The Dark Prince (The Dark Light Series)(39)

Dorian squeezes my ass tighter, his fingernails breaking the skin and I feel him begin to quiver his demise. With a strangled groan, he submits into me, and we drift out into the dark waters together. Just my Dorian and me lost at sea, and the monsters within us that feed off our carnality.





Chapter Eight




My eyes flutter open only to be met with complete darkness. Where am I? I feel around frantically for any sign of familiarity, realizing that I’m alone in my new bed. I’m disoriented and naked. Shit. What time is it? Where is Dorian? I don’t even remember falling asleep.

The lights flicker on and I raise my hand to shield my adjusting eyes. I look around me frantically to find the source of light and see Dorian sitting on the chaise lounge. He’s slouching, his elbows resting lazily on his knees, a drastic change from his usual poised stance.

“Dorian? Is everything ok? Are you alright?” I ask sitting straight up. I think to climb out of bed and go to him but my muscles are still stiff with exhaustion.

Dorian doesn’t budge. He still has not raised his head to meet my gaze or even acknowledge my presence, though I’m certain he is the one who turned on the lights as soon as he realized I was awake.

“What’s going on? Dorian, please talk to me!” I shout with urgency. I’m afraid; has he been hurt?

Dorian lifts his head and reveals the reason why he was reluctant to show himself to me. His eyes are dark and menacing. Cold. Yet there is pain and remorse in them. Something has surely transpired while I was asleep and I automatically begin to think the worst.

“What happened? You can tell me,” I say just above a whisper.

Dorian’s expression is desolate and unreadable, giving nothing away. His mouth opens just a fraction before closing shut. He wants to tell me, he needs to, but he’s… frightened? No. He could never be scared of anything. I couldn’t imagine a force more powerful or terrifying than he. However, something has surely shaken him and I am writhing in the unknown.

“I apologize, my love,” he finally whispers.

What? Oh no. Has he gone to see Aurora? Did he breathe her? Shit!

Dorian shakes his head a bit, dispelling my trivial worries. “I was unsuccessful.”

“What are you talking about?”

“It didn’t work. I couldn’t…I didn’t,” he stammers. He takes a deep breath then lets his ice blue eyes meet mine, emanating hurt and regret. “I couldn’t fix her, Gabriella.”

I take in a sharp breath, trying to digest what he’s telling me. “What does that mean?”

Suddenly, Dorian is next to me, wisps of charcoal smoke surrounding him before quickly dissipating. He turns to me urgently, seething with contempt and rage, his eyes burning deadly blue fire. His hands fly up to cup my face, bringing it up to meet his intense gaze.

“It means she is stuck, a pile of nothingness. Just. Like. Me. Forever petrified, frozen like a fucking corpse until we can find another way. Or until I kill the fucker who did this.”

“Dorian, please calm down,” I whisper, reaching a tentative hand up to stroke his face. He instantly recoils, scooting away to put space between us.

“Calm down? Ha! What world do you live in, Gabriella? Because that’s where I wanna go. Where everything is just fucking ponies and gumdrops,” he spews angrily.

“That was uncalled for,” I mumble casting my glassy eyes down to my knotted hands on the comforter.

“Yeah it was. And you know what? That’s the reality. All of this is uncalled for.” Dorian’s breathing is rapid as if he’s just run the length of the apartment complex. But I know he is not physically winded. He’s enraged and trying to get his emotions in check before he explodes.

He looks back up at me with remorseful eyes, searching for understanding. “You have no idea what it’s like, Gabriella,” he whispers.

I gaze at my Dark lover, equally pained at his erratic desperation. “Then tell me.”

Dorian shakes his head a bit, trying to dispel the memories that still haunt him. He can’t bring himself to say it. We sit for several minutes in silence, him looking out into the night through the window, me looking at him, trying to beckon him to talk to me. Finally Dorian turns his head to me, and his icy cold guise has thawed. My Dorian has come back to me.

“When my father summoned me, I knew there would be consequences for my omissions. No one defies the king. I was certain that I would be put to death and I was accepting of it.” Dorian looks away for a bit as if he can’t look his truth in the eye. “But as he stared down at me, so cold and callous- deadened- I became afraid. I didn’t want to die. I hadn’t even lived yet. Over 200 years and I still felt like something was missing.”