Page 59 of Rising Out of the Darkness (Divine Guardians Duology #1)
Declan
W hen I’d arrived in the City of Ash, I’d been given my usual quarters.
Sleep had evaded me. All night I’d shifted beneath the covers, lying wide awake reliving the nightmare of yesterday as it pulled the strings of my thoughts.
Images of my guards’ faces and the terrified look across Elena’s face as she brushed her fingertips against mine were branded across my aching heart.
Each time they flashed before my eyes, the sear only became more excruciating.
Now, wiping the exhaustion from my face, I tried to focus. The midday sun blazed down upon me, and sweat beaded across my brow. I had a meeting scheduled with Edan’s council in an hour. Why he had asked to meet with me separately beforehand had my curiosity piqued.
Footsteps drummed against the smooth, white stone terrace that overlooked the training arena.
Like my father, Edan lived a life of luxury and excess, thriving from the coin that he took from the people of his city.
Exotic and rare animals were trapped in gold-painted cages sprinkled around his gardens.
Extravagantly carved furniture and tapestries made of silks and velvets decorated each room in his villa.
Everything was either gilded or adorned in jewels, pristine and polished, just like the marble floor beneath our feet.
“Declan.” He nodded, folding his arms over the ledge, mirroring mine. “You know this marriage is going to take place, don’t you?”
It appeared my father had gone behind my back and made this deal with Edan, despite my refusal.
“You and I both know what a good alliance it will make, especially considering the state of your father’s reputation.”
Edan’s sneer made my dynamis flare. He’d been after the crown of this kingdom for as long as I could remember.
This marriage would be the closest he’d ever been to it, which was exactly why I was going to ensure it would never happen.
Especially when the intel the Rebellion had discovered about the Nightshades over the years continued to point back to Vragos.
That was the other reason for being here, to speak with my informant, Brand. A raven had sent word a few days ago that there were new developments in uncovering our mole within the Rebellion. We were so close I could almost taste it.
The crunch of gravel and the murmur of voices below snapped me back into our conversation.
“I’ll see you later for the council meeting.” I shoved past him as he chuckled under his breath.
“Say hello to my daughter for me.”
There was no need to look back. I could feel his smug smile assault me from behind as I stormed my way down to the training arena.
With my dynamis already on edge, the last thing I needed to stumble upon was Adara running her hands through Will’s hair. He sat there with pink cheeks and made no attempts to stop her.
Ever since Elena had trusted me with their story that night in the tavern, I itched to unleash my shadows upon him. My fists curled as I thought about what his last words had been to her, the accusations made and the hurt and shame that festered inside her sweet soul because of them.
Clearing my throat, I stalked towards them, whipping my shadows against a crate beside them, causing them to separate immediately. Taking pleasure in their wide-eyed expressions, I passed between them until I came face to face with Will.
“I don’t have all day. Show me what you’ve been working on.” My voice was laced with unspoken threat.
Blond waves flopped across his face as his nervous blue eyes shifted to Adara’s for permission. She dipped her head, and he made his way to the center of the ring.
Will unleashed his Flame dynamis in searing waves. The flames burst with increased intensity, but it wasn’t anything groundbreaking. Adara shifted towards me, caressing my biceps. Recoiling, I stepped to the side, tucking my arms against my chest.
“How the times have changed,” she scoffed. “I remember a time when you used to like my hands on you.” The smile she gave me was anything but demure.
“That was one time, a very long time ago, Adara. A mistake that lives in the past where it belongs.”
She shook her head, turning her gaze back towards Will. Boredom had begun to encroach as Will’s flames turned into two flaming ropes of fire.
“Yeah, it’s pretty incredible, isn’t it,” she hummed, observing my startled expression.
“I don’t know if ‘incredible’ is the word I would use.”
Ropes of fire twisted and turned as he wrapped them around a few of the practice dummies, scorching the hay within them until they split in the middle.
“You know, it doesn’t have to be this hard, Declan. We grew up together, played together just fine. Even once we were older I wasn’t too horrible to be around, was I?”
When I allowed myself to shift my glance towards her, her normally impassive face had cracked. It was slight, but there was a wobble to her bottom lip and her fingers twisted the material of her pants.
Guilt washed over me as the realization left my stomach in unease.
Adara was just another tool for political manipulation, as I was.
Deep down, I knew she was different from her father, something I’d always admired.
However, there were several reasons this marriage would never take place.
One being the fact that I’d fallen in love with the Light Phoenix.
“No, you weren’t that bad to be around, Adara.” My words were gentle. “But I will not marry you, and you know why this can never happen.”
Hurt flashed through her eyes, but she blinked with silent understanding.
“I’ve got to meet with your father and the council. We’ll discuss this when you all come for the ball at the end of the month.”
With a nod, she dismissed me, and I took my time walking through the villa towards Edan’s council room. After this meeting, Brand would be my next stop. Instead of sending a raven with the intel, this time I would meet Warren in person.
Especially now that I had a very important question to ask him.