Page 141 of A World of Ruins

‘You also have me, Mrs Nara!’ Tibith says, bouncing on his feet, his belly protruding after eating so much bread from the festivities.

Music drifts over the fields and up to the balcony as I chuckle.

‘I’ll always have you,’ I say, my eyes flickering back up at Darius. ‘Both of you.’

‘In that case,’ Darius says, backing up. ‘Why don’t we go on a little adventure. The three of us.’

Intrigue lifts my lips into a smile. ‘Where to?’

Darius’s gaze sweeps over me. ‘Where would you like to go, Goldie?’

I ponder the infinite possibilities as I saunter up to him and swipe at the invisible lint on his shoulders. ‘Surprise me,’ I murmur against his lips, and he grins. Seconds later, he has shifted into his dragon form, and Tibith and I clamber onto his back.

He lifts us into the skies, Tibith and I surrendering to peals of laughter as Darius weaves us through billowing clouds, sweeping over the views of Emberwell. I gaze upwards and close my eyes as I smile, promising myself this journey will be a new adventure.

And Solaris, will it be a great one.

EPILOGUE

I’m standing inside a cottage, shifter children running around as I make the final adjustments to Illias’s tunic. He looks around nervously and tries to brush my hand away.

I smack his fingers. ‘Stop fussing, you look wonderful.’

‘You say that even when I have paint all over my face.’

I smile up at him. ‘Because it’s the truth.’

Illias looks like he is about to disagree when Iker knocks on the door. ‘Everyone’s waiting—’ He freezes when he sees Illias. ‘Are you going to cry, brother?’

‘And give you that satisfaction? No, thank you.’

Iker and I both laugh, which doesn’t amuse Illias in the slightest.

Shaking my head, I pat down the lapels of his tunic and take a quick breath. ‘Nervous?’

He nods, and my heart swells, thinking about what is about to happen. Last year, when Darius and I were finally able to marry in front of our loved ones, Illias found the courage to propose to Link during our celebration.

It is somehow poetic that, on the third go, we were able to have a proper ceremony, and my brother gets to have his moment.

‘Well,’ I say, biting my cheek when I feel a lump in my throat. ‘You shouldn’t be. You and Link deserve this.’

He offers me a gentle smile. ‘I know.’ Then, something in his expression changes. ‘Do you think Idris is watching?’

Pain flickers inside my chest, remembering the death of our brother.

I glance at Iker, who straightens off the wall and walks towards us. The three of us stand together, missing one person to complete our circle.

I can feel my eyes begin to water, so I blink them away. ‘I do,’ I whisper, grabbing Iker and Illias’s hands. ‘And I also think he will wonder why we are taking so long.’

They chuckle and I exhale a long breath.

‘Ready?’ I ask.

‘Now more than ever,’ Illias says, and I smile, linking arms with him on one side while Iker grabs the other.

We step out of the quaint cottage and venture into the woods where the shifter’s den used to be. As Iker and I guide my brother down the makeshift aisle, a carpet of lush ferns and ancient, intertwining roots, the dappled sunlight filters through the trees, casting a kaleidoscope of light around us.

The people we love rise from their wooden seats and turn to face Illias with a smile. The forest is alive as dragons, pixies and goblins we have come to know circle the clearing. I look to my left, where Lorcan bows his head to me in respect, then at Leira and Aelle in the next row, grinning at us.

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