The King of Darkness | ✔️

Chapter Twenty Four

Trees surround us and I feel somewhat concealed. Despite the glamour that wraps around us, it still feels as though we can be seen by prying eyes.

I move to unwrap my legs from around Darian's waist but feel him hold me tighter. "I'm sorry," the water glows around us and I cannot fathom how magnificent it looks. His apologising takes me a second to comprehend.

"For what?" I dare ask. For a lot I am sure but I want to know what specifically has compelled him to speak on the situation.

"For everything..." he trails off but when I am still wanting more he continues. "I'm not used to having to care for other people's opinions or feelings. It's been just me for as long as I can remember. So for that, I am sorry... for everything," Darian clarifies.

"I accept your apology, however... I will still hate you for a few decades," I smirk and he laughs to himself before shaking his head.

"For some reason, I refuse to believe that you hate me that much," Darian's hand caresses my side where my scar lays and I find myself flinch as his finger gently runs over it.

"Refuse all you want," I shrug after a moment and that devilish grin returns. I find myself enraptured in those crimson eyes and so many questions float to the surface. "Out of all people, why did you tell me about your... heritage," I'm not sure what to call it.

Immediately Darian lets go of me and I almost stumble in the water. I find that I have to move closer to the bank so that I can actually stand.

"This is why. I didn't want people asking mindless questions, I thought that you would have kept it to yourself and forgotten about it," I scoff at the words spewing from his mouth and he turns his back towards me.

"Forget about it? How could anyone forget about that?" I raise my voice in disbelief. "What did you think I was going to do? Just sweep it under the rug and act as though that isn't the person I am marrying," I raise my arms.

"I thought you were worth it but I was quite clearly wrong," he huffs and my eyes sting. Keywords: thought and were. I'm no longer worth it, I see.

"You're an absolute joke," I scoff and wade through the water to get to the bank. "You'll realise that one day... one day no one is going to bother. They'll leave you to your pit of sorrows and will deem you a waste of time if all you are going to do is bad mouth them and push them away."

"You do not know a thing about me," Darian turns and points an accusing finger at me. As soon as I am standing on the wet, soggy grass I grab my dress and begin putting it back on. The material sticking to my skin.

"You're right I don't," I begin and the dress finally slips on. "But I do know one thing... you are not worth it," I seethe as I zip up the dress. I grab my heels and set off towards the trees - the opposite direction of the palace.

"Where the hell do you think you're going?" I hear Darian shout behind me, his voice echoing. My bare feet squelch in the mud but there is no way I am walking through this in heels.

"Anywhere but with you," I pick up the pace and try to make as much space between us as possible. I cut through an entrance in the trees and hope that this leads me somewhere far away.

I build my walls up in my mind, not letting Darian in at all. With that information, I am sure it would be a lot easier to find me but I merely want a break from him and this blasted court.

"You can't run away from me, Nova, you know I'll find you in a heartbeat," Darian calls but I find that he is further away from me than I had thought he was.

Then why haven't you found me yet, I want to shout but decide against it. That would merely lead him straight to me. I'm not done with my fun, not just yet.