their momentum did not slow. The sounds of our battle had summoned several people outside of their homes. Concern filled Declan’s face.

“We need time,” he panted between heavy breaths. “We need to get them away from the people.”

Roaring orders back to the captains, Declan pulled me down the next street toward the main square of the city. Two of the beasts clawed their way towards us. The captains fled down another alley, the third beast growling behind them.

As we ran, we took turns launching our dynamis towards the beasts. Each blow carved chunks out of the beasts’ flesh, but still they charged for us. Declan tugged my shoulder, pulling me down each alley and street that would lead us out of the city.

Elysians began to open their doors and flood the streets.

“Get back inside! Now!” Declan yelled shoving others back into their open doors as we ran by.

As we rounded another street, we heard the screams of Elysians behind us, and I prayed to the gods that they got inside before the beasts reached them.

At the end of the street a little girl with bouncy blonde curls sobbed. Without hesitation, Declan bent down and wrapped her into his arms, ran to the nearest door and pounded. “Open now, I have a child!”

The door swung open, and he shoved the crying babe into a woman’s arms. The beasts’ howls were getting closer. My heart pounded against my chest.

“Close this door and hide!”

The woman slammed the door shut, while Declan grabbed my wrist and launched us back into a sprint.

Claws scratched against the cobblestone, and I glanced over my shoulder to see that a beast was trailing behind us.

Turn after turn, Declan helped us wind through the streets of the city that he knew by heart.

My breath rasped against my lungs. Every muscle in my legs burned. “I…I don’t know if I can keep up, Dec,” I panted, turning to blast another bit of dynamis towards the beast closest to me.

It lunged into the air and its teeth nipped my calf just as Declan shoved us around yet another corner. Warm, red liquid began to trickle into my boot. The pain throbbed with each step.

“Hold on!” We swung around another street. “Elena, just”—Declan gripped my hand tighter as we ran— “hold on, love.”

We rushed straight towards the opening of the alley, both turning to launch another assault of dynamis.

My fingertips burned from the white light that tore through them.

When we reached the opening, my eyes widened at the sight of the captains backed against the large fountain in the middle of the town square.

We raced towards them, joining their side.

“This is it,” Declan shouted. “Use everything you have left!”

I bottled up every emotion, everything I had left buried deep down inside. He extended his hand, and I placed it inside mine. Dynamis rushed forward at my summons, pressing painfully against my skin, urging to be released. Locking sights on the beast, I let it fly.

A powerful golden wind blasted them all back. Two hit the sides of buildings. The crack of breaking bones rang in the air, and they both lay lifeless on the ground. The final beast whined as it struggled to get back onto all fours.

The captains continued to bombard it with their dynamis. Out of daggers, Killian held his sword at the ready.

The final beast slumped to the ground, but it still tried to use its claws to pull its body towards us. Declan and I approached the beast before it could rise again.

Hollowness filled the depths of where my dynamis resided, and I finally felt what it was like to drain my well.

Releasing my grip on Declan’s hand, I palmed my dagger tightly.

As I kneeled over the beast, I slid the blade through its heart.

Black blood oozed out of the wound just as Declan shoved his sword into the beast’s neck, severing its head from its body.

Exhausted, I rolled off the beast, falling toward the cobblestones.

Before I hit, strong arms slid underneath mine.

Declan lifted me back onto my feet. Sweat beaded his brow, his breaths still coming out in short pants.

I brushed my hand tenderly over his temple, wiping the sweat away before it stung his eyes.

“We did it,” he whispered into my hair as he pulled me closer.

“Of course we did.” My words rumbled into his chest as it vibrated with laughter. “Remember, I’m a very powerful woman. I suppose you weren’t too bad yourself.”

We were an exhausted mess. Hysteria had started to set in. He shook his head, and for the first time ever he rolled his eyes. I pinched his side, and he let out a low growl. “Is that a challenge, Wildfire?”

“Perhaps.”

A mischievous light danced across his eyes. However, it faded when whispers echoed all around us.

Declan and I took in the people who now surrounded us. Some stood in awe, others continued to whisper to each other.

“Did you see what they did?”

“Their dynamis shines brighter than all the stars in the sky.”

“They all saved us. Gods bless the Light Phoenix.”

We turned to face the people who had trickled out of their homes.

All at once, whispers stilled and silence spread across the street.

Heads bowed, and people lifted their fingertips to their lips, then placed them over their hearts.

Like a ripple, the same motion was repeated by everyone surrounding us, including Liam, Killian and Nayla.

“Declan.” I paused, my voice quivering. “Wh-what are they doing?”

“It’s a sign of respect.”

“B-but we just did what anyone else would have done?—”

“No, Elena, not everyone would have done this. You’ve given them more reason to love you, to respect you. Reminded them to maintain hope, my love.”

I swallowed, shoving down the thick emotion threatening to burst free. Not only had his words shaken me, but also the tenderness that flew through his lips when he called me “love.”

“We all did this together, remember?” I whispered, giving a bow of my head to the three captains behind us and finally to the prince in front of me. I raised my fingertips to my lips.

“Elena. W-what are you doing?” He swallowed, trying to grip me around my back as I gently pushed his hands free.

I placed my palm flat over my heart, bending down on one knee in front of my prince. His eyes widened, and a smile grew like a flame upon my face. The crowd that surrounded us all rippled down to one knee.

This time it wasn’t for the Light Phoenix.

This time it was for their prince.

Declan’s eyes began to gloss over. He blinked rapidly, as he brushed a palm over his face. A tiny crack in his ward slivered away, enough for me to be able to feel the warm breeze of love and compassion wash over me.

“Rise,” he said. At his command, we all rose, awaiting the words of our prince.

“Tonight, we have learned something invaluable.” He reached forward to intertwine his hand in mine.

“We learned that we are never alone in this world. We are stronger together, and together we have the prowess to take down our enemies. No longer do you need to live in fear, as we will unite as one to take down the evil that surrounds our city and this kingdom. Together, we will end this.”

Cheers erupted from all around us on the crowded street. Each person smiled with teary eyes full of hope. Some rushed to shake the hands of the captains or pat their backs.

The little girl from earlier, probably no older than the age of four, stumbled over to Declan.

Her sunshine curls swayed in the night breeze as she squeezed the thickness of his calf in a tight embrace.

I chuckled at his shocked face as he peered down to see what was wrapped around his leg.

My heart throbbed as he picked her up and swung her around.

She squealed with laughter, and Declan’s laugh was so loud it could have rattled the windows.

Liam and Killian approached each side of me, and we watched Declan play with the little girl on the street. Liam leaned in, whispering into my ear. “It’s been ages since I’ve seen him like this, Elena. You’ve mended pieces of him that have been broken for far too long.”

I looked up to his smiling face just as I felt a bump against my other shoulder.

“Looks like you’ve gone and lived your moment,” Killian whispered.

Cheeks flushed, I fought back the tears that built behind my eyes. When I raised my gaze again, I was met with a pair of smoldering emerald eyes.

They burned with desire. I felt a shove on my back, followed by chuckles from the men behind me as I shuffled forward towards the prince.

My body tensed as one of his warm hands wrapped around my waist, pulling me in closer. His knuckles slid over my cheek, sending shivers across my skin as my dynamis chased after his touch.

“So, how does one make an exit from here?” My words were breathless.

He leaned in so closely that his lips brushed the edge of my earlobe. “You fear the dark, but how do you feel about shadows?”

His breath tickled my neck. I bobbed my head in approval. Declan gave a nod to his captains, then pulled me into his chest. “Hold tight, love.”

A whirl of black surrounded us, and in a blink, we were back in my room in the castle. Taking a deep breath, I filled my lungs, massaging my temples to erase the dizziness left behind. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to tha?—”

Before I could finish, Declan’s lips collided with mine.