A LAND OF FIRE AND DARKNESS

Chapter 30

"Deli." She purred causing my body to twitch with annoyance.

I looked up at Laveen and felt my face wince into disgust. "Deli?" I repeated.

He looked confused as he had not heard what I had. He looked towards Delcallon and his face dropped. "Oh." He said with shock, "Rosay. I did not know she would be here."

"Who is she?" I asked as my heart began to race.

He looked down at me and he washed over his compassion. I did not need him to answer me any further. But he did. "Delcallon's first love."

I looked down and bit my cheek as I reminded myself that I was not allowed to be jealous. I was not Delcallon's, and he was not mine. I leaned my head back and took in a deep breath.

"It has been ages, Deli." I heard her voice continue through the voices of the crowd.

Delcallon appeared speechless and his heartfelt rapid. He was nervous.

"You look as dark as ever Deli." She purred. I looked over my shoulder to see her caressing his arm and his eyes were following his fingers.

I clenched my jaw and tried to control my reaction as much as possible. "Now you know how Delcallon has been feeling, with Tristan, Yarris, and even me." Laveen chirped, but I just ignored him.

I was not jealous.

"You look as beautiful as ever Rosay." He complimented back as he leaned back a bit more comfortably against the column.

His heart was equaling out, and he seemed to be opening up to her further. She stepped in between his legs and rested her hands naturally onto his chest as if it were a habit. She leaned in to whisper into his ear, "I need to speak to you alone, Deli."

He nodded slowly before wrapping his hand around hers and leading them out of the room. I tried not to watch them, but it was impossible. She was beautiful, and he was beautiful, and I was not an idiot.

"I need some air," I stated as I turned past Laveen and strode towards the balcony.

He did not follow me which I appreciated. I strode out to the open space that led out into the courtyard. A heavy breath escaped my lips as I leaned over the steel railings.

Why did I care if Delcallon reconnected with his first love? Why was the only person who sparked my interest Delcallon? What would happen if I did just give in to temptations and be with him?

I thinned out my lips and realized it was a bit too late for me to now be considering this.

I took in a deep breath. It would be unfair to request something like this from Delcallon, only now when the red-haired showed up. She seemed sweet and gentle, far less psychotic than I.

Delcallon deserved a decent girl. Not someone who would shoot his eye when she had a bad day.

There was a knocking at my firewall causing me to release a heavy sigh. I swallowed down all the feelings I was experiencing to ensure he did not read my thoughts.

I opened it up faintly.

Astral project into my mind.

He purred out slowly with a reassuring tone.

I shook my head. No astral Projecting.

I reminded him, and quite frankly I did not want to see what was about to happen.

Alinta. This is important.

I looked around and saw the I was the only person outside. I strode towards a lonely bench and flicked my fingers to create a flame. I focused on the purple and allowed my heart to slow and my body to sink as I stepped into the mind of Delcallon's.

It was pitch dark for a brief second as His eyes opened to reveal Rosay opposite him. She had beautiful green eyes that brightened against her dark red hair. From up close she was even more beautiful which caused me to release a groan.

Whether he heard it or not, I could not say.

"You think there is another Highvarion?" He asked probably for my sake more than his. My heart stopped as I listened to them.

Rosay nodded slowly, "The fires are tamed Deli." She said with concern, "They are definitely flickering to someone's heartbeat."

If she knew then who else knew?

"Who else have you told?" He asked and I realized he could hear me. I would need to be careful about what I thought.

"I came straight here, Deli." Her eyes were soft and gentle and I released another groan at how annoyingly beautiful she was.

"I fear they will attack my temple next." She gripped onto his hands.

He gently squeezed her hand, "I will protect you." He promised with a gentle tone that caused my heart to twitch.

"There is something else." She began with a pained tone.

"What is it?" He asked with empathy.

She looked up at him through lowered lashes, "I know the rebels say, 'may the future be bright." She began sternly, "Deli, what is brighter than Fire?"

My eyes widened.

It isn't me.

I began with a panicked tone.

I know. Breathe. You do not want to accidentally burn me.

I sucked in a breath and steadied my heart as I continued to stare at Rosay.

"Thank you for informing me Rosay." He said softly. "I will hopefully find this Highvarion."

She looked up at him and arched her eyebrows. She shifted herself closer to him and began caressing his cheek with her hand. "You are terrible at lying Deli." She purred. "Which is why we both know you decided to always tell the truth."

She looked at him with a cocked smile, "You know who it is, don't you?"

He did not reply and she began shaking her head. "I suspect you will not tell me because you are protecting them?" She stated with a gentle tone and she shifted closer to him.

Can she get any closer? I growled to myself.

She rested her arm against his, "That is what I always loved about you Deli." She whispered as she leaned towards him, "You always look out for others."

She was going to kiss him, and I was about to watch that.

She leaned in and her lips parted.

Nope.

I snapped my eyes opened and saw the flame that was wrapped around my fist now. I sucked in a breath and extinguished the flame immediately.

Alinta.

His voice slipped into my mind and I shot up my walls. He did not need to explain to me. And quite frankly his attention should be on Rosay right now, not me.

I wiped my hand through my hair. Rosay knew there was a Highvarion claimed by fire. If she knew, then I was sure others had figured out too. I stood up from the bench and wrapped my arms around my body.

I stepped through the courtyard as my mind went over what I had seen, what I had felt. I was going to be discovered and I would have to be declared a Highvarion, but somehow my mind kept kicking myself for hurting about the fact that Delcallon had been reunited with Rosay.

It was good news. She would probably help relieve him and he could be happy and in love with her.

Images of them flashed through my mind. Not of them having sex, but of something far more intimate and painful. Him training with her and laughing and he would pull her into an embrace. Him having dinner with her and all his friends. Him taking her out on dates and smiling.

Did I want that?

The hair on my neck stood up as goosebumps spread over my body. I spun around in fear and saw Delcallon step out of a shadow. I released a breath of relief at the fact that it was just him.

Delcallon's hands slipped into his pockets and he tilted his head at me. "I have been dying to tell you that you look terrifyingly beautiful." He purred out.