The Dark King (Book 1)

Chapter 5

When I wake up I don't move but listen to patter of rain hitting the the window. I don't hear a bell to wake me like usual. I curl myself into a ball in bed and throw the covers over my head.

I take deep breaths as I think of my end goal. I am bounded to King Valdus, I have a duty for myself and the people I hold near and dear to me.

I hear walking outside my door, the footsteps stop and I can see the shadow of feet underneath at the crack of the door. "Raidyn?" I croak out as loud as I can, my voice is barely audible from crying the night before.

"You're still here?" He breaths from outside the door.

"I had no reason to leave," I sit up in bed.

"Let me in, people will talk if they see me outside your door."

I swing my legs out of bed and stand up. Slowly I make my way to the door, my hands shake as they unlock the door and twist the knob letting in the king, then shutting the door behind him.

He is still jolting with a surge of electricity. The same electricity I felt so strongly when we kissed.

"Byrd," he grabs my chin and gently tilts it up so that I'm looking him in the eyes.

I close my eyes and try to turn my head away from him. "Raidyn," I breath out. My chest rising and falling at an unsteady pace.

"Please don't fight this. Nothing has to change. I want to help you and your friends." He begs, pleadingly staring into my soul.

"You can't," I cry to him. "You can't help us. No one can."

"I can and I will." He says determined. "I will do whatever it takes to help you."

I grab a hold of his cheeks cupping them with my small hands. I didn't care that he was shocking me, and I didn't care that it started to feel like a prick. "You. Can't." My voice waivers and shakes. I can feel tears roll down each of my cheeks.

"I will, Byrd. Give me a reason why." He wipes the tears from my face with both of his hands.

"You don't know what he's capable of, he-" I cut my self off sobbing.

"What? What did he do?" He stares intently and concerned at me.

I try to scream it, try to tell him everything but I can't. I can't, I simply shake my head as I wipe more tears away. Valdus is forever bound to all us children of magic when he placed a restriction on all of us. He can control my memories, he can easily come to this memory and be so pissed off that he takes it away from me causing me to forget the dark king forever.

He sighs aggravatedly and lightning strikes out followed by the clap of thunder. "Can we ever be together?"

I turn away from him and put my hand on my forehead. This wasn't happening to me. I wasn't suppose to get tied up in this mission. I am supposed to do what I am told, finish, and return home--to Craylle. I am heading down a very dangerous road right now talking to him about this. "Raidyn...There's nothing you can do." I take a step away from him.

"That's not true. I can save your people." He slams his fists on a nearby dresser, breaking all the legs.

"You can't save them!" I shout back at him angrily. "You think you're doing what's right, but you aren't!"

"Then tell me what I should do! Tell me how I can help!" He screams, I'm sure his voice echoed throughout the entire palace.

"I can't," I sigh in defeat. "Can't you see that I can't tell you?!" Won't. I won't tell him for the sake of risking everything.