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.

like them. You don’t seem to

I don’t, I figured you

ask him. He shrugs. “I can’t say I blame you. Darius scared the crap 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 my tongue, thinking it might be best

for running even if you had

yet I don’t take it. I couldn’t bring myself to break his trust. If I was going to be stuck here, I needed a friend to survive

His thumb brushes beneath my eye softly, and I close my eyes. Sleep finally taking

prickle up my spine alerted me to someone in the room before his voice did. “Looking

have five minutes to get dressed; put these on,” He says, chucking some clothes at

wanted to take me. I 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 have no shoes. I look around the

my feet. Only socks on, and I quickly glanced around once again but found no shoes. Darius, however, didn’t care as he suddenly

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 men behind the doors, and I raced to keep

mess hall, where I saw all the men gathered the other 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

they were all demons. These men weren’t Fae. The other thing I noticed was there was no woman in this room. Looking up at Darius, he was

one likes a traitor,” Darius leans down. His stubble brushed my cheek, and I hold my breath at his