Chapter Twenty five
When I entered the throne room, I discovered that Uri’s vision was still the same: that I would help bring down Eallarim.
My father seemed pleased. I also found out from Uri that I would be gone for over a month when Darce came to collect me in a few days.
None of them had suspected that he had been in my bedchamber, either.
The ancient warding spell was still intact.
Of course, our actions were clouded in darkness, but Uri could see that I would come back unharmed. That was all my father wanted to know.
“Xavier can’t take his eyes off you,” Noor muttered into my ear a while later. “He was trying to persuade your father to bond the two of you the entire time you were gone with the Noxlin.” She still couldn’t speak Darce’s name.
“Why doesn’t that shock me? He’ll try to mislead my father at any opportunity he can. Promise me you’ll keep a close eye on him while I’m away.”
“Of course. I’ll have to spend all my time with Lito, if you’re not here. It will be easy to find out what Xavier is up to.”
“Oh, the hardship!” I snorted, linking arms with her. “Have you two gone all the way yet?” Noor blushed, looking away from me. “You have, haven't you?”
“We’ve been active for a while now.” She pulled me away from the crowd, towards one of the back pillars so we could talk more privately.
“Seriously? And you’re only telling me this now?”
“You know we’re not meant to speak of it. Only to our sexual partner.”
“Noor, it’s me. We can talk about anything.” Nodding, she gave me a small smile. “Your first time...how was it?” I was trying hard to not make it too obvious that I was curious, knowing Darce and I might finally make that huge leap soon. It made me wonder what it felt like.
“Painful, but quite enjoyable. It’s better now. Lito says the more we practise, the better I will become.”
“Are you getting some pleasure out of it at least, before he penetrates you?” Noor’s big, cool blue eyes widened at my understanding of foreplay.
“Alora, you should not know so much about this when you haven’t been deflowered yet!” Biting my lip, I tried to hide a smirk. “You do care about that Noxlin, don’t you? Tell me! What has gone on between the two of you?”
I couldn’t contain my thoughts a second longer.
I knew they were safe with her. If I didn’t tell someone how amazing Darce had made me feel, I felt I might explode.
“Foreplay, Noor. Lots of foreplay,” I whispered, leaning against the pillar out of view as she looked at me with her mouth wide open.
“The sexual attraction didn’t happen quickly between us.
Trust me when I say we tried everything to fight the desire we have for each other. ”
“Are you insane? Holy Ether might smite you. Dylin and Noxlin do not mix! What if she is denying you your powers because of it?”
“I think Holy Ether brought Darce and I together. I have no idea what to do, but we can’t keep away from each other.”
“Alora, he killed your mother.”
“He explained that to me. Noor, Zohar has lied about so many things. The Noxlin race aren’t what we believe them to be.”
“He’s brainwashed you. Listen to yourself!”
“If you can believe me about anything, please let it be this. I am of sound mind. Nothing has been forced upon me. Darce allowed me to come to this conclusion all on my own. Eallarim, it’s.
..beautiful and civilised. It’s not the hell hole depicted in our history books.
You’ve seen Darce with your own eyes. He’s not beastly, yet he’s over three thousand years old.
None of his race are beastly. They are all a little like us. ”
“It makes no sense.”
“He’s trying to work out why our races went to war in the first place. The Books of Elder World might hold the answer.”
“Books? I thought there was only one?”
“There are supposedly four in total. We have one, Eallarim have two, and one is missing.”
“The Noxlin told you all this? He trusted you enough?”
“We trust each other,” I admitted, looking straight into her eyes. “I can’t tell you too much because I don’t want to get you involved, but Darce and I...Shit, it’s pretty fucked up. I don’t even know how to explain what’s going on.” Falling for the Noxlin prince...it was more than fucked up.
“Can you please stop using that vulgar language around me?”
“Sorry, he’s rubbed off on me more than I realise.” When I became lost in a thought of him, Noor shook me.
“You really do care for him.” Care wasn’t a strong enough word for what I felt. “I can’t hate Darce if you see the good in him. You wouldn’t give your feelings away easily, and I’ve seen how he protects you.”
“I’m in love with him, Noor.” The words felt invigorating.
I would never be able to say them to Darce, but saying them out loud.
..they had never felt truer. “I can never tell him that, though. Loving him is pointless when we can’t be together, but after everything I have learnt about my mother and the things he’s done.
..my feelings haven’t changed. This is why I want to rule over Dallethas alone when the time comes.
There will be no other for me, only him.
If I have to love him in secret for the rest of our existence, I’ll take it.
If all I get is one night with him every century, it’s better than losing him completely.
” Noor was dumbfounded as she gazed at me.
“I don’t care how ridiculous it sounds. It’s how I feel. ”
“You’re giving yourself to him?” Her eyes were ablaze with worry. “What if that destroys you? Fornicating with a Noxlin can only end badly!”
“Darce is researching it. I’ve been begging him for a long time to claim me.”
“And he refused?”
“Yes. He worries about my soul and powers, too.” Noor was taken aback by that statement. “Darce won’t allow any harm to come to me, I can assure you.”
“Your faith in him is...”
“This might sound crazy to you, but I trust him with my life.”
“And you’ve kept this to yourself for centuries?” She seemed saddened by that fact.
“It was a secret I had to keep to myself. The burden was too high of a price to pay.”
“All your secrets are always safe with me. I stand by you, Alora. Whatever path Holy Ether has for you, I will gladly follow.” As I hugged her tightly, I looked over her shoulder and noticed Xavier in the distance, making his way towards us.
“We need to get out of here. Xavier is coming our way,” I whispered into her ear.
“Go! I’ll stop him.” Noor smiled sweetly, pushing me to the door where Loki and Enyo were waiting to escort me to my chamber.
I made it back without seeing a single soul.
After being washed and dressed by my maids, I climbed into bed, exhausted from the events of the day.
My head seemed a lot clearer, though. When Darce came to collect me in a few days, I had no doubt in my mind that I would go with him.
After hearing his story about the Battle of Cataha, I couldn’t blame him for Duska’s death.
The events that seemed to have unfolded that day should have been attributed to my father and Xavier more than anything.
Once I had my powers, I would dive deeper into it, but right now, the only thing I wanted to learn about was Darce, the dark prince of Eallarim.
My heart was about to be taken for eternity, I could feel it.
****
I PACED MY BED CHAMBER restlessly. The room was too quiet without Loki and Enyo. Noor had promised to look after them while I was gone. It was a few minutes before noon, and Darce would be here any moment.
My stomach turned excitedly at the thought of spending an entire month with him.
No interruptions, no training or sparring, simply time to talk and explore each other.
My body shuddered with the need for his touches.
As if he could sense that need, shadows appeared in the corner of my room, and finally he was standing right in front of me.
Drinking him in, I swallowed hard, making my desire for him too clear.
He was all in black as usual, but looked more the part of the prince with his black, gold lined cape and fitted trousers and shirt.
“Hello, Starshine,” he beamed, noticing the packed bag I was holding. “I take it you’re coming with me?”
“Yes. Don’t worry, I have nothing in my bag that would incriminate me. It’s mostly snacks for Boulder,” I teased.
As I moved across the room towards him, Darce stepped forward, too, closing the distance between us. Pulling me against his body, he gave me a triumphant grin before surrounding us both in shadows and portaling us back to Eallarim.
My back hit something soft, and it took me a few seconds to realise Darce had portalled us straight to his bed.
“Was this a little presumptuous of me?” he smirked above me. “I need to get you out of your Dylin clothes. It seemed easier to do it on my bed.”
“You’re not going to use your shadow magic like before?” My hands were travelling down his chest, undoing the buttons on his shirt.
“I want to do it slowly,” he purred, stopping my hands before they reached the belt on his pants. “Why are you trying to take my clothes off?”
“Darce, you know why! Make me fucking cum before I lose my mind!” He gave in with a snarl, claiming my lips with his.
Gripping his shoulders, I couldn’t get close enough. His kiss was desperate, as if I was all the air he needed. Like I was the answer to a question he’d been seeking for his entire life.
“I never thought you’d allow me near you again,” he mumbled down my neck, planting kisses as he moved.
“The fact you can forgive me. Starshine, it means fucking everything.” He ripped my dress open with urgency and exposed my breasts.
I cried out in pleasure when his mouth descended onto my nipples, where he licked and sucked, making my core burn for him.
“Fuck! Please. Please!” I moaned, desperate for friction and to feel him touch my sex.