Page 48 of A World of Ruins

‘That’s insulting. Do you know how entertaining this is?’ Iker says, and Illias slaps his abdomen, drawing out an oomph from him.

‘We’re staying,’ Idris adds with finality, straightening his shoulders as he looks forward, ending our discussion.

I know he is still mad at me for vanishing off with Darius, but I am not about to apologise for what I did, and he already knew that from the moment I appeared inside the garrison. ‘Idris—’

‘What has the mortal to say in all of this?’

I freeze, looking out at the flock of shifters.

‘She is the reason for Darius’s capture in the first place!’ the woman yells. She is the only one standing now, as she points accusingly at me. ‘We listened to her when we invaded the castle, and now, after everything we have done, she decides to stay quiet?’

Anger hits my throat, and I spring forward to say my part, but Freya jumps to my aid.

‘Nara has nothing to do with this,’ she says, and it’s a different side to Freya I now see. She’s fierce and a leader, unlike most. ‘She is the one who has ensured your safety – she stepped up when no one else would. Mortal or not, she is part of you, and you will respect her as much as you do Gus.’

Silence settles over the hall. Everyone’s attention is on Freya and Freya alone. I sense Idris tense beside me, and before I can look up at him, my gaze snags on one of the tables as a cuptumbles onto the floor. Dice scatter out from it, landing in a perfect line.

Liars’ Dice.

The very first game Darius and I played back at the den.

Every single muscle of mine seizes as I think of that moment. A moment that changed so much of what I knew back then. And even as the sudden rumblings of horse hooves from outside creep closer and the warning bells chime, I only focus on those dice. But as the doors are busted open, and I turn to see Lorcan and a dozen Aerians behind him, I realise what we are up against.

‘Aurum!’ he shouts, what I have dreaded for so long, and my stomach buckles as the shifters inside rise on alert. Chaos reigns in the Aeris lands as people push each other towards the front.

I whirl to my brothers as Link and Rydan draw out their weapons and Freya ignites her magic into the palm of her hands.

No, no – I need more time.

‘Nara, go!’ Idris is yelling, but it doesn’t register until I glance back at the dice. Idris grabs my shoulders, shoving me so that I start moving, but I plant my feet down on the ground and hold on to him.

‘Darius,’ is all I say. As I turn to look, I see Gus guiding a few children to some hiding spots at the end of the hall. When he finds my gaze, he gives me a stern nod, and I immediately know what he is implying.

I twist my head back at Idris. He’s looking at me with a strangled expression, stuck between being an older brother or an ally.

‘Damn it, Nara.’ He squeezes my arms, choosing the latter.

‘Find a dragon and ride out of here, the three of you.’ I don’t care if they can fight better than a goblin; I do not want Aurum near them. ‘Head to Terranos if you have to, but just,please, get to safety.’

Idris hesitates, his jaw ticking more by the second.

‘We will, as long as you do too.’ Illias touches Idris’s shoulder, struggling to drag him away from me. ‘Be safe, Nara. For us.’

I nod and my chest heaves in and out as I stare at the commotion unfolding before me. Lorcan is on the other side, lining people up as explosions of dragon fire fill the skies from outside the windows. As I make my way through the mayhem and snatch the cup and dice from the floor, my feet jump into motion and propel me forwards. Everyone who is left charges towards the doors, ready for a fight, but as I make it outside, I sprint in the other direction, where the palace lies and Darius is.

CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO

I’m running as fast as possible through the palace’s hidden passageways. I focus only on the thought that Darius is still in the dungeons and that I have to get to him before anything can happen. My feet ache and my emotions tangle along with the pain.

I make it to the dungeons, my burgundy tunic catching the surfaces of the walls and ripping apart as I make it down the steps. It doesn’t matter, though; what matters is that I reach Darius. I raise one of my hands up as I skid around the corner and slam against the wall.

Darius rises to his feet, worry so potent across his features that he stalks towards the bars of his gate in three swift strides. ‘Goldie? What’s wrong?’

I’m panting as I rush over to him. I lift the cups stacked with the dice inside and say between breaths, ‘You said Aurum won’t let you remember.’

He stares at me, his gaze sharpening with concern.

‘Fine, then,’ I say, ‘we will do something different. Something that followsmyrules.’

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