Tempting Darkness

Aleera

For the past three days, I had felt terribly sick. I didn't know if it was because I had only been getting half a breakfast a day since I shared with Ryze or because of the bond. The siren for the next glass blared, and I groaned. I wished I had a theory class all day; I would have even put up with Darius and Tobias's torment. The last thing I felt like doing was that damn obstacle course.

Darius looked over at me and placed my head on the desk, not wanting to go. I felt hot, and my skin was clammy. My stomach was twisting violently, and I was hungry as well as pained. "Aleera, next class," Darius said, and I looked up at him.

"Can I go back to my room? I don't feel well."

"Class now, or you won't see Kalen after dinner," Darius snapped at me and hauled my a*s out of my seat. Seeing Kalen was the only thing I looked forward to besides seeing Ryze. I gripped the desk as a wave of dizziness washed over me, and Darius watched me stagger to the front of the class before turning his gaze away.

"A*****e," I muttered under my breath.

"Want to repeat that?" Darius growled behind me, and I looked back at him.

He glared at me and went to get up. I quickly rushed out the door. Making my way down the corridors, I felt my stomach heave up my throat, and I ran to the closest trash can before throwing up in it. No, please, I thought as I lost my breakfast. I wiped my mouth on the back of my hand and staggered to the bathroom. I drank from the tap, knowing that I would stumble across someone if I went to the mess hall.

I wet my face, trying to cool myself down after retching. Looking in the oval-shaped mirror above the sink, my face was pale, and my eyes sunken in. My stomach growled hungrily, and I drank some more water, trying to fill it enough to stop the loud gurgling noises. Wetting the back of my neck, I leaned on the basin, trying to force myself to head to the next class.

My tablet pinged, and I pulled it out. My pen pal remembered me, and we had been talking for the last few days. I excitedly opened up the chat.

"How's your day?" they asked.

I looked in the mirror. Shit! I thought, looking at my hollow cheeks. I had lost so much weight with training and not eating I was starting to look gaunt in the face. I shook my head, wondering how it was possible in such a brief period. "Crap, I feel sick and have to go to class," I replied as I made my way out.

They responded with a sad emoji.

"How's yours?"

"Boring. Locked away as usual," they replied.

My pen pal had told me they too were having mate drama, that he didn't get out much.

"Which class are you in next?" they asked.

"Stupid training one with Tobias."

"You really don't like that guy, huh?"

I chuckled. I had told him all about my a*****e mates and the nasty shit they did. Well, except for Kalen.

"You wouldn't either if he used you like his personal juice box daily, and you were starving after only getting one meal or half a meal a day," I replied.

"Your mates starve you?" he replied, and I sighed.

"No, but I'm too scared to go to dinner or lunch in the mess hall because of the other men. Last time one put my hand in a boiling pot," I replied.

They didn't reply straight away, so I continued to the obstacle course and walked over to where they were stretching.

"Who did?" came their reply.

"Some d**k called Deacon. They will get bored eventually and leave me alone," I replied when my tablet was plucked from my grip. I looked up to see Tobias glaring at me.

"No distractions. Now, get out there," he snapped at me.

I went to ask if I could sit out, but he growled, so I dropped my head and started running. My stomach was sloshing from all the water I drank, making me regret that stupid idea to curb my hunger. Lesson learned.

The demons were shoving and pushing as I tried to remain on the track. Running out of breath because bile rushed up to my throat, I pulled off to the side and threw up again. Zac sniggered as he passed me and nudged me. "Can't hack it, Aleera?" he taunted before I threw up again.

"Aleera!" Tobias called, and I looked up, hoping he would say I could go inside. He pointed to the track, and my shoulders sagged as I turned around. My surroundings spun, and I found the heat made it increasingly difficult to breathe. The ground felt like it was moving under my feet, and I felt delirious as I stumbled back onto the track.

My harsh, labored breathing rang in my head along with my heartbeat when I felt my eyes roll into the back of my head. I knew I'd hit the ground, but I felt nothing, no pain, nothing as darkness swallowed me. Someone was tapping my face, my ears were ringing, and I could hear a faint voice calling my name. The sun shone through the backs of my eyelids, and I blinked, dazed, only to look into the eyes of Tobias. He turned my face from side to side before prying my eyelids open when I closed them. "Yep, you're done for the day," he said, scooping me up in his arms.

I kept going in and out of consciousness, but I was soon inside, the air-conditioning making me shiver after spending hours in the blistering sun.

"What happened?" I heard Darius ask, and I blinked open my eyes to find I was back in my room. Darius shut the door while Tobias placed me on the bed. I could hear them talking but paid no attention. "Heatstroke, maybe?" Tobias said.

"She complained about being sick in class. She looked pale then, too."

"So, you forced her to my class?" Tobias snapped when I felt his teeth sink into my wrist. I groaned, hoping he wouldn't take much. I was already light-headed enough.

"Anything?" Darius asked.

"No, not poison, but her iron is a little low. I had noticed that over the last few days."

Darius sighed when the door opened again.

"Lycus said she fainted," I heard Kalen's voice. I couldn't remember seeing Lycus, but then again, I didn't remember the walk to the room either.

"Where is he?"

"Making her something to eat," Kalen answered before the bed dipped beside me. He brushed my hair from my face and leaned over me. "You okay?" he asked, and I shook my head. My stomach was beginning to cramp like I had a stitch. The door opened again, and I knew it was Lycus this time.

"I need to get to class, but I will see you tonight after dinner," Tobias said, making me wonder where he was going. "Oh, I almost forgot her tablet."

"Why do you have it?"

"Confiscated it. She was using it when she came out," Tobias said, and I heard the door close as he left.

"Fine!" Lycus says, sounding angry.

"What's wrong with you?" Darius asked him.

"Later, not now." I looked at Lycus as he sat beside me before Kalen helped me sit up. I leaned heavily against him, and Lycus placed a plate of tomato and cheese sandwiches on my lap, cut into triangles.

"Eat. It will make you feel better," Lycus said, pressing one to my lips. Kalen looked at him funny before he grabbed my tablet at my feet. I tried to reach for it, not wanting him to read my messages, but he placed it on charge.

"Eat!" Lycus snapped, pressing the sandwich triangle to my lips again. I took a bite, and he seemed to relax but insisted on feeding me like a child. I noticed Kalen watching him, just as confused as I was about his strange behavior. When he pressed a third against

my lips, I shook my head, hoping Lycus would leave it so I could sneak down to feed my phoenix tonight. He had started to heal and had some feathers coming back. His wing was still injured, but Ryze was on the mend.