Tasting Darkness
Tempting Darkness Chapter 3: Aleera Pov

I spent most of the next day drifting in and out of sleep, wasn’t I supposed to shred until I had claimed all of them? That is how it usually worked so when I woke up to replace the process over I was a little confused, though relieved.

It took me a few seconds to recognize what woke me, it was whispered. My eyes felt heavy as I opened them, blinking rapidly as I fought the urge to yawn and rub my eyes. Lycus was pressed against my back, his arm draped over my waist and his face buried in my hair. Kalen is asleep, facing me, his face slack looking rather peaceful.

I wanted to trace his facial features, gosh this man was beautiful. However, the whispers I could hear were coming from near the fireplace and I couldn’t help but listen. Tobias and Darius appeared to be arguing.

I tried to listen, catching the end of their conversation. ”You could ruin everything, everything Darius, I can’t believe you would do that,” Tobias hissed. ”I am not a necessary piece. We can still maintain power. We have for years, and she seems fine,” Darius growled.

My brows pinch together, wondering what they are talking about. ”And when she wants to? Then what? How will you explain that to her f*cking bond, to her? You are a right prick sometimes, you don’t need to control everything,” Tobias snarled.

”Me controlling everything is what has kept us alive. As I said, we can work it out, we can-” his words stop abruptly, and I hear their footsteps and quickly shut eyes, pretending to be asleep.

Tobias touched my arm, and I knew he was checking to see if I was awake and I knew they both felt the stir of the bond. His hand was cool, and soothing as tingles rushed over me. ”Darius!” Tobias snarled, his hand moving off me, and I opened my eyes to see Darius walking toward the door.

He throws the door open and walks out in his blazing fury. ”We aren’t finished talking,” Tobias calls after him, his voice rising above the hushed whispers.

”Conversation is over. My choice is final, I hear Darius say before he is gone.” F*ck! ”Tobias curses before shutting the door. He turns around, his eyes meeting mine, and he sighs, he rubs his face before scratching his chin and looking back at the door. ”I thought I felt you wake,” he murmurs, moving toward the bed.

”Why is Darius angry?” I asked. ”Darius is just being Darius. He will come around,” Tobias answers. ”Come around to what?” ”Doesn’t matter; I will sort it,” Tobias says, leaning over Kalen. He grips my chin, brushing his thumb across my swollen l!ps, his eyes flicker with hunger before he dips his head and his l!ps brush against mine softly.

”How do you feel?” he mumbles against my l!ps. ”Just tired, shouldn’t the shredding have lasted longer?” I ask and he smirks. ”Did you want it too? If you want me to f*ck you, just ask,” he chuckles, and my face heats.

That is so not what I meant. I shake my head, and he smiles seductively, pecking my l!ps before standing back up. ”We figured it might be something to do with being a harmony Fae.” Tobias says looking away from me and I got the feeling it was something else, I could feel the lie he just told which only confused me. ”You have a lot of power running through your veins; I would say you need rest, so you don’t burn out.”

It kind of made sense. Most Fae creatures hold one or two elements; I held all elements plus more. Maybe I was reading to much into it. ”I have work to do, but will you be alright here? I have a class to teach,” he says. I nod before he wanders off toward the bathroom and gets ready.

I snuggle back down between my mates, tugging the blanket back around us, only for Lycus to kick it back off and roll into me. I sigh accepting his body heat since he would only kick the blanket off again. It was amazing how hot he ran, Darius expected it yet were – fae seemed to be just as warm or maybe it was because he harnessed fire.

Hours later, I woke and felt wide awake. The bed was empty, and I stretched out like a cat and yawned. It must be around midday because the sun was at its highest from what I could see out the window. Yet the room was quiet. Sitting up, I move to the bathroom and quickly use the toilet before hopping in the shower.

My body ached, yet the power in my veins made me giggle. I had never felt stronger. I rummaged through the closet when I finished showering and found some jeans. Yet none of my shirts were here, so I know Kalen must have gone to put a load of washing on because the hamper was also gone. Grabbing a button–down shirt from the hanger. I slip it on and roll the sleeves to my elbows.

I could wear it as a dress, yet I couldn’t care less what I looked like as 11 pulled my hair up in a ponytail. I checked the phone that sat on the bedside table to see what day it was and to check the time. Two days had passed without me noticing, I checked my schedule to see what class I had. Darius’s class was nearly over yet that is where I should be.

Slipping my shoes on, I headed down to the field, walking past Tobias’s open classroom door. He turned to look at me as I passed the door and heading for the last stairwell leading outside. I was near to the ground floor when his strong arms wrapped around my waist, tugging me back against him. ”And where are you off to, and in my shirt?” he purred, k!ssing down my neck. I lean back against him.

”I had no clothes, and I am going to class,” I answered turning my head and looking up at him over my shoulder. ”You should rest. Darius won’t mind,” Tobias mutters against my neck. His fangs slip out and graze my flesh. Heat pools in my belly, and I tilt my head to the side, offering him my neck.

He moves my hair to one side and runs his nose across my skin to the back of my ear. ”Hmm, I like it when you are willing,” he growls before he sinks his fang into me, his tongue lapped and sucked at my skin. Lifting my hand, I run my fingers through his hair while he feeds on me.

My eyes flutter shut as he drains some of my magic before pulling his fangs from my neck. He ran his tongue over his bite mark, holding me against him while I waited for the room to stop spinning. ”You can skip Darius’s class and come to mine,” he growls, nipping at my ear.

”Anyone would think you don’t want me near him?” I question. ”Maybe I want you to myself,” he laughs in his arms. I searched while turning his face. He seemed worried about something yet never voiced it.

”What is it?” I ask him, but he shakes his head and smirks. ”Nothing, get to class, or I may give you detention,” he chuckles. I raised an eyebrow at him, since when was detention a thing here, though I wouldn’t mind by the sly look on his face. ”Is that so?” I laugh.

”Hmm, I wouldn’t mind punishing that a*s while your bent over my desk,” he purrs. Tobias squeezes my a*s and g****s. I push on his chest at his playfulness when one of his recruits sticks his head out the classroom door. Tobias sighs, looking over his shoulder.

”I gotta go teach,” he says, pecking my l!ps and letting me go. I shake my head and turn to the doors. Stepping outside, the day was a little chilly, the sun hiding behind the clouds as I walked around trying to replace the class.