Page 6 of A World of Ruins

That has been my only hope since I woke up here in Aeris.

‘When has he not?’ I whisper, smiling, before the door to my room opens, and I wipe my eyes with the sleeves of my tunic. My smile disappears, and I look over my shoulder at Freya. She walks up to the ledge, bunching her violet dress in her hands,and sits down. Tibith glances at her with a thrilled squeak and slides off my knee. We watch as he clambers onto the single bed and positions himself against the pillow, falling asleep within seconds.

‘I apologise for what happened during the meeting with Hira,’ Freya says. ‘We really have tried everything, Nara.’

I slowly turn my head to look at her, and though the corners of my lips lift, the smile feels broken. ‘I know that.’

Freya tilts her head, curls dangling from her updo as she stares at me like she understands thatnothingis fine with me. We have spoken less since I arrived here. She busied herself with finding a way to help Darius while I occupied myself training with Gus. I have rarely seen Freya except when she showed me her new-found powers as a witch. Telekinesis comes naturally to her, like many of her kind. I suppose it goes hand in hand with other mind magic for witches and how in tune she is with my emotions.

I confess with a shaky breath, ‘I am just frustrated with it all. I mean, here I am, supposed to be this deity reincarnation who will bring life back to Zerathion, yet I am limited in what powers I have. The man who I am annoyingly in love with is locked away and . . . and I am letting him down each day I spend here without figuring out a way to get him out.’

‘Maybe this is how it had to be.’

Her response makes my lips fall and I frown.

‘They always say Solaris and Crello shared the skies,’ she explains. ‘But they were also separated until they were finally able to reunite. It sounds like you are living through that right now with Darius.’

‘But I didn’t ask for this.’

‘Then what did you ask for?’ The intensity of her gaze burrows deep into my soul. ‘The Nara I met would have told me that she is confident she is far better than Solaris.’

I stare back in silence and almost chuckle.

‘Let’s not forget you’ve broken hands, killed, talked back to my father when he was the General, and helped a dragon thief steal a pendant from the palace.’

My eyes suddenly sting with her words.

‘What happened, Nara? Because Iknowyou and I know that all you have done these months is either act all tough just to torture yourself or busy yourself with writing who will be the first to die on your kill list.’ She raises her brows. ‘Aurum being number one.’ With a sigh, she says softly, ‘What would Darius say if he were here?’

I blink, looking at her like a child missing their mother. Images float inside my head. Darius’s golden eyes, his mischievous smile, and that stare he would hold me with that spoke a thousand love letters.

I am here.

I have a purpose.

I cannot and never will be daunted.

I press three fingers against my heart and whisper, ‘That it is okay to be vulnerable.’

Freya nods with vehemence and smiles. I shake my head and slide my legs off the ledge as I wrap my arms around Freya. ‘Solaris, how I have missed your encouraging words.’ I close my eyes as she rubs my back. ‘Every moment I was in Terranos, all I could think of was how wonderful you would find it. You don’t understand how much I needed you there with me.’

She separates from our embrace, clutching my face in her hands. ‘And I needed you at the den with me.’ She sighs, letting go and looking away briefly. ‘So much happened while you were gone. I—’

‘I know,’ I say to reassure her. ‘You don’t need to tell me—’

‘I kissed your brother,’ she blurts out, snapping her head back at me. ‘Idris.’

My eyes widen and, almost comically, all I can say is, ‘Oh.’

‘It’s been killing me not to be able to tell you all this time. I am so sorry, Nara. I mean, it didn’t mean anything. He can hardly look at me now and—’

I grab her hand before she can spiral into one of her panicked monologues. She looks at me grimly as if I am irritated with what she has done. She could not be more wrong. ‘Idris . . . is the hardest person someone can get through to. Trust me, I have had to live with it for twenty-two years of my life. But I have seen how he looks at you now for a long while, and if he is avoiding you right now, then he clearly does not realise how lucky he would be to have you, so don’t apologise. There is no need.’

A reflection of the moon shines in her hazel eyes as she takes in my words. A smile almost touches her lips, but it falters, and I wonder if there is more to it. Lately, I feel that something is on her mind, and she doesn’t want to let me know what it is, or maybe she can’t.

‘Nara, I—’ she starts, but the door to my room creaks open and Iker’s head pops through.

‘Oh, uh, I didn’t realise Freya was here. I’ll just leave—’

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