Tasting Darkness
Tempting Darkness Chapter 6

My humiliation diminished after a while, and I felt stupid for running from Kalen and Lycus. I could feel them searching for me, yet I didn’t want to be near anyone. I suddenly missed being on my own. I was alone but comfortable in my own misery, yet I also didn’t want that anymore either.

I craved interaction, touch, power, and everything I lived without for so long. I desired not to have to look over my shoulder everywhere I went. I dreamed of not having to hide from the world. I craved being able to use my magic without guilt, without fear of what would happen if I did.

I wanted for so long to be free. And now, I had a taste of that freedom. And I wasn’t sure I could box it back up and run again. Run from them and myself. Being down here, the more I contemplated the chaos. Thought about what had become of my life, and wondered how the f*ck I got here.

What was the one part of my life that determined it would get to this exact point? Where did I go so detrimentally wrong that I ended up here, at this very moment? I couldn’t entirely blame – them. We all played a part, but somewhere along the way, just one stupid night, I gave into the bond and what I thought it offered.

My bond had made me backflip on who they really were. Blinded by the bond, forgetting what they had done.

Yet I knew they had their reasons, and I had mine. So why was Darius still punishing me for it? For once, I let myself believe I could be with them and that it would work out. Hearing the door open, I sat up, leaning against the wall as his heavy footsteps came down the stairs. I quickly wiped my face with the hem of my shirt before glaring at him as he stepped off the last step.

”Why are you down here?” Darius asked. ”Why are you down here?” I asked, wondering if he had come to humiliate me more. ”You’re upset,” he states because that much was obvious. A quick swipe at my face with my shirt wouldn’t hide the puffiness of my eyes, or the blotchiness from crying like an idiot over this insufferable man.

”You toyed with my bond, and you used me. How else am I supposed to feel?” I snap at him, and he arches an eyebrow at me. He wanders over to the cell I was sitting in. ”I didn’t use you. You’re our keeper. That is what you’re born for. Not my fault you got carried away,” he growls, leaning on the steel bars. Wow! My eyebrows felt like they escaped into my hairline at his words. So everything was just some game to him?

I was just something he could hold on a pedestal or knock the legs out from under whenever he pleased? My bond panged in my chest, and I couldn’t help myself as it reached out for his, but all I got was nothing, just indifference.

I couldn’t even tell if he was just forcing his bond to me back or if he generally felt nothing for me. ” Look, I didn’t mean to upset you. You have the others. You don’t need to mark me. I don’t want you to mark me, Aleera. That is why I shoved you away. Not because I didn’t want you, just because I can’t have you mark me.“

Was this f*cker mentally retarded? Did he not just hear what he said? ”You know what you said is the same thing, right?” I scoff, shaking my head. ”You don’t get that sort of control over me. The others may let you, but I need to keep a straight head. And I can’t do that if I let you mark me,” “A straight head?” I ask .

”I have this place to run. I can’t be at your beck and call any time you bat your eyelashes at me! I have to keep you safe from what’s out there! I can’t do that if the urges of the bond blind me ! ” he snaps.

”But it was okay for you to mark me?” I asked, shaking my head. ”Yes, you won’t retain power without us marking you.” What about me marking you? What? Am I supposed to be a keeper when you feel like using me?

”You are a keeper. You still have access to my magic, and I yours. That is all that is needed.” ”I just won’t have access to your bond!” I spit at him. ”I am not some toy for you to manipulate!” Darius sneers at me.

”And I am not your f*cking toy either! So f*ck off, Darius! You don’t want me? Fine! Not like I haven’t lived without you before anyway,” I tell him. ”Excuse me?” he says, pushing off the steel door. He takes a step toward me before grabbing my face.

”You even think of leaving, I will drag you back kicking and screaming and make you wish you never crossed me. You hurt them, Aleera. You will regret it!” Darius snarled, his fingers dug painfully into my cheeks and the look on his face told me he seriously would hurt me if I tried. I glare at him before gripping his wrist and letting my magic flow.

He hisses, ripping his hand away from me before grabbing my throat and slamming me back down on the bed. His anger was suffocating as he pinned me, yet his hand was only a warning on my throat. He wasn’t hurting me, just showing me he could and how easy it would be for him if he wanted too.