Tasting Darkness

Read Tasting Darkness [Tempting Darkness] By Jessica Hall Book 2 Chapter 34 – Aleera POV

I almost stumbled back as the full realization of what I had just said hit me. I understood it, but knowing it and believing it were two different things. One does not want to believe they were raised by monsters. Because if they were monsters, what would they make me?

My mother? She’d been the source of everything that had terrorized us for so long, or was I missing some vital piece of information. I had uncovered so many secrets, yet not nearly enough to have a clear picture.

She’d been the one that had ruined everything for us before we even got to begin yet no matter what something felt off. Too many secrets and too many lies. I wondered when It would come full circle, when the lies would pile too high and it would break down the walls and spill only truth.

“No,” Darius whispered. He shook his head. There was no hesitation in him.” Don’t blame yourself, Aleera. You couldn’t have known,” Darius tells me, feeling my tumultuous guilt. Darius opens up a portal leading back to our room. Reluctantly I step through it to find Kalen getting dressed.

“I was wondering where you two went,” he says; I swallowed, picking up on Darius ‘nervousness behind me.

“Everything okay?” Kalen asks me, and I nod, moving toward Ryze, where he is perched on the windowsill. I scratch his tummy feathers.

“Where are you going?” Darius asks Kalen.

Kalen seemed to be in a very excitable mood today. I couldn’t help but notice the change through the bond.

“Into town, we need more Phoenix food,”

“Not by yourself, you’re not,” Darius tells him. Kalen smiles at him as he does up his shoelace.

“With you and Aleera, of course,” he says, tying the other shoelace.

“I am not sure about Aleera going into town, Kalen, maybe you both stay here, and I will go. It is safer that way,” Darius says.

“Safer by yourself? Have you forgotten what she is? The safest place is beside her, and god help you if you are against her,” Kalen chuckles, and I smirk.

“Really?” Darius says, eyeing me c***kily.

“Yep, if she wants to, she would cook your a*s, and you know it,” Kalen says, nudging him. I fold my arms and stare at him.

“Hear that your a*s is toast,” I tell him. Darius chuckles, shaking his head.

“Don’t get too c**ky. Everything you have done is ruled by emotion. You may have infinite power, Aleera, but that doesn’t mean you know how to use it,” I roll my eyes at him, turning back to Ryze.

“I know how to do one thing,” I tell him.” And what is that?” Darius whispers, making me jump when I find he is suddenly behind me.

“I can control the phoenixes. If I can’t fry vou they will for me.” Darius laughs and

you, they will for me,” Darius laughs and looks down at the crates of birds.

peer out the window seeing the biggest of my flock

We hear a mighty screech before the wind, as loud as a hurricane, blows past the windows as he fl***ps his giant wings outside the window looking

saying?” I

pigeons,” he laughs, shooing my phoenix away. He fl***ps his wings a few times,

you can come.

Lycus is covered in bite marks, and it was obvious what they were doing

going on?”

further notice after your little stunt,” Darius tells him, and he groans, stalking toward the closet to

time, instead taking backpacks and using the portals. I had hardly

out the grocery stores

section. I was tempted to stick my head in one of the freezers just to cool down when a set of arms wrapped around my waist. I peer over my shoulder, his bare skin offering

jacket around my waist.” You’re bleeding,” he whispers in my ear, making me look down. That explains why I feel so hot then. Yet could it have worse timing? This couldn’t have come about an hour ago

to get out of here,” Darius calls to him. Kalen looks up from the shelf he stands

need to get her home before any power hunters pick up

Kalen curses, coming to a stop by my side. He looks down at my ruined pants. Why oh why

Darius snarls suddenly from somewhere at the front of the store. Kalen doesn’t hesitate, tossing his hands up and opening a portal before shoving me toward it. Panicked, I look toward the front as Kalen tries to push

tells me when I see a hooded figure walk across the aisle we were instim Cursing

in. Cursing, I shove Kalen through the portal, shutting it, knowing Darius would need help if power

the middle aisle, a hand reaches out and grabs me. I toss up my hands, blasting them with power, but it bounces off

“Aleera,” she breathes.

ask, staring at a woman I thought was dead all these years to

knew it had to be you when Waylen picked up on your magic. He said it flared off like a beacon, so strong, so beautiful,” she whispers, cupping my face in her hands. I push

was too shocked at actually seeing

my mother tells me, and I blink

look at her hand on my wrist as she tugs me toward the back of the store. I hear fighting

was a Harmony-Fae. We couldn’t leave

is distracted,” she says, but I pull

tell her, and she tilts her head

he told you?” she chuckles and shakes her head. “I knew they got in your head Aleera didn’t think you would be silly enough to believe them,” she says, looking

dad tried to kill me,” I tell her, and she seems outraged

father and blocked us from getting to you. I looked for you for years, but they put some cloaking spells on you. Not even Spark could find you, we used to follow him and hope he would pick up

name of my mother’s phoenix. She nods her

we had to kill him, but then he went missing and I saw him protecting you, we figured he went looking for his

Phoenix, Ryze?” I ask

one? You named her Ryze?” she asks

daughter, she was unbonded,” my mother tells me. Wait, Ryze is a

one of your flock, that is Spark, Sweetie. My Spark, or he was before,” she smiles

me. He still