Tasting Darkness

Read Taming Darkness By Jessica Hall Book 3 Chapter 35 – Putting a hand to my lips, I gasped. I was the cure. The way to stop
the plagues all along. Darius may have created the first plague, but I created the cure. Porter sn*tched my wrist, “Please, take
care of Lycus. Tell him I’m sorry,” he whispered through blackened lips. “I was never the husband his mother deserved, or the
father I should have been to him.” He took a pained breath, wincing.
More blood spewed from his mouth and down his chin, and he groaned in pain. It was obvious, whatever my mother had done,
he was causing immense suffering. There was so much blood, I couldn’t figure out how he was possibly alive.
Had he held onto life to give me these vials? I stared down at the man that had caused so much pain and suffering and instead
of the hatred that usually licked away at my insides, I found pity. I held my hand near his head.
“I’ll take care of him,” I promised. Porter let out a breath and nodded his head weakly, closing his eyes. “I know I don’t deserve it,
but I’m sorry.” Porter mumbled, his hands twitched as his muscles spasmed.
(( He would never forgive me,” Porter choked out. “Maybe in another lifetime you can make it up to him,” I whisper, it was clear
he was terrified of dying. “I don’t want Lycus to do it... I don’t want it on his soul. I have caused him enough pain.
He will feel obligated, I know my son..” I understood what he meant, if I walked away and left him and Lycus learned he was
down here suffering, he would come down to put him out of his misery.
“I understand if you won’t, you owe me nothing,” Porter rasped, spraying me in blood. I wasn’t sure how much longer he could
hold on, but it was obvious his magic hadn’t burned out, and he was trying to heal himself.
I cupped his cheek with my hand. “I don’t think I can heal you without bonding you to me,” “I’m not asking that, I am asking you to
kill me,” he said, opening his eyes and looking at me. ”
Don’t make him do it, he hates me, but I know deep inside, he still loves Why else would he come running every time I
summoned him?” He coughed and I nodded. I knew mostly for Kalen, but part of him longed for his father, he had no reason to
do as his father asked once he was with Darius and Tobias.
I let out a shaky breath and nod. “I don’t like you, but I forgive you, >> I told him, holding up the vials to show him that I had them
safely. “Do you think Lycus may one day forgive me?” He said it with a deep sigh, the way a condemned man whispers right
before their sentence is carried out.
I tilt my head to the side, watching him. “Maybe, maybe when he forgives himself for not saving her,” I whispered and his tears
send blood streaking his cheek. “Thank you,” he choked out before closing his eyes. I summoned my magic. I couldn’t let him

suffer.
He deserved to, but he was Lycus’ father and his remorse was enough for me to end him quickly. Fire spiraled from my hand and
consumed him, turning him into ash on the spot. I sighed, glancing down at the black spot his body left.
Tucking the vials away into my pocket, I straightened and looked away from what used to be Lycus’ father. Nothing would sway
me from my mission to find my mother and put an end to this chaos all around me.
On the floor below, the power hunters’ screams were being cut off one-by-one. I almost wished I was downstairs to watch the
Harmony Fae taking their revenge on those who had tormented them. From the sounds of it, none of the hunters would be
making it up the stairs.
Yet as I took in my surroundings, eyes searching, I spotted her. There was their Queen, darting out of another room far down the
hall. She was running, a case clutched for dear life in her hand. Something, I wouldn’t let her leave with.
I tore off after her, my footsteps echoing down the hall. “Lidia!” I screamed, almost roared at her with all the anger and hatred that
was compressed inside. She froze in place and her head jerked as she saw me.
“Aleera! Come with me,” she offered with a wide grin. “We can rule together!” She was definitely more insane than I’d ever
imagined if she thought I was going to fall for this. Me, join her? Never, even if she somehow brainwashed me,
I would off myself before I would fall prey to her. “I will never join you, Lidia. You had me not because you wanted me, a child to
love, but because you wanted a weapon to exact your revenge and lust for power.
I was just a means to an end for you.” A shadow flitted across her face, making her appear dark and sinister. “You would pick
them over me?” she spat the words out at me. “His kind are the reason the Seraphim are no more! He is the reason the plague
killed all the light Fae! You would still choose him knowing all that?” “No,” the word boomed out of me and for a second her c****y
confidence wavered, I got to see her fear.
“Darius never started the plague. You and my father used him, just like you used me. All of this the plague and what came of it
was to settle an age-old score and so you could sit on the ultimate seat of power. All of this time you knew I was the cure, and
you wanted to use that and dangle me about like some toy.
I will always choose my mates above you, especially Darius.” My words struck home. Pure hatred flashed in her eyes and she
screamed like a possessed banshee before charging straight at me. I stopped her mid-lunge, holding her in place with my magic.
Her eyes were wide, clearly she wasn’t expecting this.