Tasting Darkness

Chapter 13

Restless, I tossed and turned all night, not really getting proper sleep. The tugging sensation of knowing they were so close was pulling me to seek out my mates, the bond urging m e to seek them out, knowing they could replenish my powers. I t must have been the early morning hours when I heard the twist of the shared bathroom door.

My mind instantly became alert as I looked in its direction. I let out a breath when I realized it was Kalen and not one of the others. He stops when he notices me sitting upright in the bed before hesitating.

“Did I wake you?” he whispers, and I shake my head. He looks over his shoulder toward his room before quietly shutting the door. For some reason, his presence didn’t scare me, I found his aura comforting, and I wanted to keep him safe and close t o me for some reason. Kalen walks over to the bed, sitting down on it, and I move over, so he has more room, and he lays on his side facing me.

“Sorry, it is the bond,” Kalen says.

“You might get me in trouble, though,” I tell him, thinking of Darius’s threat.

“I can go?’ he says, and he rolls about to get out of the bed. When I grip his arm, he stops. He didn’t want to go, and honestly, I didn’t want him to leave. It had been years since I actually met someone I wanted to be around.

Kalen was the first normal interaction I had had since leaving school. Being the strange girl who stuck to herself in school didn’t win me any friends, and for years the only friend I had was a stranger I spoke to online. It was the only way to vent m y frustrations, and I regretted leaving my tablet behind. I wonder if I could get access to a computer here? I knew it wouldn’t be anytime soon if they did agree, and I doubt they would let me use it to speak to my friend over the internet, whoever they might be.

Kalen lays back down, and I observe him the best I can in the darkness, yet curiosity is eating at me.

them. You

don’t, I figured you ran for

out of Kalen and me when he found us,” He paused like he was locked in his memories, his aura turned depressive, and I held

even if you had no reason,” he says simply

toward my face slowly, and he hesitates once again before I grab his hand, his magic coming to life beneath mine, yet I don’t take it. I couldn’t bring myself to break his

a breath when I place his hand on my cheek. His thumb brushes beneath

looking around the room. A prickle up my spine alerted me to someone in the room before his voice did. “Looking for someone?” Darius asks, and I shake my head, scooting up

glares at me. “Get up; you have five

slipped the jeans on which fit perfectly and a white blouse. How did Lycus know my size? I shake the thought away before realizing I

quickly glanced around once again but found no shoes. Darius, however, didn’t care as he suddenly walked off. Was I meant to follow him even if I had

had me jogging to keep up. My feet were cold even with the thick bed socks on. Darius walked down a flight of stairs, and I was becoming lost with all the twists and turns. I could hear the murmuring of

day. It had a few tables full when we walked in. All of them looked up, and I froze. More men file in behind me, bumping into me, and Darius grips my arm, his nails digging into my tender flesh. He drags me over to

around, I noticed something quickly, they were all demons. These men weren’t Fae. The other thing I noticed was there was no woman in this room. Looking

to hell, Aleera, don’t think my men are your friends or will be your friend. No one likes a traitor,”