Tasting Darkness
Tempting Darkness Chapter 5

”What’s going on?” I asked Darins. He looks up at me, nipping at my neck, and I shudder. ”Nothing you need to worry about,” he mumbles against my skin. My bond ignites as he grips my h**s, rolling me against him. ”Something is wrong. You two have been fighting all week,” I tell him.

”Just leave it,” Darius says, his eyes darkening. Yet I know Lycus and Kalen were struggling with their bonds, too, with Darius sleeping in the other room, Kalen’s sleepwalking was out of control. The pain wasn’t accurate enough word to describe it, with Darius in the other room it was almost like missing a limb.

They didn’t know how to function without him He was an attachment of them, and over the last couple of days, And since I haven’t marked three of them, I noticed how much they gravitate toward him, picking up on his moods, they reacted to him, and I wondered if it was because for so long he acted as their keeper. Darius growls, nipping at my neck before gripping my chin. He tilts my face down to his and k!sses me, and arousal flares through to life like burning embers in a breeze setting everything ablaze..

I could feel his magic rolling over me, consuming me, and my bond reacted to it, taking over as I k!ssed him back with the same burning desire. Lycus steps out of the bathroom. It was so odd feeling them. I could pinpoint each one, tell who was who and if they were close and where they were at all times, completely aware of them, so I knew when he stopped behind me. I pull my l!ps from Darius and look up at Lycus, whose eyes are pitch black.

He smiled, dipping his head down, capturing my l!ps, and I felt Darius tug at the front of my towel, pulling it apart before his l!ps were burning my skin as he nipped and licked my nipple. I gasped as heat rushed through me, almost like he was awakening the urge to shred.

Lycus pulled away, looking at me oddly, and I tried to shake the overwhelming feeling rolling through me before turning my gaze to Darius. He growls, his grip tightening, and I realize it wasn’t the urge to shred at all but him needing magic like he was drained.

Power–hungry, his l!ps traveled back up to my neck as he k!ssed and licked his way back to my l!ps. I k!ssed him back, letting him take what he needed, letting him recharge off me and my eyes fluttered shut as his tongue invaded my mouth. His k!ss was domineering and hungry, tasting every inch as he pulled on my magic, I gave into him, letting him take what he craved.

My bond wanting more, needing it so I k!ss him back before nipping at his chin, and he sighs. Darius rests his head on the back of the couch.

I k!ss the marks on his neck, and he shudders, his hand moving to my hair as he fists it. My mouth waters at his addictive scent before running my tongue across his skin. My bond has overtaken every sense as I pressed closer to him, letting his heat into me.

My teeth press against his seep skin, my blunt teeth breaking his flesh when he tenses, yanking my head back by my hair, pain rippled across my scalp, making me cry out. I clutch his hand in my hair. His demonic eyes gleamed back at me while mine filled with tears. Darius stands abruptly and drops me on the couch.

He breathes heavily, and Lyeus shoves him with a growl. ”Darius, what the f*ck!” Lycus snarls while I rub the back of my head where he had pulled my hair from my scalp. My bond recoils, rejection smashes against me, and my face heats with embarrassment. I want to run from the room as he glares down at me. What did I do? He was fine a few seconds ago.

Realization dawns on me. Of course, he needed power. That is all it was, he didn’t want me just what I had to offer. Power was everything to Darius.

I thought we were past all this, but clearly, I was wrong. I felt used as he powered off me only to toss me aside when I wanted more. I swallow, looking away and he storms out of the room, not even bothering to answer Lycus.

The door slams making me cringe and shame creeps into me. Why does he do that? He does it every time I try with him, constantly pulling only for him to shove me away.

Lycus reaches for me, but I jerk my hand away when he tries to grab it before tugging my towel up covering myself. I rushed past Kalen, who moved toward me and into the closet to get changed.

I shut the door, slipping some clothes on. I felt stupid, stupid for believing he was capable of being my mate. ”Aleera?” Kalen says, knocking on the door, I pull some clothes on quickly. Opening the door, Lycus and Kalen stood there staring at me. I push past them, heading for the door. ”Aleera?”

”I have to get to class,” I tell them, not bothering to stop. I just wanted a way from them, so I went to my safe place. Funny, how I call it that. It was the worst place in the castle. The cells, yet the dark, desolate place, and the solitude allowed me to hide and regather as I sat in the old cell.

Questioning everything, wondering what was bad about me that Darius couldn’t just put the past behind us and accept me.