Tasting Darkness

Book 2 chapter 4 I could hear Darius barking orders at his men and running drills . Walking around the side of the out building , I spot in the center of the field . I come up behind him . Darius looks over his shoulder at me . His arms are folded across his chest as he turned his attention back to his men and glared out at them . Demons appeared to fearful , nervously glancing at the castle roof . I look to the roof to see what they kept staring at only to find hundreds of Phoenixes standing on the rooftop watching the demons like they were prey and were waiting to pick them off one by one .

I gasp at the sight of them when Darius moves toward me . He jams his fingers in my ribs , making me jump . ” You should be resting , ” he growled , tugging me toward him while I gaped at the roof . I was stunned . I had never seen so many in one place at one time . ” How ? I … why are they here ? ” I ask , shaking my head . ” Why do you think ? ” Darius says , nudging me . I shake my head , and Ryze fly’s down from the roof , perching on my shoulder . Darius ruffles his feathers , and 1 arch an eyebrow at him watching as he pet him . ” What , he is growing on me , ” Darius says while Ryze rubs his beak against my face before nipping at my hair . ” What do they want ? ” I asked Ryze . He looks at me . ” Alira , ” he tries to speak before looking at the rooftop . I turn my gaze back to the roof . Some were positively lethal , giants , and I was seriously worried about the roof caving in from the weight of them .

The recruits freak out when a huge one takes flight , moving high in the air and Darius growls . ” Get a fucking grip of yourselves , ” He booms at them . I laugh as he shakes his head , waving them off the field . I watch the huge pheonix fly around , circling the field . The Phoenix lands on the grass about a hundred meters away when I realize he has caught something . The shriek of whatever it he caught makes my heart flutter in my chest , and I swallow as the phoenix rips it apart before tossing his head back and swallowing it down . ” Marvelous creatures , but fuck they’re savages , “

crack open a coconut . Darius grabs his beak . ” Don’t push your luck , Ryze . I will stuff you like a damn turkey , ” Darius warns him , and he caws but

off . I didn’t think I just headed where I usually went . ” I don’t want you alone with them . You stay with one of us from now on , no exceptions , ” Darius says , nudging me toward the stairs . That was fine by me I hated being around them . We see Tobias in the corridor as we head back upstairs . He glances at us before turning back to whoever he was talking to . As we approach , his eyes go to Darius , some silent message passing between them , and whatever was going on between them had Tobias angry . ” Is everything alright ? ” I asked them . They look at each other before Darius walks off . I look at

, listening to them argue . Lycus opens the shower door stepping into the shower behind me before turning me around . His fingers replace mine as he starts massaging my scalp rinsing the shampoo out of my hair

picking up on their energy , and it worried me seeing his mind taking him back to some dark places . ” Leave it , Kalen . They will sort out whatever is going on , ” Lycus tells him . I purse my lips hoping he was right . Darius had been sleeping in my old room the last two days , and I hated how my bond called out to him , Tobias was miserable .