Taming Darkness
Chapter 38

~Aleera-

A few of the braver power hunters even try to attack me, but a few of my feathers stop them in their tracks. Once my mother doesn't reappear, and her soldiers realize she's dead, the power hunters are overcome with fear, and instead of trying to fight us, they attempt to escape. However, the Harmony-Fae aren't about to let that happen. They tear them to shreds with their own magic, the air crackling with energy and the cries of death.

My mates are getting closer. I can feel Darius' magic hovering in the air, the darkness of it calling me to bring back the shadows I had grown to love. I need them, to see them, touch them, just be with them. As I round the side of the house, my heart skips a beat. There they all are.

One of the hunters, desperate and wild-eyed, runs away from the Harmony-Fae and tries his luck by attacking Darius from behind. Lycus, swift and deadly, grabs him with one hand, and with his fingers turned to claws, he slashed the man down the middle, shredding organs and pulling him apart with a sickening sound.

Kalen is holding his own, a newfound sense of purpose hovering over him as he flanks Tobias. Their movements are fluid and powerful, each one a testament to their strength.

Most of the power hunters are dead, their bodies ripped to shreds or are reduced to smoking piles of ash until none are left. If anyone does get out, it won't be for long. The council will track them down, and each will be punished for their crimes. The moment Darius turns and sees me, I throw myself into his arms, almost knocking him over. Kalen and Tobias huddle close, and the cracking of bones lets me know that Lycus has shifted back as he joins us.

Kalen's voice cracks, his deep emotions swirling almost out of control. "You never left," he whispers.

I kiss him.

"I made you a promise, Kalen, and I promised you I'd never break it."

The council shows up within minutes of the battle's end, surveying the aftermath after we'd taken care of most of the danger. Many of them stare in open-faced shock at the sheer number of Harmony-Fae that actually exist.

"Wait, I need to give them something," I tell my mates before digging into my pocket and pulling out the vials that reveal how evil my mother truly is.

Darius' brows furrow as he studies them. It takes him a second, but recognition sparks, and his eyes widen before he stares at me. "You were always the cure! I didn't destroy it," he gasps.

I nod and hand over the vials. It's finally over, and now I am finally going to be able to enjoy my mates and raise our children without fear of that unhinged woman ever crossing us again.

When we are finished, I look at the old house, the exact replica of my childhood home, a house that should no longer exist. I wait for them to finish retrieving what the council wants from the crime scene, and when the last elder emerges, he stops and walks over to

us.

The man's energy is familiar as he draws closer. His facial features are the ones I have witnessed before in my mates' memories-Tobias', to be exact. The man stops in front of me before looking at his son.

In Tobias' memories, this man was proud, angry, and felt so much bigger than he does now. Instead of the fear I felt in Tobias' memories, I only feel pity for him.

"You found her," he says, eyeing me curiously.

Tobias says nothing, just drapes his arm across my shoulders and tucks me closer. "Are you finished inside?" Tobias asks, not even acknowledging his father's question.

His father nods, and Tobias starts to tug me away when his father speaks again.

"That's it?" he calls after his son.

Tobias continues to walk, and as we step past Darius, I see he is glaring at the man with so much hatred that I know he wants to kill him.

"You could have been King."

Tobias stops.

"You are the next heir to the throne in the Vampiric-Kingdom."

"I don't care for any throne, Father. And neither did Thomas," Tobias replies, his voice firm and unwavering.

"Now you have her; you could retake your place; become the king you're supposed to be."

"He'll never learn," Tobias mutters.

"Does family really mean nothing to you?"

Tobias laughs and stops, turning to look at his father. "Family means everything to me; you're just no longer a part of mine." His father actually has the audacity to appear hurt by what his son said. "You're my flesh and blood. You're a f*****g Kade."

"Wrong! I am a Wraith, so shove your name up your a*s, Dad. You had your chance to make up for the past. I don't need or want your apologies, and I certainly don't need your forgiveness for choosing them over you," Tobias snaps at his father. "But you rang me. You called me here!"

"Because you're part of the council, not part of my life! Nor will you be part of theirs!" Tobias says, his hand dropping to my stomach.

His father blinks at me, his eyes darting to his son's hand on my stomach. Without another word, Tobias turns me to face the house, and I look up at him.

"Are you okay?"

He nods, kissing my temple. "Yeah, I just want to go home," he tells me, and I see Darius grip his shoulder.

"Thank you for not killing him," Tobias nods to him.

"Don't tempt me because I want to," Darius mumbles, looking up at the house.

I lift my hand, letting a fireball dance on my palm, and I look at my house. After a second, I toss it, setting the house ablaze while Kalen opens up a portal. Posted by Narugi.com; visit us for more free novels.

We watch it burn for a few seconds before I see my Phoenixes start flying home to Astrid.

"Let's go home," I whisper, giving the house one last glance before stepping through the portal after Lycus. The warmth of the fire on my skin fades as we leave that part of our lives behind, ready to embrace our future togethe