Tasting Darkness

Book 2 Chapter 2 Darius pov All night I was awake . I couldn’t sleep . I had completely forgotten about the true meaning of keeper . She would know our darkest secrets , even the ones not even my mates knew , and some I kept were unforgivable . I was too ashamed to tell them , too afraid they would run from me if they knew the sort of monster I truly was . I could feel her so easily through the bond , feel her fear as she lived through what Kalen endured . Feel her burning anger at what they did to him . I wondered what she would think of my past , how much she would turn against me once the truth was out .

We all had secrets , but none of them kept the secrets I did . None of them had done what I did . They all thought they were monsters . I was the biggest monster of all . Hearing the door push open , I see Lycus walk in . His wolf sniffed the air before coming over to the bed . He climbed up , laying across Kalen and me . I stroke his fur , and he purrs , resting his head on Kalen’s lower back , his tail swishing back and forth in the air happily . Tobias flicked his wrist toward the door closing it before turning his attention back to me . Tobias watched me . I could feel his eyes on me , feel his burning curiosity . I knew he was also worried about Aleera knowing his past , knowing about his brother . At the same time , he wanted answers too .

Some part of him wanted her to know what she took from him . He may act like he has forgiven her , but I know he hasn’t . I could feel it festering inside him , yet the bond was irresistible , and he was done fighting it . We all had lost something because of her , maybe not directly because of her , but what would happen when they learned everything started with what I did . All of it was my fault . Everything that happened was my fault . I never should have gone looking for her . If I had known whose daughter she was , I would have waited until she came of age before seeking her out . I was not expecting her father to answer that door . What were the chances that I would be bonded to my father’s greatest enemy’s daughter ? Aleera was his best

kept secret , but knowing what I know now . I was certain he was the one that unleashed the plague . Hearing a commotion downstairs , Kalen jumped , sitting upright . I grip Lycus’s fur as he growls and stands glaring at the door . Tobias gets up . ” For crying out loud . What now ? ” Tobias growls , stalking toward the closet . Shaking my head , I push Lycus back so I can get up before kissing Kalen when he rolls off me . Getting up , I walk to the dresser . ” Wait here , ” I tell Lycus and Kalen .

, pulling it on before walking out of the room and down the corridor . Tobias cursing as the racket grew louder as the recruits freaked out about something downstairs . ” What time is it ? ” I asked Tobias . He pulls his phone out of his pocket . ” 5 am , ” he

while a few pointed out the windows . All of them are too stunned to speak , and Tobias growls . ” Back to your rooms ! ” Tobias snapped , his voice echoing like a thunderclap , and they took off . Waiting for the stampede of men to scatter , we descended down to the next level . Grabbing one of the stragglers , I yanked him toward me . ” What is going on ? ” I snarled at him , and his mouth opened and closed like a fish as he shook . I shoved him away , looking up to see haunted peering faces staring back at us . ” You call yourselves an army ? ” I bellowed angrily . Tobias turned toward the double doors . Some ran . Others shrieked when someone on the top level spoke up . ” I wouldn’t go out , ” he said , and Tobias froze , looking at me and I , him . He looked out the windows , and I moved to the wide double doors

obstacle course to find what they were scared of . ” You have been quiet tonight , ” Tobias states , nudging me . 11 ” Just thinking , ” ” You’re worried about her finding out her parents are alive , ” Tobias says , and I sigh . That wasn’t

on top of the wall . Sniffing the air , it was definitely blood . I growl , stalking toward

Darius , ” ” Not him , ” I admit . Tobias seems taken aback , and his shock hits me through the bond . I swallow , and he steps closer before grabbing my arm and shaking me . ” What did you do ? ” he snarls . ” I killed him , ” I tell Tobias . Though I had a reason , it was also a reason for her to hate me when she found out . ” Who ? ” ”

Tobias snapped . ” No , her mother got away , and she is lucky she did because I would have killed her too , but , ” I tried to explain . ” You killed her father ? ” he asks again and I nod . ” Fuck Darius ! How could you keep this from me ? ” ” She already assumed I killed them , and I didn’t think . He was a fucking elder , ” I let out a breath . ” He is also guilty for unleashing the fucking plague . You could have told me !

, ” ” ” Her father , her mother is still alive , ” I tell him , and he clutches his hair and gurses . ” Anything else I need to fucking know ? ” he asks and I press my lips in a line . ” There is more , isn’t there ? ” ” You’re unbelievable , ” he says , storming off toward the obstacle course . Tobias climbs