Page 75 of A World of Ruins

In that second, Darius snatches the pendant from my hand and steps away from me as he raises it high. ‘Looking for this?’

Aurum stops, his head tilting almost unnaturally towards Darius.

Darius chuckles, his gaze quickly darting to the side of me. ‘Tibith.’ He tips his chin up at Tibith, who has suddenly appeared. ‘Catch!’

The pendant travels through the air before Tibith grabs it in his paw. He squeaks, and my eyes widen, telling him to run, right as Aurum cries out in anger and charges towards him.

Darius cuts him off, swinging his fist into his face. Aurum stumbles back, but Darius continues, not allowing the tiniest break as he pummels him to the ground. When fire consumes Darius’s hand, Aurum successfully captures his wrist, sending a hit at Darius’s jaw.

A surge of fury spikes my blood as Aurum takes advantage, his fingers delving into the wounds that now mar most of Darius’s chest and abdomen. Determination fuels me as I conjure a ball of light between my palms.

Aurum looks feral as he bares his teeth. ‘You’re a pain in my existence,nephew.’

Darius hisses in pain, attempting to resist Aurum as he pushes his hand back. ‘Likewise.’

Summoning all my strength, I redirect the gathered light straight at Aurum, ensuring he is knocked off Darius.

He grunts, blood staining his nose, but retaliates, coming for me.

My vision blurs with the colour red, and I launch another surge of magic, pushing him back. Despite weakening him for a moment, he doesn’t give up. He’s relentless – but so am I.

Another advance from him is met with a hit of my magic and a cry that tears from my throat.

Wave after wave of anger channels into my power as I give him all I have against him, and he lets me.

‘Nara, wait—’ Darius says, but when my next blast has Aurum laughing, I yell and run at him.

Elves are already on Darius, making him unable to get to me as he parries their attack.

I throw my fist back, ready to delve deep into Aurum’s chest with my power. He snatches it midair and twists me around so my back hits his chest. I thrash in his hold, only to hear his cold laughter in my ear.

‘Look at them,’ he says.

I don’t know what he means, and I don’t care as I shake my head to escape him.

His fingers grip my chin, holding me in place. ‘Look,’ he grits.

Panting through clenched teeth, I see what he is referring to as I watch Darius taking on dozens of Elves at a time, trying to get to me, Lorcan helping him from the other side, my brothers and friends on the far end, shielding Freya, then Tibith shaking on the ground.

He’s clutching the pendant beneath his body as Elves surround him.

‘Even as Solaris and Crello, you and Darius are nothing against me.’

‘At least I’m loved,’ I spit.

He stills. ‘You little—’

In a sudden movement, I jerk my head backwards, hitting him square on the chin. He lets go as a low guttural grunt escapes his lips.

I don’t wait for the pain in the back of my head to subside as I rush to where Tibith is.

Elves come at me with swords and spears, and I duck as one of them slices across me. The blade collides with another Elf behind, unintentionally striking him.

‘Tibith!’ I call out to him, when I notice Gus is already hurrying towards him, telling Tibith to launch the pendant at him.

Just as Tibith does as he’s told, Aurum comes between us in dragon form, his wings knocking the pendant onto the ground, causing the rift to open again.

Time freezes. The three of us stare at the pendant. Gus is the first to lunge for it, followed by Aurum’s roar as he slices at Gus with his claws. Gus dodges, sliding across the ground.

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