The Dark Prince (The Dark Light Series)(154)

One corner of his mouth curls into a smirk. “Why does this feel like goodbye?”

I shrug, feeling the distance between us growing wider and wider with every passing second towards my ascension. “Because maybe it is goodbye. Or maybe it’s something else entirely. Maybe it’s forever. I don’t know.”

And with that, I turn on my heel and exit the suite, wondering if I’ve seen the last of the man I love. The Warlock who opened me in a way that no one else could, and showed me all the wonders of the world through hauntingly ice blue eyes.





I pull into the abandoned, dark parking lot of Garden of the Gods and kill the engine. I have twenty minutes to spare so I take the few quiet moments to contemplate my next move. I know I’ve had a year to prepare for this moment, and honestly, I thought my mind was made up. Even with the knowledge of what the Light and Dark were originally created for, my interpretation of them was pretty black and white. But the last twelve hours have completely shattered that decision. It’s not only created grey areas, it has made me doubt any and everything I’ve ever learned about them. How can I choose one when I am still so tied to the other?

My tortured thoughts are interrupted by a sensation crawling up my arms and legs. It’s not the prickles of pleasure that Dorian gives me. It’s not even the creeping, tingling feeling that indicates that danger is near, causing the fine hairs on my arms to stand at attention. It’s something else entirely. Like a burning coldness that singes the surface of my skin, stripping off the very top layer. It doesn’t hurt but it isn’t exactly pleasant either.

I take a moment to absorb it all, holding my arms in front of me to look for any visible change. Even in almost complete darkness, I can see every line and pore in my skin. I can hear the tiny pelts of rainwater falling silently on the windshield, even smell them in the light breeze. And I can feel the shift in the Earth’s atmosphere, indicating that an extreme surge of power is on the horizon. It’s time. It’s time for me to cross over into the unknown and embrace eternity.

I step out into the chilly dampness of the night and take a deep breath before beginning my trek. Ascending here at Garden of the Gods just made sense when I planned it weeks ago. I had always marveled at the fascinating rock formations and thought of them as somewhat supernatural even long before I even knew the Light and Dark existed. And now that I have an idea of all that is out there, coupled with its name, I am almost certain that paranormal activity played a part in its creation.

Then there’s the most obvious reason for its significance: Garden of the Gods is the place where Dorian and I shared our first kiss. Though our future together is murkier than ever- hell, my future is murkier than ever- I will hold that memory close to me. It was a happy time. I don’t want to lose sight of those moments in fear that I may never feel happiness like that again.

I stop at a tall, sandstone structure with a flat surface and with one last calming breath, I begin my climb. It’s pitch black out but I can see perfectly. Even the climb is almost too easy, which brings a tiny smile to my tense face. I’ve never been really athletic but right now I feel like I could climb Pike’s Peak.

The rain begins to pick up just as I reach the top, shifting from a light mist to a moderate downpour. My hair has already begun to curl and stick to my face and back yet I make no move to seek refuge. I know what is coming and if what Dorian has told me is correct, it could very well get much worse. I close my eyes and tilt my head to the sky. Maybe it’s him who is actually making it rain right now. Maybe this is his way of being with me through all of this.

Lightning slices through the sky so bright that I yelp in surprise. Deafening thunder immediately follows it, indicating the storm’s close proximity. The heavens open completely, rain pouring down in a sheet so thick that I feel as if I’m submerged in water. The static in the air meets the cold burning sensation still attacking my skin with millions of tiny shocks. I hold my hands in front of me, looking at the miniscule volts glowing on my skin with rapt fascination. This is happening. This is really happening. And instead of being afraid or confused, I feel absolutely enlightened and secure. Like this is totally natural. This ethereal feeling just seems right.

Bolts of white hot lightning dart from the sky, scorching the earth around me. Sparks fall over me like electric rain, illuminating the haunting shadows created by the huge sandstone boulders. The earsplitting boom caused by the constant thunder sounds more like a roar mixed with the howling winds. Everything around me rumbles and shakes, yet I stand tall, fierce and completely unmovable.