Tasting Darkness

Book 2 Chapter 10 The air between my hands fizzles and zaps , electricity zapping between both as the air warps and I cast the sphere . I swallowed , feeling how hard it was to maintain and hold on to . Tobias made it look easy like he did casts regularly , but as hard as it was , I could feel my magic thriving , wanting to see how far it could push itself . “

Do you know why Vampiric- Fae casts are so dangerous ? ” I murmur . ” You’re not vampiric , though , ” The demon laughs . ” You’re right . Because I am so much more , ” I tell them , and the sphere casting changed to flames , the forest Tobias created in my head now burning in my hands . ” But that isn’t what I asked ? ” I tell the man who mocked me . ” What are you teaching now , Aleera ? ” Darius taunts behind me . ” Yes , teaching you all who you’re fucking with , ” I tell them . Darius shakes his head at me .

” And to answer my own question , since you idiots don’t seem to know the answer , they compel your deepest fears and manipulate them into the cast , ” I answer , making the sphere bigger . I focus on everyone’s auras , pulling on Kalen’s magic across the room , their auras dark and shadowy , and I am shocked at how easy it was to pull on his magic since I had marked him . He gasps , and I glance at the aura tainting the demon men , each a distinct shadow of darkness with a different consistency . “

? ” I chuckle , clenching my fingers into a fist before opening them . My magic flew out , the cast wrapping around them all like a dark cloud , and the chair screeched as I manipulated their auras , feeling for what they fear most . Watching as they scream and arms fly in the air . One in the front was petrified of spiders , and he clawed at his clothes and tried to wipe them off . Screams rang out through the room as others ducked , fearing Phoenixes they thought were swooping . It was oddly satisfying watching them scream

their worst nightmare , and I smirked , feeling the angry ripple when the one covered in spiders set himself on fire with his magic ,

” Darius said while his grip on my arms tightened as he shook me . ” Fucking hilarious , as hilarious as they found me falling on my ass , ” I sneered back at him , and

his fear , manipulating it and making him relive it . I see a room . It looked sterile , with lots of science equipment and steel tables . He is a little boy , maybe only six years old , and he runs over to a man tugging on the back of his white lab coat . My breath lodged in my throat when the man turned around . I don’t know who I expected to see , but it definitely wasn’t him . The man turns , and I am suddenly staring down my own father . I blink , watching the cast when Darius roars , his grip tightening on my arms , and I try to push the cast wanting to see more and hold it over him when the

eyed as he stalked toward me . His face was furious as he snarled , and I flinched as he smashed me with his magic , sucking the oxygen out of the air and choking me . ” You want to play , little Fae , then let’s see what you fear ! ” he snarls , reaching for me . His hands lock on the side of my face . I don’t fight him . I knew what I feared , and I have faced my fears head – on . He forces the cast to latch onto me . Only when it does what I fear is reflected at him , too . He staggers back when what he sees is