Scars and Burns (No Light Without the Dark #1)

44. Aeron

44

Aeron

P rincess Saphrina is off with Prince Proteus on a romantic horseback ride and a picnic. No matter, there will be plenty of time when they return for dinner this evening to interact with her.

Instead I am wandering the castle again. I’d like to say it was aimless but it’s not. I’ve made my way back to Queen Freya’s garden. I crouch down and pick one of the flowers Dinalia has grown.

It is curious as to how this is the only thing she has ever been able to grow and yet she has never seen one nor has any known ties to the Shadowlands.

Standing, I twirl the flower between my fingers. Its beauty is just as mesmerizing as its creator.

Wondering where she is since Saphrina is off with Prince Proteus. Every time we are in a room together I can always feel her. Always sense where she is, the moment she enters.

Taking a chance I look inside myself. Closing my eyes, focusing on the constant pull I feel towards her. I feel her. She’s not in the castle. It doesn’t even feel like she is on the castle grounds. She feels far away. I open my eyes in realization. Feeling stupid for not knowing sooner .

She’s in the forest.

Surprise, surprise she is sitting on the cliff’s edge. Her usual spot. She’s alone per usual as well.

If she senses my presence she doesn’t show it. The same relaxed position, looking out at the view beyond.

I do not want there to be tension between us. Do not want to be at odds with her. Although we do have history I want to be on good terms. Regardless of what is to come. I don’t want to be first on her kill list when the world begins to burn.

Our sparring match was beyond words. She was incredible and I do not think my comments at breakfast did justice to how impressive I believe her to be.

“Congratulations on your victory.” I say from behind her.

She whips her head around to me. Standing, she brushes herself off. “Please don’t patronize me.”

I smile to myself. Has no one ever bore her a compliment before?

“I’m not. Truly.” My face is serious. Wanting her to know I mean the words that I say. “It’s true no one has been able to beat me in years. You fight with a style I have never seen before. Fluid and stern. Graceful and fierce. It’s remarkable.”

She tilts her chin up. “Thank you.” she says, looking off to the waterfall after. Sighing, she continues, “For a moment I didn’t think I was going to win.”

I raise a brow at her. Walking over to her slowly, still twirling the black dahlia between my fingers. “Why not.”

“You, like most, have superior size and strength over me but you move faster than I was anticipating. Hitting me in the face was a low blow.” She says still not looking at me.

“Hitting you in the face was not my intention. Are you alright? I do hope I did not hurt you.”

Crossing her arms over her chest, “I am fine. I have endured much worse than a busted lip.”

Oh, I know she has. Not from training. Not from the raids. But from her killing on the Shadowlands borders. The men she kills are no easy feat. Most are skilled warriors themselves. Trained by my Father. Indulging in pleasure and lust wherever they please. Taking whatever they want.

However, each one ends up dead at the end of her blade. They would not have gone down without a fight either. No matter how intoxicated they might have been. Whether it was from equal skill or sloppiness on their end she wouldn’t have come out unscathed every time.

“I can imagine.” I reply.

She whips her head towards me. Worry on her face that I am aware of her late night dwellings. Though I do not intend to expose that knowledge now.

“No one could become as good as you without taking a few hits themselves.”

I see her face relax. Relief flowing across her features. She looks down at my hands and notices the black dahlia I still hold.

“Where did you get that?” She asks, taking the flower from my hands. Holding it up between us.

“I found it in your Mother’s garden. Saphrina informed me this morning that you grew them.”

“Yes.” she says, shyly.

This new found shyness does not suit her. She is not a timid creature. She never has been. Not from the very first moment I saw her.

What is causing this waiver in confidence now?

I will rectify her insecurities.

“It is beautiful. Now you see why I compared your eyes to the black dahlia. Both filled with mystery and intrigue. Drawing everyone into their beauty.”

She looks up at me and I swear I would have fallen to my knees in an instant. Our eyes meet and my heart couldn’t be pounding harder. I haven’t been alone with her since the last time we were in this very spot, four years ago.

The tension is high.

The air is different.

The chemistry has changed.

“Thank you for your kind words.” She says, tone small compared to the powerful flame that she is.

“They are not just kind words. They are the truth. You are beautiful and mysterious. Your eyes hold much sadness and despair in them and I would spend every single day for the rest of my life trying to rectify the wrongs that have been done to you. To see the light that burns inside of you come to the surface.” I sigh, closing my eyes.

I’m going too far. Falling too deep. Getting lost in her. Becoming enraptured and out of touch in mind, body, and soul.

But I can’t stop now.

“You are a rare star whose light cannot be matched.” I open them and she’s staring up at me.

Not with anger, but with wonder.

I wonder if the last time she heard this was from her Mother. That’s who I heard it from. And every moment, everything I’ve witnessed has only confirmed that statement.

“Why would you say that?” Her breathing is shallow. Her eyes dart between my eyes and lips.

Does she want to kiss me?

Goddess I want to kiss her. But that would go against my rules.

Though she has proven to be the exception to all of my will power.

I take a step closer to her. Looking down. She’s now dropped her arm. Dangling with the flower still in her hand at her side. We are so close our chests brush against one another with every breath.

Leaning down so my lips graze across her forehead. Brushing against her skin. Skimming her hairline. She’s incredibly short and it almost hurts my neck and back, but she is worth it.

All the pain in the world is worth it if it means I get to be close to her. I weave one arm around her waist. Pulling her into me. Our bodies are flush. I know she can feel my dick. Hard against my trousers. Firmly placed against her stomach. I move my other hand to her cheek. My hand engulfs the side of her face. My palm takes up her entire cheek and then some on her ear. My fingers intertwined in her braid. Her hair is soft and smells like wild flowers.

She’s cold to touch. Her body feels like ice.

It feels good.

She cools the raging fire that is inside of me. Constantly rampaging on. Always wanting to corrupt me and let the darkness consume my soul. She settles it. Bringing the chaos to a low burn.

I’m losing my resolve. The grip on my will power is slipping away with every passing moment. Every second we are together brings me close to the edge. My Goddess mark burns. Only for her.

Feeling her.

Needing her.

I can’t take it anymore. She is consuming me. I feel her breath on my neck. It’s the only part of her that is emanating heat.

Well, I wonder if her little pussy is heating up for me, warm and sweet. Glistening from her own moisture. The thought of licking her up, tasting her - oh what an experience that would be. I’m mad with lust. She is everything.

Not able to stand it anymore. I smash my lips into hers in a bruising kiss.

She’s stunned and pulls away. We glance between each other for a few moments but then she’s on me in a second .

Our mouths collide. Our tongues intertwined.

This is not her first time.

I tighten my grip around her waist and host her up. Her legs envelope around me. I can feel her thighs squeezing together. Bringing our bodies closer. If that were possible. My other hand is now on her upper back. Supporting her.

She’s dropped the black dahlia. One arm wrapped around my shoulders. The other hand is holding my face. Granted her arms are far more active than mine. Fingers running through my hair. Slightly tugging on the strands. She’s far more aggressive and experienced than I would have guessed. Her tongue easily glides and dances with my own.

Then she does something I was not expecting. Grasping my face. Placing her hands on my cheek she starts to pull away.

I grip her tighter. Not willing to let her go.

She takes my bottom lip in between her teeth and bites. Pulling away slowly, so my bottom lip is drawn out.

Breaking skin, she releases my lip. I lick up the blood that she’s just drawn. The taste and smell of crimson filling my senses.

I peer up at her. She has a devious smile on her face.

“Just returning the favor.”

With that I am undone.

I barrel my face into hers once more. Bringing both of us to the ground. My body consumes her as I lay on top. Grinding myself against her.

I’d like to say I could stop but I can’t. But why would I when she is matching my movements. Rubbing herself against me.

Her legs are still wrapped around my waist. My lips leave hers. I kiss her cheek, down her neck to her collarbone. She tilts her head up and to the side giving me better access.

She’s already managed to untuck my shirt. Her hands find purchase on my torso. Rubbing and caressing my defined body.

I would pull away from her touching my burned skin, but something about her touch is so calming now.

So soothing.

My shirt is off at this point. The icy sensation of her touch brings me ecstasy.

I’d be more concerned if my Goddess mark was not concealed. Estelle, Aemond’s wife, taught me how to alter my appearance. The way she does. Changing my skin. I could manipulate my features to not expose my Father’s torture but those grooves feed my vengeance. The only part of my skin that I hide is my Goddess mark. No one but my Father and Aemond have seen it. And with the way things are progressing with Dinalia, I’m glad for it. She doesn’t need to know. That would complicate things beyond compare.

I’m just about to undo her corset enough to kiss her Goddess mark when we freeze.

Hearing something rustling in the trees around us.

We could easily take whatever it is.

Individually, but together our fighting abilities and magic would be unparalleled.

We turn our heads in the direction of the noise. Our bodies still pressed against one another.

I’m about to push off of her when I feel her pull me closer with her arms and legs. Barely, but I feel it still.

My heart explodes. She doesn’t want me to go just as much as I want to stay. I lean ever so slightly into her again. Reassuring I am not going anywhere and we will face whatever it is together.

The creature emerges from the tree line. We jump to our feet. Scrambling to gather ourselves again.

It’s a shadow demon. Brought out of hiding by my Father who is sewing darkness back into the earth .

These demons are not our friends. On the journey here we did not encounter any unsavory creatures. Reasons being they sense our dark magic is one in the same as theirs but also my power is a threat to them. Most will not take me on unless they are in a pack.

However, this particular demon holds no such fear. They are the very same demons that threaten to drown the world into chaos before the Triple Goddess unleashed her magic. Pushing the darkness away and filling the earth with her starlight.

They follow no master. No order. They cannot be tamed or reasoned with. Their powers are similar to our own though. But instead of extending shadows they are the shadows. They invade your body and mind. Burning you from the inside out until there is nothing left. Consuming your soul, your very essence in the process. A very slow and painful death I’ve read.

This one must have sensed our combined powers. Our energies flowing together as we finally gave in to what was between us.

Seeing us as a threat, it attacks.

You cannot fight these demons with swords or anything physical. They are a shadow themselves. Only magic can counteract them.

I release mine towards it but it’s no good. It just consumes it. Growing larger in the process.

That’s a new one.

My eyes widened. My heart begins to race.

How am I to protect myself?

Protect her.

My estrella.

We came so close. I cannot lose her now but I see no way out. We are literally at the edge of a cliff.

Then I am blinded. I look over at Dinalia. She is fighting the demon. Her white flame hurled towards the creature.

If I wasn’t in awe of her before I am without a doubt in awe of her now. She has no idea what this creature is. What this demon is capable of. And yet here she stands. Fighting it without a second thought.

The demon dodges her first flame but is quickly struck by the second. And what happens next astonishes me even more.

The demon is wounded. Screeching in pain and terror at the touch of her magic.

Anger barrels through the creature. Unable to get close to her, it comes for me. My magic is useless. That’s already been established.

Lunging towards me. I’m not quick enough, too distracted by Dinalia. It scratches my chest. Ripping threw my skin. Leaving a searing sting and claw marks. I back away. Upset with myself that I can’t do anything.

I’m losing blood. And a lot of it.

I look up at Dinalia. Fear on her face.

She blasts a gigantic amount of magic toward the demon. A wave of white flames and sparks of starlight with no hope of escaping. She runs over to me.

Wrapping my arm over her shoulder as she wraps hers around my waist. Placing her other hand on my stomach to help support me upright. “Do you have the strength to teleport us?” She asks

I look down at her. I forgot that I revealed my teleporting abilities to her.

I’m losing blood but I’m still strong. I summon my magic. Extending it around us in a matter of seconds. We are consumed by a cloud of black smoke. Vanishing and reappearing in her chambers.