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

48. Dinalia

48

Dinalia

I can feel his eyes on me, as usual. Staring straight ahead, I can’t look at him. Not while knowing what Saphrina has planned.

Saphrina and Prince Proteus have yet to arrive. They are meant to make a grand entrance since tonight is to be the night he presents her with a gift for their betrothal. I’m sure it will be a prized stallion or an estate.

King Elio sits beside me. Although, we have not spoken since we sat down, I see him glancing over to me every so often out of the corner of my eye.

I’m trying to keep a blank expression on my face the best I can. Not looking towards King Elio and certainly not giving anything away of what has transpired between Aeron and I.

I’m wearing one of my new dresses. It’s black with silver embellishment. The neckline is not just high enough to cover my Goddess mark but it comes all the way up to my neck with a tight fitting collar. Buttons line the back and there is a jeweled belt around my waist. Accentuating it even more.

Finally, Saphrina and Prince Proteus enter. The room grows quiet as they take their seats. But not long after sitting Prince Proteus stands. Ready to present his gift.

The air is still. Everyone seems to be on edge. Anxious for the gift. Prince Proteus raises a glass to the room, saying, “I’d like to start by thanking everyone for coming to celebrate my betrothal to the lovely Princess Saphrina. This marriage has long been in the making between our kingdoms and I am proud to take part in the peace that is to follow. However, this is not just a matter of state but a matter of the heart. Although, Princess Saphrina and I have only known each other a short time I see she is as magnificent as the stories say. Her beauty and grace follow the liking of the late Queen Freya. Her pure soul and kind heart filling my own. And with that I am proud to gift her a star.”

The entire room gasps. Even my eyes gawk a bit. A star is a very rare gift. Only given by those with extreme power.

But Prince Proteus has never shown any sign of having magic.

It is said the stars come from all the lives that have passed.

Before the Goddess wove her magic into the earth, she gathered her starlight magic and used it to bring her one true love back to life.

Her mate.

Her soul was unable to exist without his. She was not able to cope with the despair that was a world without him in it.

The history books do not speak of how he died. Just that she used her starlight magic to bring him back. Her betrothed was not pleased and killed him once again. But by then it was too late. Our Goddess’s starlight magic had gone out. Putting the last of it into the earth. She was not able to bring her love back again. It is said that his soul was the first star to light the night sky. Her soul shattered. Consumed in darkness at the loss of him. She vanished into the sky.

Many believe the Goddess became the moon. The phases of the moon are meant to be her life cycle. Starting out small, growing into the most jaw dropping light there is. At the height of her power is the full moon. Only to fade away again. Having to relive it all again but in the end darkness always returns. Both their souls linger in the night sky. Permanent and a constant light for all to see but never once being able to close the space between. Their souls forever tortured with the distance. Wandering the black abyss, never to find each other again.

If one is able to gift a star that means they have been given a second chance themselves.

Stars allow us the ability to bring back someone we have lost or someone who is on the verge of dying.

So who brought back Prince Proteus?

I don’t have time to think about this question long before I feel an unwelcome hand graze my leg. I look down to see King Elio has placed his hand on my thigh.

The bastard.

He’s been unapproving of me since the moment he saw me and now he wishes to ignite whatever the fuck this is.

This is not a comforting gesture. Nor is it a kind hand from a Father-like figure. Though he never was one. This is a firm controlling grip. His fingers pressing into my inner thigh.

I look over at him. My body is tense with disgust. My eyes shooting venom his way. Though I keep the rest of my face neutral.

We are still in public and he is still the king.

He doesn’t remove it until a servant is coming to set our dinners in front of us.

I excuse myself. Not wanting to spend another moment next to that man. The evening will go on just fine without my presence there.

I wander about the castle. Contemplating all that has happened. Saphrina is my sister and I’ve taken on a sort of motherly role to her. Our own Mother never having the opportunity due to King Elio’s hovering and then her being taken from us too soon.

I have coddled her for far too long. Physically she is a woman grown but mentally she is still a naive little girl. Thinking everything will fall into place just because she wills it. She has had everything handed to her. Been told she is special. Held up on a pedestal all her life.

Even when her magic training with me became too difficult she wanted to retreat and quit because I wouldn’t go easy on her.

But how do I tell her Aeron is not her mate without making it seem like I am working for my own self interest.

There is no need to inform her that there is something between Aeron and me.

However, she cannot go on believing she is blessed with a mate from our Goddess just because she believes herself to be special. She never once questioned the things she was told but her lack of power should have made her second guess.

It’s time she knew the truth.

I turn around. Determination on my face. Purpose in my step.

Taking the back staircase and hall to get back to the ballroom.

Freezing when I sense something, or rather someone, hiding in the shadows.

Odd, these passages are rarely used. Even by servants.

I’m gathering my magic. Ready to defend myself from whatever is about to happen. It can’t be good. I can sense it. Feel their malicious intentions.

My hands begin to glow. The distinctive white light from my magic fills the area.

Just as I am about to spread it in a shield of defense, I’m struck.

My head rattles and my vision blurs. Losing my bearings, I begin to fall backwards. But before I do, I’m being pulled forward.

No - my wrist are being bound.

But not by ropes or chains. This feels different. Stone or rock perhaps. It’s hard. I feel it scraping and cutting my skin.

I’m coming to my senses once again. Trying to fight back. Pulling my wrist apart in an attempt to break free, but it’s no use.

My magic fails me as well.

Whatever substance that binds my wrist is restricting my magic. Hindering it. Forbidding me from grasping at this part of myself.

There’s more than one person on me now. But how many I can’t be sure. At least two. One to strike me on the back of the head and the other to bind my wrists together.

I try to run but my waist is being grabbed. Throwing me up against a wall. The breath is knocked from my lungs just slightly. It’s too dark in the dank hall to see anything clearly. I can barely even make out the shadows of my attackers.

Just as I am throwing up my leg to kick the attacker in front of me, it’s being grabbed. Pulling it out from under me. My back slams on the ground. My head hitting the wall in the process.

“Hold her down!” I hear someone shout. It’s a man, though it’s a voice I don’t recognize.

I squirm and wriggle with all my might but it’s no use. My arms are now being held above my head. I feel the weight of someone’s body on my hands, gripping my elbows. Then two more pairs of hands appear. Each one grabbing my ankles. Pulling them in opposite directions.

My legs are being pulled part, no matter how hard I try. I feel as though my hips are about to break.

I gnash and thrash out as much as I can. Knowing I will not go down without a fight. They grunt back, applying more pressure.

Then I hear the most awful sound. My dress begins to tear as I feel hands crawl up my legs. A wide body descending on top of mine.

No this can’t be happening. I can’t have the best orgasm of my life and be raped all in the same day!

A heavy body presses against mine.

How is this happening? I’ve trained for over a decade to ensure I would never be helpless again. My fighting abilities are unmatched and yet I do not have my swords. My magic is unparalleled and yet I cannot wield it.

I feel a hot breath breeze past my ear. Lips, that aren’t Aeron’s, brushing against my skin. “You’ve always been a fighter.”

My mouth smashes shut. My body revolts at the voice. I know that voice. I hate that voice.

King Elio.

Why?

That is all I can think to ask myself.

Why now?

He has always hated me. Always seemed so repulsed by me. And now just when I am about to leave his castle. Free him from my presence. He reveals this dark desire.

“Shhh,” he whispers in my ear, “all the pieces are coming together.”

I hear my skirt rip even more. Tensing my body, still struggling to break free. I brace myself for the penetration about to come.

But then just as quick as he was on me he’s gone. I hear screams of terror around me.

My hands and ankles are released. Scrambling to a wall. I tug at the bindings on my wrist. Still too dark for me to see what it is.

Then there’s silence.

I glance around the dark corridor. Waiting and on guard. Listening for any movement. Then I hear, “It’s alright my estrella. They’re gone.”

Aeron.

Sliding my body up against the wall. I stand, barely, having to use the wall for support.

I feel him walking closer to me. He places his hands on my body. I flinch under his touch at first.

Then he grips whatever is around my wrists that hindered my magic. He shakes at the effort of attempting to break it. Whatever it is, it’s hard and strong. But eventually it gives. Breaking and shattering. Falling to my feet.

He picks me up gently. Wrapping me in his arms. My knees hooked over one of his forearms while he supports my back with the other. I lean into him. Embracing his warmth as it spreads through my body. I rest my hands in my lap. I hear his heartbeat. It’s racing.

Perhaps even faster than mine.

I feel him extend his magic. A cloud of black smoke consumes us and then poof. We appear in my chambers.

He walks over and lays me gently in my bed. Tucking me into the covers. His hand resting on the back of my head. Guiding me back to the headboard.

He freezes. Pulling his hand away. I see his eyes widen. Fear stricken on his face.

Looking down and seeing nothing but crimson. I reach up and pull my own hand away from my head. I’m bleeding. There’s a hole in my skull.

My head begins to bob. Wavering from the loss of blood. I struggle to keep my eyes open. Feeling myself slip away.

I see Aeron’s mouth moving but I am too far gone to hear or make out the words he is saying. My eyes begin to drift close. He nudges me, forcing me to be lucid once more.

He looks down at me. Whispering me a promise, “You are a rare star whose light cannot be matched. You are my light. My ember. My estrella. ”

And then darkness.