Page 38 of A World of Ruins

The brick wall cracks and smoke burns a hole through Darius’s shirt, but it doesn’t seem to affect him. His dark brows are slanted and his eyes flare as he stands up and stalks towards Lorcan with a dominating type of darkness.

When Lorcan tries to do the same, I leap in between them, pointing my dagger at Lorcan first.

Deep green eyes, darkened by the dull lights, look at me. ‘Nara, get out of the way.’

I bark out a humourless laugh. ‘So that you can end up killing each other?’ Heavy footsteps sound behind me, gaining closer, and I spin with the tip of the blade just about scratching the surface of Darius’s chest.

He stills and lifts his palms into the air, surrendering as he eyes the dagger then me.

‘Don’t,’ I warn, glancing back at Lorcan. ‘You told me you had changed?’

Regret swallows him and he backs away, shaking his head at the ground. ‘Nara, I’m—’

‘I don’t want an apology.’ I shake my head. ‘Not again.’

The more I hear an apology, the less it means something to me.

My voice quivers with anger. ‘I amtiredof it.’

Understanding graces his features though he is despondent at my words.

I whirl back to Darius, my dagger still grazing his chest. ‘And you,’ I pant. ‘This is notyou, and I will prove it to you.’

His golden gaze takes on a look that shows me he accepts my challenge.

Dropping the blade to my side, I turn to see Freya and Gus speed to a stop outside the cell. Confusion wracks them both as I pass them.

‘Freya,’ I say, motioning her to follow me, before leaving the dungeons and my thoughts behind me.

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

I had called all my brothers and friends to the foyer where Arlayna and Faye were still standing as soon as I left the dungeons. Freya bombarded me with question after question and once I told her what happened, she was on board straight away with helping me get answers.

Soon after, some Aerian guards brought over the cage where the Galgr was being kept and we all stood in a circle around it.

‘Is it frightening? Pretty? Creepy?’ Rydan is the first to ask as we all stare down at the burlap covering the cage.

Dark skies have settled over the clouds, marking night-time, and I roll my eyes at Rydan before swiping the burlap off. Grey scaly arms slam against the cage, causing Rydan and Iker to jerk back. No one else reacts, and if they did, then they did an excellent job at hiding it as the Galgr’s face slowly appears behind the shadows of her small prison.

Hollow eyes snap at me instantly and sharp teeth shine through her sinister smile. ‘Solaris,’ she hisses, and I glance opposite me where Freya is, then past her towards the princesses, both with straightened spines and cautious glances between one another.

Arlayna has never liked this part of interacting with the Galgr.

The Galgr sniffs the air, tilting her head towards my brothers. ‘The Ambrose siblings. All together again.’ She snickers. ‘Though a bond that ties a family together can also loosen with each passing day.’

With one step, Idris erases the gap between him and the Galgr’s cage. ‘What did you say?’

‘The writer and the crafter.’ The Galgr grins, her dull-coloured lips stretching wide and horrifyingly.

I approach Idris, lightly touching his arm as I look over at Iker. His solemn eyes jump from a confused Freya to Idris. ‘Don’t listen to her,’ I say, adjusting my tone to sound soothing and calm. ‘Galgrs can also manipulate.’

‘Wise observation, Solaris.’ The Galgr taps her sharp fingernails against the metal bar. ‘I also see that you wish to help your other half – the dragon with three powers, the reincarnation of Crello.’

‘Your kind are known to resurface memories, old and new,’ I say. ‘I need you to do that for him too.’

A few seconds of silence tick by before her hand slumps onto the floor and she turns her head. ‘I cannot.’

I am starting to despise that word.

---