The Dark Prince (The Dark Light Series)(153)

“Why do you look…fine? You still look like yourself. Not tired or weak.” I stretch the taut skin on his high cheek bones, looking for any sign of wrinkles or dark circles.

He shakes his head in my grip. “The Enchanter was easy enough to defeat. He was too distracted by you to put up much of a fight. I acquired his power then destroyed him. Light energy has its…perks. I didn’t want to take it, but I knew I needed it if I were to try to save you.”

I release his face from my hands and let them slide to his sculpted shoulders, resting my forehead against his. “I have to go,” I say just above a whisper. “I don’t know what I am gonna do, but I have to go.”

“I know,” he replies matching my tone. “I won’t tell you how to choose. I can’t. But know that whatever side you align to, whichever way you ascend, I love you.” My bottom lip quivers before Dorian soothes it with the sweetest, softest kiss. “I know you’ll do what is right. I know you’ll make Alex and Natalia proud. They loved you so much. Maybe even as much as I do,” he says with a chuckle.

Through my confusion and fear, a smile curls my trembling lips. “Thank you.”

After one last chaste kiss, he pulls away. “I’ll give you some privacy to clean up. All your clothes and toiletries are still here. I never got rid of them. I expected…both of us to be back soon.”

I smile as he exits the room then make my way to the bathroom to shower and wash out the matted blood in my hair. I feel an overwhelming gratitude to Dorian for changing me out of my ripped, bloodied clothing. He must’ve known the sight alone would have raised even more turmoil in my head.

I wash and dress on autopilot, my thoughts completely consumed with my last moments on Earth as a somewhat normal, human girl. I’ve lived a good life. I’ve been blessed with good friends and great parents. By aligning with the Dark, I would be going against all they have taught me. I would be playing right into Stavros’s hands. And now that Dorian has gone against his wishes, I am almost certain that our deal is off. He would have no reason to uphold his end of the bargain.

Then again, the Light have proven to be just as cunning and deceitful. I can’t blame their entire race for the acts of one but Xavier has clearly shown me just what they are capable of. They can be evil, menacing and murderous. They are no better than the Dark in that respect.

I make my way out of the bedroom and spot Dorian at the French doors, looking out into the night, a glass of scotch clutched in his palm. The sight tugs at my heartstrings and I fight the impulse to wrap my arms around him from behind like I had done so many times before. He would tell me all the wonders that the darkness revealed as I trailed kisses on his back before resting my cheek against it, taking in his exotic freshness. It would be so easy to slip back into that habit. Being with him, showing him that affection that he craves so much, would be as effortless as breathing.

“I called Chris and Donna,” Dorian says before turning to face me. His expression is cautious, and a little bit sad. “I went there before I found you and told them what I felt. I promised I would do any and everything to save you. I nearly had to restrain Chris from coming with me but I couldn’t risk him getting hurt. I told them you would call once you had a chance.”

“Thank you.” I stop just a few feet from him, unsure of where we stand. But I can’t think about that right now. My thoughts are reserved solely for what is to come in the next hour.

Dorian fishes something out of his pocket and extends his palm, revealing a set of keys. “Here, take my car. Yours is still in front of your store.”

I take the keys from him with a shaky hand, now even more nervous about driving his ridiculously expensive sports car. “Thanks. I didn’t realize you still had it here.”

“I told you that I had intended to come back. All of my things are here. But most importantly, you’re here. I wasn’t lying when I said I couldn’t be without you.”

I nod, clutching the keys to my chest. I don’t know how I should respond. I have a major decision to make and I don’t want to give him false hope in case it doesn’t go the way he wants. Hell, I don’t even know how it’s going to go. But it will be midnight soon and I can’t run from that. I can’t escape my destiny, no matter what it entails.

On slightly wobbly legs, I make my way to the door, leaving Dorian at the French doors watching me intently. I turn towards him just before he is out of my eyesight.

“Dorian,” I say in a quiet voice, though I know he can hear me. “I’ll be back. I don’t know for what. I can’t be sure if it will be as your friend or your foe, but I’ll be back. Thank you…for everything. For saving me. And for loving me.”