Tempting Darkness

Kalen sighed. "I knew there was another reason you ran, but you don't need to hide from us. We would have kept you safe," he whispered.

I glanced at my other three mates, who were making sure the demons left the phoenixes alone. "You can't say anything," I whispered, my heart jolting erratically. "I won't right now, but you have to tell Darius. He will-" Kalen's words were cut off when Lycus approached.

"That was some of the scariest shit I have ever seen. I thought for sure your eyes were gonna go," Lycus said, then shivered. "I can't believe they didn't attack you." "Probably because Ryze took a liking to her. They are smart birds," Kalen told him, giving me a knowing look.

"Well, I am not catching mice for all of them. They catch their own damn food," Tobias hissed while Darius stood between us and the castle. He looked between the birds and me, his face taking on a strange expression. "Come on, we should go. I want to get back before dark," Darius said when I noticed the sleek black sports car parked out front on the driveway.

"You will make sure they don't hurt them?" I asked Tobias when he stopped in front of me. He gripped my chin, pecking my lips.

"Your devil birds will be fine, promise," he chuckled, and I nodded. He let my chin go, and I felt Kalen bury his face in my neck. He pulled my tablet from his pocket, and I looked at Darius, who said nothing but nodded, so I took it from him. "Please, don't try to run," Kalen whispered into the crook of my neck. I never had a chance to answer him when Darius called out, having unlocked his car.

"Aleera, come on," he said, waving me toward him. Kalen unwrapped his arms from around my waist and gave me a push toward the car. Yet I got that same sweeping feeling from Kalen when I first met him. That fragile state, warning bells saying he wasn't okay. Even Lycus looked at Kalen worriedly, picking up the strange sensation. We all could feel the darkness enveloping him, and I paused midway.

He thought I would run now that he knew, yet he wouldn't say anything to them. Moving toward him, I grabbed his face and pulled it down toward mine while I stood on my toes. I pressed my lips to his and kissed him. His lips were warm and soft, and Kalen clutched me to him. His strong arms squeezed me tight, and he let out a shaky breath. When I pulled away, Lycus stepped closer to him with a worried look and gripped his shoulder.

"I'll be right back," I told Kalen. He looked down at me and searched my face for a few moments. Then he let out a breath, pressing his forehead to mine and nodding before letting go. "Promise?" he whispered.

"I promise. I won't leave you again," I told him, and he smiled sadly.

"What's gotten into you? You were fine a few seconds ago?" I heard Lycus ask him as I stepped away. Lycus wrapped his arms around Kalen's waist and rested his chin on Kalen's shoulder.

When I reached the car, Darius was watching Kalen worriedly. "He's worried I will run," I told Darius, and his jaw clenched as he turned his head to look at me. He glanced down at the tablet in my hands but didn't say anything or try to take it from me.

"I wouldn't allow that," Darius said, looking like he wanted to go to Kalen. I looked over at Kalen, and Tobias was also walking toward him.

"I

I know, but I don't think I could leave him again," I whispered, and Darius looked at me.

"You wouldn't try again?"

"No, not without a good reason, Darius and if I did, I'm sorry, but I'd be taking Kalen with me," I answered honestly. He watched me curiously.

"You can't hurt him, can you? Or you wouldn't anyway," Darius said while watching me closely.

"It took you all this time to realize that?" I asked before opening up the passenger door and climbing in.

I slid into my seat and buckled up, and the door opened a few minutes later as Darius climbed in. He looked over at me like he wanted to say something before shaking his head and starting the engine. I watched when suddenly a driveway appeared in front of us.

The grass covering it dissolved, revealing the road that led toward the treeline. I closed my eyes when Darius floored it. Peeking my eyes open, I tensed, thinking we were about to smash into the trees. Darius chuckled, and I gasped when the glamor lifted, revealing a long road that weaved through the forest. We drove along it for a while before pulling up at the gates. Darius hit a button on the visor and waited for the huge gates to open.

"Mirage ward," Darius laughed and shook his head. Looking down, I stared at the blackened screen of my tablet and tried to turn it on, but it was dead. Darius leaned across, opening the glove compartment before pulling out some cords. "One of them should fit," he said before pointing to the USB socket in the dash.

"Thanks," I said while finding the right one so I could plug it in and turn it on. Darius nodded, turning his eyes back to the road, and we continued to drive in a strange silence. After a few minutes, my tablet turned on, and Darius peeked over at me. "You messaging your friend?" Darius asked, and I chewed my lip, wondering if he was mad.

"That bothers you," I stated.

He sighed and looked over at me. "When we get into town, just stay close. Don't wander off."

"Okay," I said, glancing down at the screen, wondering why he was being weird.

"No, I mean it, Aleera. Stick close to me. There is a reason I don't allow my mates to leave the castle. It's not safe. So, stay close to me," Darius said.

My brows furrowed, and I looked over at him. "Why are you letting me come with you then?"

"Because I don't know the first thing about lady products, and secondly..." He paused and sighed. "I wanted to apologize. Figured you would want to get out of the castle for a little bit. Kalen said it would be good for you to get out of that place for a while." I chuckled and shook my head. "You can't hurt Kalen either," I laughed.

"None of us can. Kalen is... He is-"

"Special," I offered, and he bit his lip and nodded.

"He is our glue. Kalen is the reason we all held together the way we have," Darius answered, and I nodded.