Tasting Darkness

Read Tasting Darkness [Tempting Darkness] By Jessica Hall Book 2 Chapter 28 – Aleera POV

The sound of squeaking woke me, and Lycus tapped my chest or thumped it like it was a damn drum. “Your turn,” Lycus growls, rolling over before kicking backward.

“Tobias, go before they screech!” Lycus snaps, and I blink up at the ceiling, wondering why he thinks I am Tobias and also what the heck he is talking about. Shaking my head at his terrible wake-up call, I climb over him and place my feet on the floor before rushing to the bathroom and having one of those, Ah…. moments from holding your bladder while torturously listening to a slow drip and not having a toilet in sight.

After washing my hands, I hear the squeaking noises again and move back toward the room. Glancing at the bed, I notice Lycus, Kalen, and Tobias in bed. Darius is nowhere to be seen. Peering around the darkened room, I barely noticed him sitting on the couch by the fire that was slowly dying out. Sighing, I walk over to the fireplace when I see the crates holding the tiny Phoenixes sitting in front of it.

I chuck another log into the fireplace before flicking my wrist out of habit, and the log catches alight instantly, making me realize I still had some power. I smile, watching the flames lick up the sides of the wood, parts of it glowing bright orange as the wood cackled and cracked as it burned.

Turning around, I find Darius sitting up, his head resting back on the couch when I notice his hoodie is around the wrong way.

Tugging on the hood, I find three baby chicks snuggled underneath his chin and three more tucked in the crook of his arm that was draped over his waist.

I smile and stifle a laugh seeing the big bad Demonic-Fae playing daddy with a hoodie and armful full of featherless chicks. Yeah, he looks real intimidating.

Looking around, I grab my tablet and quickly snap a photo of him laughing at how sweet he looked. Setting the tablet down, I try to catch one slipping out of his arm, only for his eyes to flutter, and he sucks in a breath, lifting his head and peering around, still half asleep.

“Don’t wake them. I just got them to sleep.” He yawns, rubbing his eyes with one hand before checking if the ones in his hood are still asleep. I watch as he makes his kissy lips at them, as they wiggle inside before freezing and staring up at me. He blinks, realizing it is me, before glancing at the bed.

“When did you wake?” he asks, yawning again.

“A few minutes ago,” I tell him, taking two of the chicks from his arm while he drops the third into his hood with the others. I stare at him, watching as he does a head count.

“What?” he asks when he looks up and notices me watching him. I smile and shake my head.

“Nothing,” I tell him, taking a seat beside him. We sat comfortably in silence, and he passed me a throw-over blanket that was beside him.

After watching the flames in the fireplace devour the wood, I turned my head to look at Darius. Through the bond, I could feel he was troubled, yet he remained quiet. He was staring off at the flames as if whatever plagued his mind could be burned away just by staring at them.

under me and leaning against the armrest so I could

shred soon,” he says, and I figured that because my

gaze

in my chest at his words, and I wondered what scared him so much. What would I

you’re hiding, whatever I see, can remain between us, Darius,” I tell him, and

What was worse than killing my parents?…

the couch.” Aleera, you do not want to have this conversation,” he murmurs, but he’s wrong because I did. I wanted to, and I wanted to

him. He tilts his head to the side and stares at

Aleera. You can make your own assumptions.”

tore apart our bonds,”

we want the answers, but then we get them, and they aren’t

Not after what I saw,” I

know what you saw,” he

I don’t blame you for killing him. I understand why you would want to.” He says nothing

didn’t he? That is

he says, and I swallow. Hearing him admit it still shocked me,

it? That’s all you’ll give me?”

“I answered, didn’t I?”

in before sighing. Leaning forward, I peek into his hood as they try to

know about my parent’s death. What else would you be so worried about me

will see, Aleera. You’ll understand the meaning behind the things I have done.” he whispers, and

they may not. I don’t want

doesn’t mean I will tell them,” I tell him

want you looking at me differently,

forgave you for killing my parents. If I can forgive