Tasting Darkness

Chapter 57 

Aleera POV 

My stomach twisted, yet I welcomed the pain, anything to stop the memory of them all laughing, anything to stop the sight of my mates just watching. Darius had brought food in earlier and set it down. I just stared ahead; I had no appetite, no will to do anything. Darius lingered, and I remained where I sat; I hadn’t moved from the spot since, even though it was now dark and entire day had passed by.

“You should shower,” Darius said. Silence was all he earned in response; I didn’t even acknowledge his existence. I didn’t care if Darius killed them. He still watched what they did and only interfered in the end; he still allowed them to get to the point they got to. They still allowed them to humiliate me. I heard the door lock when he left.

If he said anything else, I didn’t hear him. Eventually, I got up and showered. The blood coating me made me itchy as it dried. I was numb to everything; I couldn’t even feel the water beating down on my skin. It offered no warmth. Getting out, I walked back to my room, only t o hear the bathroom door lock a few moments later when one of them showered.

I looked for clothes only to remember Darius emptied my room out of everything and everything was in their room. The only thing left was a fresh pair of underwear and a sports bra from the clothes he gave me this morning. Which were for tonight; the punishments never

them on before climbing

had gone out earlier during the night. I only had woken up when I heard the cawing sound of m y Pheonix making me jolt upright. I rushed toward the window, trying to shove it open, but the damn thing was stuck, and I saw him fly to the window

Tobias luckily shooed him off before Darius spotted him, and I wondered if Tobias fed him for me. The fact he was at the window, I doubted he had. I tapped o n mine, trying to get his attention and divert him away from their window. Panic seized me, and I banged

my eyes flew wide as Ryze, looking for me, barged through and

could hear Ryze screeching, hear Darius’s angry voice and Lycus yelling, and things being smashed. My heart sank, and tears blurred my vision. When

cared about at that moment was getting to Ryze, who was squawking loudly. Bursting through into their room, everything was getting knocked over as Ryze flapped around trying to avoid Darius’s magic as he tossed it at him, but

and Darius scooped him up by his neck only for him to flap his wings frantically, Ryze turned his head to latch

hit the ground. I landed on top of him before turning to look for my phoenix. Lycus grabbed Ryze, who was stunned, holding him by his neck. Tobias rushed

breath and got to my feet, and rushed toward Ryze in Tobias’s arms as he moved toward the window. I ran over, and Tobias looked at me before his eyes went behind me. Within seconds, I was ripped backward by my hair and dropped on my ass at Darius’ feet.

the window,” Darius snarled, and I screamed at the thought, trying to get up only for Darius to growl at me. Tobias looked torn and clenched his jaw. “What the fuck are you doing in here?” Darius snapped at me before wiping his mouth where my forehead connected when I tackled him. Blood trickled down his chin and my eyes went to Lycus and Kalen, who stood around looking stunned by the situation. Or maybe they feared