Tasting Darkness

Tasting Darkness BOOK TWO JESSICA HALL Cover by MCDamon Design Format design by CED Edited by Gabrielle Gerbus @incubix Art work by Athira on insta Copyright © 2023 by Jessica Hall All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Contents Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Chapter 47 Chapter 48 Chapter 49 Chapter 50 Chapter 51 Chapter 52 Chapter 53 Also by Jessica Hall Authors I suggest Chapter One Darius My mind is spinning as I hold the hellhounds off. One stupid mistake nearly cost her life. I should never have taken her out of the castle grounds without the others. The entire situation is shocking, but I am most shocked about the fact that she could have drained me of my power and portaled out and run, leaving me. Instead, she stayed to protect me. I knew something was off about her, but never in my wildest dreams did I think she was Harmony-Fae and an elemental on top of that. Not for one second did I ever entertain that idea; she shouldn’t exist. It’s like finding a unicorn, a mythical creature, impossible. Aleera would be a lethal weapon if appropriately trained. Why would she keep it from us? We would have protected her. However, it made so much sense now why her parents tried to kill her. “Aleera, stay with me, love,” I call to her as my magic falters after getting hit with a blast of air. I scan my surroundings as my flame walls suddenly encase us, and I barely cover her body with mine in time to stop the flames from burning her. Using more power, I have no choice but to reinforce them again. Come on, Tobias, where are you? I think just before I feel his presence getting close. Lycus’ presence also feels near as my mark stops burning on my wrist. Kalen isn’t here, and I wonder what they did to subdue him for him to remain at home. I know that man would walk through fire for her. We all would. Tobias and I have! As I feel their energy draw nearer, I hear whimpers and shouting around me, yet the shudder against my shield as they bounce off it tells me they would get to her if I drop it because our mates still aren’t near enough. “Tobias, behind you!” Lycus calls out before I hear him grunt. Pain slivers through our bond from Tobias and in a panic makes me drop the shield. My eyes instantly find him fighting with the man from town. It is the same man that walked out in front of my car. I hear a vicious snarl as the hellhounds lunge at us, ripping me back to my surroundings. My body covers Aleera’s head to shield her, expecting the hellhounds to sink their teeth into us any second, yet my thoughts are interrupted by the fierce sounds of flesh being ripped from bone and a mighty furious roar. Lycus’ giant black wolf grips the hellhound’s neck in his powerful jaws, ripping the hellhound back at the last second and slamming it onto the ground. He shakes his head, ripping out the beast’s throat and spraying himself and me in blood. Looking around, I notice he and Tobias have taken out the others, and the only person left is the man Tobias is fighting. Fool. Thinking he can sneak up on a vampiric-fae. It would have been smarter if he ran. Tobias pivots at the last second and plunges his hand through the man’s chest, his entire body becomes engulfed in flames as Tobias’ magic burns through him. His screams drill into my ears and make goosebumps rise on my arms. “Idiot,” I mutter, thinking his puny air magic is a match for a fire user. Tobias rips his hand out, leaving the man’s burning corpse to fall at his feet. The hellhounds put up more of a fight. Tobias instantly runs over to us. Lycus’ big black wolf also approaches, his giant wolf towers over me and Aleera, sharp claws and sharp teeth that can rip flesh from bone. No wonder his father used him in the pits, he was truly a terrifying beast, even in this form he packed more muscle than I’ve seen of any shifter. Lycus sniffs and licks my face, then nudges me with his nose. I push his head away, lifting my body from Aleera’s unconscious one. He sniffs her, licking her cheek, and nudging her. A low whining whimper slips out of him when she doesn't wake. Tobias comes over and runs his hand down Lycus’ back before gripping his fur. “She will be okay. Let us get her home,” Tobias tells him, and Lycus whines while I get to my knees. Scooping my arms under her, I grab her, picking her up and crushing her to my chest. Blood trickles from her nose, ears, and eyes from using my magic. The amount she used tells me she must have never harnessed that much at once. Being an elemental, magic should come easy to her unless she hasn’t used it or trained with it. Tobias walks over to the car, and Lycus shifts back to give him a hand as they push it back on its