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

because my power was dwindling and frequently

his gaze

his attention back to the flames. My bond tugged in my chest at his words, and I wondered what scared him so much. What would I learn that he

I see, can remain between us, Darius,”

What was worse than killing my parents?… Unless he truly didn’t? My brows furrowed in

on the back of the couch.” Aleera, you do not want to have this conversation,” he murmurs, but he’s

head to the side and

change my mind, Aleera. You can make

tore apart

Then what? Will you run again? Sometimes we think we want the answers, but then we get them, and they aren’t what we were hoping for, and

after what I saw,” I tell him, and he

what you saw,” he

for killing him. I understand

didn’t he? That is why you killed them?” he shakes his

says, and I swallow. Hearing him admit it still

all you’ll give me?” I ask

“I answered, didn’t I?”

tell him, and the chicks in his hood squirm. He tugs the hood and peers in before sighing. Leaning forward, I peek into his hood as they try to

about me knowing?”

am not worried about what you will see, Aleera. You’ll understand the meaning behind the things I have

may not. I don’t want to

said, Darius. What I see doesn’t mean I will tell them,” I

me differently, either. Some things

killing my parents. If I can forgive