The King of Darkness | ✔️

Chapter Thirty

As soon as we get back to our chambers, I can't stop laughing to myself about Darian's ridiculous speech. It was several drunken mumbles along with stumbling on the dais. I finally had to dismiss everyone myself before Darian said something he shouldn't.

I stagger towards the bed as I try to unzip my dress. My mind is fuzzy from the extent of what happened tonight - the alcohol, Killian showing up, Darian's love confession and a few certain things that happened behind the tapestry.

It's all a lot to take in and I have a lot of thinking to do.

Finally managing to take off my gown, I slip into bed - snuggling into the warm sheets. I let the warmth surround me and heat my frozen heart.

The night sky casts over my ceiling and I find comfort in the stars as they wink - almost as though they are trying to tell me that everything is okay.

I seek solace in the smallest of things because even the most minuscule gestures have the greatest meaning. I've found that it's one of the beauties in life. Finding meaning in something, anything really can provoke such immense feelings.

Moving to lay on my stomach, I blow out a harsh exhale. I have no idea what the future holds for me but one thing I do know is that if we do not annihilate the Fortuna coven and if I do not venture to my court to see my people... I'm not sure I will have a future.

I close my eyes and find myself walking in dreams where life doesn't hold problems and life is nothing but a walk in the park with the finest flowers and the sweetest grass. It feels as though I am back home as my fingers glide along the salty lake water.

The gentle breeze washes through my hair, tangling its fingers in my long dark locks. It's almost peaceful. But something seems to be tugging me away from heaven and back to hell.

I feel something wrap around my waist and pull me. My eyes snap open to find Darian beside me and myself tucked into his chest. I am still reeling over everything and I'm not sure I can dive straight in with Darian... not at the moment at least.

I've learned from handing someone my heart, learned that it's not as important to them as it is to you. I've learned that it's something that you can't take back and even if you do, your heart is returned to you in slithers - unable to heal.

The rest of my night I spend in my thoughts, trying to make sense of everything.

I wake long before Darian - mainly because I haven't slept the whole night. Thoughts can be so consuming sometimes, so consuming that you lose track of time.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I look out of the balcony doors. The same stars loom in the sky but they seem to have dimmed since I last laid eyes on them. All I am certain about right now is that I need to see my court and it simply cannot wait.

Something cold touches the small of my back and I flinch away from how unforeseen it was. My head snaps behind me, to find Darian wide awake and his cold hand following the curve of my spine.

"You've been awake the whole night.. you need to rest," Darian mumbles. I am sure he has a hangover from hell itself. I shake my head and move to face him.

"I can't. I need to see my court, to talk to them and before you say that I am not ready... I am. I was ready from the moment I brought the subject to your attention and I am afraid it cannot wait any longer," I bombard him.

Darian removes his hand from my back and uses it to prop his head up. Those familiar vermillion eyes bore into mine and whether he accepts this or not, I will be going.

"I know that you're ready and I've known the whole time I just... I don't want you going there expecting more than you're going to receive," Darian justifies and I understand. My court hasn't favoured me in most things recently so it makes sense to think that way.