Page 140 of A World of Ruins

The gown I wear is a shimmering, lustrous off-the-shoulder white dress embroidered with threads that glint like the sun. The bodice is adorned with a prominent sun emblem that rests at the centre of my chest.

To my side, Darius’s attire mirrors mine, not in design but in essence. The white of his tunic is pristine, with the symbol of a crescent moon glowing upon his chest. He looks like he was born to wear it. A wreath crown of starlight and moons sits atop his head.

The same one Hira once showed me.

I look towards Lorcan on the other side of the hall, silently thanking him once more for fetching these crowns after the battle ended and we got the news that his aunts had survived – much to my dismay, but they at least surrendered.

My brothers and our friends stand beside us now, cheering us on as I smile at them, savouring the look on their faces and the proud gleam in their eyes. When I glance over at Darius, he looksat me, lifting our intertwined hands to his lips and kissing them softly. I laugh, the halo shape of my crown almost slipping with the tilt of my head.

The head priestess of Emberwell steps forward onto the dais. She wears a golden robe cut from rich fabric similar to ours. A white tassel hangs from her waist, and as she bows to us, the hood of her robe covers her eyes but not her tender smile.

‘We welcome you as the new rulers of Emberwell,’ she says, raising her head. ‘King Darius Rivernorth of the moon, and Queen Naralía Brielle Rivernorth . . . of the sun.’

I rest my elbows on the balcony, staring down at the celebrations in the courtyard. From up here, I can see Freya being spun around by Iker, her curls wild and free as she tilts her head back to laugh. Rydan once again seems to be pestering Lorcan about something, although he does manage to get a smile out of him, while Link and Illias hold each other tenderly, swaying to the sound of violins.

Releasing a happy sigh, I turn my attention to the golden hues of sunset, which wrap the world into night.

‘I knew you would be out here.’

I straighten and turn around to see Darius smirking as he leans against the wall.

‘You mean you saw me from down there and decided to come up here.’

He laughs, pushing himself off the wall and making his way towards me. He wraps a hand around my waist, swaying me gently as I look up into his eyes. ‘You can’t prove that.’

I chuckle and pinch his arm. He nips at my lip in retaliation. ‘So,’ I say, a little out of breath as he pulls away. ‘How are you finding life now that you don’t need to steal?’

‘Boring.’

I laugh again.

‘Boring because you no longer have me tracking your every move?’

He squeezes my hip. ‘No,’ he drawls. ‘Although it did take you a little while to finally capture me.’

I smack him with one of my glares, but a laugh rumbles through his chest as he leans in and kisses me.

‘Now,’ he says against my lips. ‘What is on your mind that made you want to come up here on your own?’

Curse him for knowing me too well.

I tip my head back to really look at him. ‘I guess I was just feeling overwhelmed.’

He hums. ‘And?’

‘And . . .’ I drag out the word. ‘I guess I am worried that as queen, I won’t be able to live up to everyone’s expectations.’

He sighs. ‘Goldie—’

‘No, I know what you’re going to say, but none of it will ever stop me from thinking I can’t do it. I still want adventures; I still want us to be able to go to sleep without the stress of paperwork or criminals in our kingdom. I just . . .’ I release a flustered breath, unable to finish what I have to say.

Darius cups my face in his hands, forcing me to look him in the eyes. ‘You want adventures? Done. You’re worried about paperwork? We won’t be the only ones doing it. We’ll have others, our friends, our allies. Criminals? If they’re anything like I was, then they should worry about who the new queen is because I heard –’ the corner of his lips lifts – ‘she is a ruthless one.’

I shake my head at his ability to have such power over me with just his words.

‘I mean it, Goldie.’ His gaze makes my skin warm and tingly. ‘You’re not alone in this. You never will be.’

I smile, kissing his lips just as I hear the faint footsteps of a little orange furball.

---