Chapter Twenty One #2
“I’m not interested!” I roared, launching more of my power in his direction. “Whatever was between us is over! I’m only thankful that I didn’t give myself fully to you. I would have regretted it for my entire existence.”
“Is that how you truly feel?” His eyes were the darkest I had ever seen. They were completely desolate.
“YES!” I spat, throwing as much power as I could towards him. To my surprise, it caught him off guard, smacking into his chest. He barely moved; it did little damage.
“That’s a good thing. Hold onto that hatred.” I frowned at him when Darce gave me a longing look. “Don’t come looking for me. It will get you killed.”
“I will see you on the battlefield one day.”
“That would be an interesting concept, but it would be an easy win for you. I wouldn’t be able to harm a single hair on that head of yours.”
“You would deny my revenge?” I seethed, pulling the energy from the above, feeling it radiate into my hands.
“You know I can’t deny you anything. You will get your revenge when the time is right. You’re not the only one the wisp has spoken to.” What?
“It spoke to you? What did it say?”
“Goodbye, Starshine,” Darce muttered, waving his left hand. Within seconds, shadows surrounded me and I fell into Noor’s arms.
“Alora! Thank Holy Ether! Are you okay? Did that Noxlin hurt you?” Loki and Enyo suddenly appeared from a mist of shadow, too. They came charging at me. My entire body was trembling as I sobbed uncontrollably in Noor’s arms. “I was worried he wasn’t going to send you back.”
“Enough, Noor!” Xavier’s voice was demanding as he pulled me from her grip.
Loki and Enyo snarled at him. “Call your mutts off, Alora, or I’ll have Soleil finish them!
” I gave them a hand signal so they backed off.
“You have got some serious explaining to do before I take you to Zohar. Do you have any idea who that Noxlin is?”
“He killed my mother.” Noor gasped behind me. “Was that what you were referring to earlier? Did you recognize him?”
He looked surprised but quickly rebuffed. “Did he tell you anything else?”
“What more did I need to know?” I seethed. “He’s the one I’m destined to kill!”
Xavier studied my face before picking me up into his arms and throwing me onto Soleil. He turned his attention to Noor. “You can find your own way back with Loki and Enyo. Alora and I have things to discuss.” She didn’t even get a chance to respond before his light leaper rode off.
****
WE RODE TO A QUIET clearing on the outskirts of Dallethas. Soleil grazed on the lush green grass while Xavier and I moved nearer to the clear blue river that trickled through the land, reflecting our two suns’ rays of light.
“Was he the Noxlin you met on the pilgrimage?” Xavier asked, running his hands through his short blond hair. Nodding, I turned my head away from him, watching the water. “This has been going on for over four hundred years?”
“Say what you brought me here to say, Xavier.”
“If you were that desperate to train for battle, I would have done what I could. Why didn’t you come to me?
It sickens me to think that Noxlin trained you.
” Xavier’s face was pained. “Have I not done everything you asked of me, Alora? Why do you continue to make me suffer this way? Please tell me that he didn’t touch you?
I can barely stand the thought of him training you, but if he laid a finger on you, I’m not sure what I’ll do.
I won’t rest until I hunt him down and run him through with my sword! ”
“It was only about training. He’s a Noxlin! I wasn’t attracted to him in the slightest,” I lied, feeling ashamed that I had fallen for Darce’s charm in the first place. I had been so foolish.
“That is a relief at least.”
“What are you going to tell my father?”
“I’ll have to tell him the truth unless Uri has already seen and told him.” Shit! I had forgotten about Uri! “Your father was furious when he believed it was a Dylin warrior training you. I’m not sure what he’ll do when he discovers it was a Noxlin. You’ve gone against everything that we are.”
“The first vision Uri had, what exactly was it?”
“He saw you fighting off some noc beasts with a warrior figure. I went to question Noor, and when she realised your life might be in danger. She agreed to take me to your meeting place. Soleil tracked your scent, and that’s how we found you.”
“I’ve made such a mess of everything,” I admitted, throwing a few stones into the river. “My intention was never to hurt anyone. I simply wanted to take revenge for my mother’s death.”
Xavier took my hand in his, pulling me closer to him.
My body convulsed at the closeness. “Alora, you’ve done extremely well.
Zohar will declare war now, and we’ll finally be able to take down that smug, conceited Noxlin that killed Duska.
I’ve been wanting to wage a war with him for quite some time now.
Do tell me, what is his name? I never had the pleasure of finding out in all the times I’ve tried to run him through with my sword.
” Just how many times had they met on the battlefield?
It made me question Darce’s rank within the Noxlin army. He couldn’t be a mere foot soldier.
“Darce.” I sighed deeply. “His name is Darce.”
“Well, Darce’s days are numbered. With our binding, I will finally be able to destroy him.
I’ve been waiting to gain enough power to match his for quite some time.
Darce won’t get away from me so easily next time.
” Our binding? Xavier looked at my stunned face.
“What did you think would happen, Alora? You have no way of escaping now. You’ll finally be mine before the two suns set.
You’ve proven you can’t be trusted. Zohar will have no choice but to bind you to me.
Uri has already seen it. I will make sure you fall back in line, and once the seer confirms that you are still pure, I’m going to take so much pleasure in deflowering you all night long.
If that Noxlin has claimed you, I’ll simply claim you right back.
There will be no trace of him once I’m done with you.
You have kept me waiting long enough.” Tears stung my eyes.
I couldn’t run from my fate anymore. There was nowhere left to go.
In some strange way, I took comfort in being bonded to Xavier. He would force me to forget Darce, and all these feelings deep inside me would fade to nothingness. It would be as if he never existed, and right now, I would take anything to ease the pain deep in my chest.