Page 5 of A World of Ruins

Recognition of what he now means tightens a coil around my chest. ‘You’re a phoenix.’ I don’t pose it as a question; it is more of a statement that I need to hear myself say.

He nods slowly as if conscious of admitting it. ‘Aerians believe my ancestry dates back to them, that perhaps my mother was never exactly mortal, and that is why I became Erion’s first successful Rümen.’

‘Nara,’ Hira speaks, pulling me out of my memories with a welcoming smile. She moves her long raven hair to the side, showing off the typical Aerian armour she wears – a burgundy chestplate over leather attire, to match the banners inside the hall. If I have learned anything from the past few months staying here, it is that the three Aerian leaders take great pride in being warriors. Since I first met Hira that night at the Noctura ball, she made sure to impress that onto me, despite now knowing who I was.

‘Thank you for joining us,’ she says. ‘We appreciate, with all the training you are undertaking, that you have enough time to spare and give us a chance to speak with—’

‘Any news?’ I interrupt her, anxiety dripping from my words.

Her lips thin into a closed smile as she gestures for me to take a seat. I remain upright, causing her to awkwardly clear her throat as she walks around the table and plants her hands against it. ‘We have received word from the princesses of Terranos that Aurum is no longer there.’

My hands begin to clam up. ‘Where is he?’

‘Princess Arlayna believes he has returned to Emberwell to finish what Sarilyn started.’

Hope blooms inside my chest, and my breath comes out in short bursts. Excitement is taking over at the prospect of goodnews for once. ‘Then if he is there, we can find a way into the castle and free Darius.’ I glance at Freya and Leira. ‘How is the preparation for the unbinding spell coming along? I assume that is why I was brought here to this meeting, right?’

Freya grimaces, biting her lip as she looks at her aunt and Aelle for guidance. Leira seems at a loss, and I do not like it one bit.

‘Even if Aurum is there with Darius,’ Hira’s voice ripples across the room, ‘Freya and her aunt are beginning to believe the spell wouldn’t work. Aurum used his blood in the Isle of Elements to bind their souls together. Our research tells us that simple witchcraft cannot sever that tie.’

My eyes slide to where Lorcan shifts from his statuesque pose. He stares at the floor with enough focus to burn a hole through it. ‘So, what then?’ I say to Hira and begin to tap my fingers against my thigh.

‘Aelle has been able to locate where Aurum is hiding the Elemental Stones inside the castle through her scrying. In the meantime, I’ll have Leira and Freya keep searching for a way to free—’

‘But that’s not good enough!’ I lose all patience, raising my voice. I have kept myself busy and let everyone else take the reins so I could focus on building up my strength, but I can no longer hold in my frustration.

‘Nara—’ Gus touches my shoulder, but I shrug him off, taking a step forward.

‘I have waited three months,’ I say. ‘Threemonths where I have had to suck it up and listen to everyone tell me that it won’t be long until he is back here with all of us. How much longer must I wait while he is stuck with his deranged uncle, who is likely torturing him right as we speak?’ Guilt wraps around my heart, imagining the terrible things he must be going through. I don’t want to believe the worst has happened, and Idon’twant to think we will never get him back. ‘The longer we spend planning what to do next, the more Aurum gains control over everything else around him. He did it three hundred years ago; he did it in Terranos with me and Darius, and he will do it again.’

‘We understand your frustrations—’

‘No, you don’t understand!’ My lips wobble, and I bite down hard. ‘Darius probably doesn’t even know I am alive,’ I whisper, and everyone inside the room takes turns looking at each other and then at me pitifully. I do not want pity; I want everything to go back to normal. ‘If it were him in my position, he would have done everything to get me back by now.’

I just know that he would have torn the whole world apart and wouldn’t have waited just because others told him to. I feel like I am failing him right now.

‘We are trying everything, Nara,’ Freya says quietly, and I don’t even realise she is now at my side. My gaze locks with her hazel eyes, and for a second, I feel as if I am drowning in something I can’t control.

I need to get out of here.

Backing away, I mouth my apologies to her before I cast everyone else one final stare and storm out of the room.

CHAPTERTWO

‘Why do you look so sad, Miss Nara?’ Tibith sits upon my knee, his paws patting the tears that are running down my cheeks. I’m leaning against the window ledge, my legs raised to my chest, a melancholy smile creeping across my lips. I’ve worked hard to maintain a cheerful attitude for Tibith all these months. I guess today is just one of those days where even carving into the wooden window frame does nothing to calm me.

‘Would you believe me if I said these were happy tears?’ I cough out a laugh, wishing it were true, as I fiddle with the coin necklace Darius gave me.

Tibith shakes his head, and his fur tickles my fingers when I run them through the sides of his face. ‘Y-you don’t need to lie to me, Miss Nara. Those are tears for Darry, aren’t they?’

I stroke his stomach to get a giggle out of him. ‘Have you always been this smart?’

He grins. ‘Darry has told many that I am a genius!’

A fist clenches around my heart, and I almost let out a whimper before I tamp it down.

Tibith notices the anguish in my expression and pouts. ‘He will come back, right, Miss Nara?’

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