Page 124 of A World of Ruins

‘You have five days to decide, Nara,’ Aurum declares. ‘Fight me for the kingdom, or die along with the rest of Emberwell.’

Never.

Never. Never.

I grit my teeth. ‘Fuck you.’

‘Hm, I would think it over, Nara . . . you might change your mind sooner than you think.’ His lips curl into a smile dipped in malice, and he glances at Idris once more. ‘One week,’ he says again, then calls to his dragons, flying past us like a storm.

Idris and I hold on to each other tightly, my heart pounding as the deafening cries of Aurum’s creatures fill the air before he vanishes along with them.

CHAPTERFIFTY-THREE

I yell for help as soon as I make it to the courtyard. Idris and I limp and stagger, watching the smoke coat the air and flames flicker all around us. Leira comes through the haze, sees we are covered in dirt and soot – as is she.

‘Nara—’

‘I need you to take Idris to the infirmary,’ I tell her, not giving her enough time to worry about me.

She stares at me, her wild dark curls matted and soaked in all kinds of things. With a slight hesitation, she nods, but Idris begins shaking his head. I ignore him, letting Leira lead him away as I scan the wounded Venators and shifters helping each other up from the ground.

My head pounds in agonising pain. Everything is destroyed, my people are injured, and I can’t find Darius, my friends . . .

‘Nara?’ a shaky voice says from behind me.

I spin around, tears stinging my eyes as I see my two brothers holding one another. Their clothes are ripped, and underneath the dirt that covers them I can see a hint of gold and colourful tunics – attire they wore to celebrate my wedding today.

My lips wobble as I sway towards them. I wrap my arms around each of them before pressing my forehead against Illias’s forehead.

‘I’m so sorry,’ I whisper. ‘This was never meant to happen.’

‘I know.’ Illias nods, but it’s not enough. No apology is enough.

As I pull back from him, my eyes trace the familiar lines of his face, the brown curls that look darker against the dust. Then, I do the same to Iker. He pulls me into an embrace, sighing when I mumble another apology to him, too.

But the bittersweet moment shatters when I look up and see Darius emerging from the smog. My heart lurches as I take in the blood splashed across his once-pristine jacket.

His eyes find mine, and his steps quicken, swallowing the space between us until he reaches me, and I collapse into his arms. He peppers my face with kisses, saying how much he loves me over and over again as I nod and close my eyes.

‘What did he do?’ he says, his voice tense as I open my eyes to look at him. He knows. He always knows.

‘He . . .’ I shake my head, almost whimpering from the memory of seeing his rotted face in the flesh. ‘He gave us five days.’

Darius’s brows pull together, his lips parting.

‘Five days,’ I say again. ‘Five days to either fight him in battle or he will destroy more than he already has.’

Concern flickers across his eyes, and he cradles my head against his chest. He says, ‘We’ll figure it out, Goldie. I promise.’

I lean back to look at him, wanting to make sure that he is actually here with me, but another figure captures my attention as Lorcan strides into the courtyard, carrying the body of someone in his arms. His jaw is set as his eyes meet mine, and I look down at the person in his hold.

Ruvyn.

He is utterly lifeless in Lorcan’s arms as blood trickles down the side of his head and mats his hair to his face.

I stare at him for seconds as I bite my lower lip to keep myself from crying. ‘His mother,’ I whisper. ‘He—’ I look up, my throat burning. ‘He was supposed to be with his mother.’

Darius’s hand brushes against my cheek, smearing soot and blood. I don’t care; I take in his touch, needing it more than ever. ‘He died in your service,’ he says. ‘Protecting you and this kingdom despite it not being his home. His mother would be proud, and so should you be, Goldie.’

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