Page 1 of A World of Ruins

PARTONE

THERESCUEMISSION

DARIUS

NOCTURANIGHT

I find myself gazing at an obsidian ring I fashioned from one of my scales many years ago. The den is crowded tonight, with many shifters celebrating Noctura. One child bumps her hip into my table, and I glance at her. She shoots me an apologetic smile, and the warmth from it fills my core.

Deftly taking out a small pouch from my pocket, I pass it over to her.

She opens it up and gasps. ‘Is this the magic dust from the Isle of Elements?’

I nod, chuckling when I feel her excitement. ‘Make sure your mother doesn’t see it, or I won’t hear the end of it.’

Margie might love me, but she often told me off – sometimes for as little as swearing in front of her.

‘Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you! You are the best, Darius!’ As she runs off, I smile and return to looking at the ring while nursing a mug of ale in my other hand.

‘Are we ever going to see Miss Misty again, Darry?’ Tibith’s enthusiastic question pairs with the fluttering of his ears as he climbs onto the table.

Hearing that nickname brings another smile to my lips, one that appears too quickly whenever I even think about her.

‘Naralía,’ I say. ‘Her real name is Naralía.’ I bring the mug up to my lips and scoff. ‘OrNara, as she says, and no, I don’t think we will.’

From the side, I can see Tibith blink in confusion. When I told him to stay behind while I went to the ball, he worried I would be caught. He isn’t used to me being this bold, inserting myself into situations amongst Venators. So, seeing how affected I am aroundGoldie, all he can do is wonder. I’ll tell him more about who she is to me eventually, but after tonight, I doubt I will see her again despite me still having her scent of jasmine on my clothes.

A sensual thought crosses my mind, about our dance and how close she was to me. I shift on my chair, grumbling as I take another swig from my mug, hoping to drown her out of my head with alcohol.

An hour later, it still doesn’t work. I’ve only achieved a new-found hatred for Cutler, who seems to think he can beat me at Liars’ Dice.

Tibith then talks my ear off, explaining how he wants all the bread in the world, but although I usually always listen to him, this time, I cannot focus. Otis comes by and whispers something into my ear. On any other occasion, I would have happily agreed with him.

By the time male shifters are slurring their words and women have taken their children up to bed, I stand and flick a few coins onto the table. I tip my head at a couple of people I know more than others and whistle over at Tibith to come follow. He lifts his head and smiles as he trots behind me and into the warm night air.

I pause by the doorway, staring up at the crisp moon, marvelling at how large it looks tonight. An attractive beacon of light.

‘Come on, that’s it—’

I frown, dropping my head to look to my right. It appears to be Gus, with an Ardenti dragon named Fernah, aiding one of her hatching eggs.

Tibith and I look at each other before waltzing across the grass field. Likely hearing us, Gus glances behind his shoulder and chuckles as he spots me.

‘Darius,’ he says, holding up a hatchling that can barely open its eyes. ‘Leaving already?’

‘Cutler was getting on my nerves.’

This time, Gus lets out a howl of laughter. He often finds the simplest things I say hilarious. ‘You should cut him some slack. He looks up to you; everyone does.’

I shift uncomfortably on the spot, and I am relieved Gus doesn’t notice. I may take pleasure in being the centre of attention, but having people look up to me leaves me with too much space to mess things up.

Clearing my throat, I decide to involve myself before Gus can say something I am not in the mood for. I roll my shirtsleeves up and crouch beside him, with Tibith staring curiously from the side.

Gus turns his head as I grab one of the colossal eggs with the dragon hatchling still inside. ‘Looks like that one is having too much fun inside; it doesn’t want to leave.’

Fernah rumbles in response, lowering her head to the ground. I chuckle as I move my hand over the scaly exterior of the shell, helping the creature to emerge from its home. ‘It likely is better in there than out here.’

‘But it looks so small, Darry! How can a whole dragon fit inside an egg?’ Tibith asks inquisitively.

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