Page 75 of Rising Out of the Darkness (Divine Guardians Duology #1)

Elena

“ L ena! All eyes are going to be on you tonight.” Clara whistled, and Eloise’s grin sparkled just as bright behind me. “I’m going to thoroughly enjoy watching Declan’s face when you step into the ballroom. With that dress, you might stop his heart,” she snorted. “Good thing I’m a Healer.”

My cheeks heated from her appraisal, and the idea of the way I looked influencing anyone, especially Declan. “You really think this will make a difference? Changing Declan’s mind doesn’t exactly seem like a task that’s easily accomplished.” A nervous twinge swirled inside the pit of my stomach.

Clara and Eloise exchanged a mischievous smile. “Oh,” Clara hummed, “something tells me that tonight, you won’t have any problems at all.”

They provided me with a lightness I desperately needed. As they went back to work finishing my hair, I snuck a glance at myself in the mirror.

Since the day in the ballroom, my freckles had yet to stop shining, only fading slightly in the following days. I was more comfortable staying out of the spotlight. These were going to do quite the opposite.

However, tonight was about shedding my fears. It was about being bold, giving in to my strength, going after my own happiness. I’d been hiding for far too long, and it was time to fully come into my confidence. Tonight, I would show everyone just how powerful I really was.

“Can I ask you both something? Is this too dangerous a web we’re weaving? I can’t help but feel selfish for going after happiness, knowing it will have a disastrous effect on everyone else around us. Alaric will not be happy, and I’m terrified of what he and Alastor will do.”

Eloise turned me to face her. “Remember what I told you, sometimes we must take risks to be with the ones we love. If you’re not willing to fight for that love with all you have, then it’s not a love worthy of the chase.”

“I’m willing to fight,” I breathed.

“I know. That’s how I know you both were made for each other.” She pulled me into an embrace and whispered, “He’s afraid of himself and afraid of hurting you, but he’s never stopped loving you.”

The prickle of tears pressed against my eyes as she twirled me around the vases of flowers that sat beside my bed.

“You see those? Since the first night you arrived, he has been picking fresh flowers for you every day.” My eyes widened, and Clara squeezed my hand.

Tears began to stir in her eyes as well.

“Even when he was away, he told me in his letters which flowers to place in your room each day.” Pulling out a folded piece of parchment, she handed it to me.

Eloise took a step back and wrapped an arm around Clara, allowing me space to read.

There were flowers to match the color of my eyes, the vibrance of my hair, but it was the ones that touched on parts of my soul that sent the tears sliding down my cheeks.

“ Day lilies to light up her day and empower her. Irises to bring her courage and remind her to hold onto hope. Daisies and honeysuckle to stir the happiness and sweetness that dwells within her…”

On and on went the list of all the reasons why these flowers deserved to be in my presence. The parchment crinkled in my hand as I stared at the blooms inside the vase today. Lavender, forget-me-nots, and delicate pink peonies in full, fluffy bloom.

“Lavender to bring you serenity, forget-me-nots to remind you of his love even from afar, and peonies in full bloom to remind you of your transformation into the stunning woman you have become.” Eloise sniffled, and I faced the two sets of glassy eyes behind me.

“He said that?” My voice cracked.

She nodded. “I doubt he intended for me to share.” Eloise released a breathy laugh as she wiped away a tear.

“But you needed to know he still loves you, he just needs help clearing the fog of his own mind.” She leaned back to give my ensemble one final look before pulling me in for a quick embrace. “Ready?”

“I think my cousin needs to be reminded of who makes his heart pulse.” Clara held out her hand to help me stand.

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I whispered, swallowing down my fear one last time. I placed my arm through Clara’s, and we made our way towards the ballroom.

Tonight, I planned to take charge of my destiny, in more ways than one.

Declan

T here wasn’t enough whiskey in all Ehora to make this night any less difficult.

Tossing back the last remnants in my glass, I motioned to the server for another. The collar of my tunic threatened to deprive me of air until I unhooked the two buttons of my black dress shirt. The simmering heat that had been torching my body since I’d stepped into this ballroom began to cool.

With a refilled glass of courage, I made my way unwillingly back towards the conversation I had needed a reprieve from.

The grand ballroom dripped with gold and lavish linens and table settings.

Long tables lined the hall, full of fine meats and fresh fish drizzled in the finest sauces.

Trays of sweet rolls and cakes that were iced to perfection sat in the middle of each elaborately decorated table, alongside the thousands of colorful blooms that were cut fresh this from morning my mother’s garden.

Wincing at the memory of the state of the garden after so many blooms had been ravaged, I tried to ease my annoyance by reminding myself that I’d spend some time repairing it all tomorrow.

Our kingdom was suffering. So many were struggling to even put food in their mouths. Yet here we were reveling in an opulent ballroom, knowing much of this food would be tossed to the animals the moment the ball ended.

Disgusted by the depravity of it all, I felt the fire flare within me to leave this place behind once and for all and take my place in Oria. Once I knew that Elena would be safe, then I would leave.

“Better now?” my father grumbled beneath his breath.

“Exceedingly,” I sneered, lifting the glass to my lips to take another swig.

He rolled his eyes and continued talking with Lord Edan Drake. Clenching my teeth, I tried to control my urge to strangle them both as they continued to talk about Elena like she was some sort of stallion to be broken and trained to do their bidding.

“Yes, I believe with the right motivation her fiery spirit can be tamed.” Drake swirled the wine around in his glass. “Give her a week or two with my Adara and Will, and I’ll get her on our side.”

“I have several ways of making people bend.” Adara’s gaze fluttered towards mine. Her eyes were still lit with hope that I would eventually change my mind.

If I couldn’t have Elena, then I would have no one. Consequences be damned.

The blond boy next to her gave me a glare of death. For a moment I felt a thread of sympathy for Will, having to be stuck this past month with Edan.

Then I was reminded of everything he’d done.

I’d almost torn him apart when I caught him with his tongue practically down Adara’s throat last week. I’d tossed him down the stairs after she left. It had only been four steps—he’d survived.

He’d tried to seduce Elena the moment he set foot in the castle. He’d had a choice between the most caring, strong, and enchanting soul in our kingdom, or the life of luxury Edan had promised him. Thankfully for me, he’d chosen wrong.

“She has no need to go to the City of Ash,” I growled. “I’m perfectly capable of continuing to train the Light Phoenix here.”

Lord Drake shot me a deadly glare, his fingers clenched around his wine goblet. I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face at his displeasure.

“All to be determined after our little demonstration tonight, right, son?” My father leaned over ever so slightly, making sure that I was the only one to hear his words.

“Let’s hope you don’t embarrass us any further.

So help me, if you let me down tonight, we will have a conversation you won’t like. ”

The veins in my neck bulged, rage building from deep within me. Wisps of my dynamis rippled shadows across my arms. “Would this conversation happen to take place in a particular dark room you and Alastor are so fond of? No need to feed me false threats when we both know what will really happen.”

With another huff, he grabbed the arm of a passing server, demanding she refill his glass of wine.

I took another long draw of whiskey, silently full of mirth that I could still ruffle my father’s feathers so easily.

That was when a chill rolled over me, causing the hair on my neck to stand at attention.

“Careful, boy,” Alastor seethed.

The man looked even paler tonight. His light blue eyes seemed darker and more sunken into his skull.

As my father stalked over to him, stirring conversations with a few other lords, I couldn’t help but take in his appearance as well.

I’d noticed that he had been growing weaker as the months passed by, but I’d been too distracted lately to really take in his outward appearance.

The king looked frail, like he had lost a considerable amount of weight. His complexion appeared to be pale as well. I rubbed my chin as an unfamiliar worry for my father wound inside my stomach.

My father used to be kind, thoughtful, and respected by many. Not selfish and full of pride, lusting for more power at every turn.

Ever since Alastor had found a hold over me, a small part of me had begun to question if he might be doing something similar to my father.

On darker days, I sometimes wondered if he had even gotten to my brother as well.

He might have summoned Keir to get rid of our mother and then himself.

I shuddered at the despicable thought, taking another deep swig of my whiskey.

Finishing yet another glass, I began to stalk towards the bar for another until the doors to the ballroom thundered open. Time stood still. My heart stopped dead in my chest.

Every one of my thoughts became consumed by the only distraction that I’d ever let break down my wards. Mesmerized by the living goddess who had just floated in, I barely noticed the rest of the ballroom fall silent.

The glass between my clenched hands began to crack.

Thankfully, a server swayed by, replacing my empty cup with a new full one.

I stood frozen with a clenched jaw, trying desperately to stop the blood from draining out my head and trailing down towards a less discreet part of my body.

Of all nights, this was one where I needed my wits about me, but the way she looked tonight?

I’m doomed. She might very well decimate the shreds of restraint I had left.

My gaze lazily rolled over her soft skin, dusted in starbursts of golden freckles, evidence of her ethereal display of dynamis only two evenings ago permanently ingrained into her skin.

Long auburn waves cascaded over her shoulder and down her back.

The white dress shimmered underneath the chandeliers filled with thousands of candles that adorned the room.

Thin straps wrapped over her delicate shoulders, the neckline plummeting down her body, like a deep chasm between her breasts.

As a dignitary from Atheling shook her hand, she turned, and I could see the back of the dress was almost non-existent.

Golden citrine and opal gems decorated the bottom of the dress, making it look like her dress was set aflame.

With one scorching look from across the room, my Wildfire lived up to her name, igniting my soul.

It reminded me of every piece of her light that I would be missing if I continued to push her away instead of fighting to hold onto her.

I’d lose her vibrant personality and her brilliant mind.

No longer would I witness her compassionate heart and the way she could light up a room with her infectious smile.

There would be no one to challenge me the way she had, either.

No one understood the darkness of our minds in the way we both did.

I’d been a fool to think I could ever let her go. Even more dense to think that I was saving her from me, when she was the one who had been saving me since we’d met.

Elena was a walking firestorm of inner strength, a storm I wanted to surrender to fully. I knew it wouldn’t be easy to ask for forgiveness, I knew I had hurt her severely. I prayed the gods and hoped that for once they would be in my favor.

Now to see if she still burned for me the way I blazed for her.