Page 34 of A World of Ruins

‘Here.’

My head rears at the sight of a shiny red apple shoved before me. I turn my head to where Illias stands beside me, then to the closed doors through which everyone else has left.

I frown, and my lips form a pout. ‘I’m not hungry—’

‘When was the last time you ate a proper meal?’

I make a noise at the back of my throat, annoyed. ‘You are almost starting to sound like Idris.’

‘Please,’ Illias scoffs. ‘Idris would have force-fed this to you by now.’

I fix him with a smug smile. ‘And he would have failed.’

He chuckles. ‘Oh yes. Just like that time you didn’t want to eat the broth he prepared.’

I hum in agreement and drop my head on his shoulder, staring at the dragons flying around. ‘I believe that was the first time he realised how much trouble I would be.’

‘YouandIker,’ Illias remembers with a sigh. ‘He is the one who copied you by throwing the broth all over Idris.’

Recalling that night with a chuckle, I hook my arm through Illias’s. It had been a few days after the death of our mother. With what little food we still had, Idris cooked us dinner. It was the first time we sat down as a family without our parents there.

‘It wasn’t the worst meal in the world,’ I say, wistfulness resonating deep in my chest. ‘I thought it was the most incredible thing he had made for us since our mother’s death.’

He tilts, making me shift to look up at him. ‘But you weren’t ready for something like that.’

I wasn’t. But what I would give to have a moment like that again at our old cottage, knowing that our only problem back then was the possibility of goblins invading our home in search of food and treasures.

Illias takes both of my arms and spins me around to face him. When the light hits his brown curls, it makes them appear almost golden.

‘Make sure you eat.’ He kisses the top of my head and places the apple on the table before walking out.

Later on, that same evening, once the sun sets, I spend hours with the dragons outside the garrison, eating the apple my brother gave me while I make a promise to myself that I will get Darius’s self back.

He is still there; I know it.

CHAPTERSIXTEEN

‘Are you going to stand there and watch me all day, Goldie?’ Darius sits opposite me inside the cell, munching down on a piece of bread and mutton I fetched earlier today from the kitchen. I don’t like the idea he is in here; everyone knows that. The least I can do is feed him properly, something the phoenixes didn’t want after Darius tried attacking them.

‘Goldie,’ I repeat, and Darius stops chewing. ‘That is what you always used to call me from the moment we first met.’

He stares at me, and I don’t think he realises how his gaze drops to my lips. When he finally notices, he clears his throat and resumes eating away. I watch as he carefully swallows, his throat bobbing. ‘I take it that it means something to you.’

‘To the both of us,’ I say.

He doesn’t like that response. His jawline tenses and he drops his food onto the plate, rubbing his hands together to brush the crumbs away. Pressing his palms against the ground, he leans back. ‘Why are you here, Nara?’ He releases a stiff laugh when I don’t answer and motions his head towards the plate. ‘Other than to bring me food and attempt to get me to remember you.’

I want to look away from his scrutinising stare, but it is impossible to do so. His eyes are honey, and all I want is to drink them in. ‘A few months ago,’ I start, ‘I found out that you had erased my memory of when we were children. I spent over half my life not knowing who you were, yet you rememberedeverything. And the other times we saw each other as adults,you did not tell me because you thought you were not worthy of me.’ The tragic beat of my heart pounds with the memory of that day. ‘But youare. That is why I will do anything I can to make you remember.’

I can feel him pulling away from me again, and he looks at me like he is so conflicted.

‘We need you to come back to us, Darius,’ I whisper. ‘Ineed you to; Tibith needs you—’

‘Tibith?’

I nod. ‘A Tibithian. You befriended him and taught him how to speak years ago.’ His head slants and I grow desperate once again. ‘He is your best friend.’And he misses you.

Darius mulls over my words and, almost as if he is curious, he goes to speak, but the words never fall from his lips as he looks over my shoulder.

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