Page 52 of A World of Ruins

‘Well, after I took hold of . . .’ Aurum begins, his voice dripping with malicious amusement,‘mostof your little friends, and what is it again? Ah, yes, those interesting brothers of yours. Augustus here enlightened me to a terrific truth, in accordance with the fact that I freed your siblings and took him in their place.’

A wave of nausea burns my throat as I choke back the panicked fear that my brothers never made it to safety.

Furiously shaking my head, I attempt to lunge at him, but a sharp cry escapes my throat when the Elf beside me yanks at my hair, forcefully pulling my head back.

Darius yells, trying to draw the Elf’s attention as he breaks free from Aurum’s lackeys, but it is useless. Aurum’s power takes hold of him, and he freezes on the spot as if trapped in an invisible cage with no way to escape.

Aurum’s smile widens. ‘Although now I’ve changed my mind.’

‘You said you’d let them go!’ Gus chokes from the ground.

‘I’m funny like that.’

With his free hand, Gus raises it towards Aurum, shadows swirling around his palm as he conjures blades aimed at him.

Aurum dodges them, letting a few hit an Elf behind him. As the Elf crumples to the ground with blood spilling from his head, neck and chest, Aurum turns to Gus. ‘Is that any way to treat your brother-in-law?’

The air stills.

Aurum chuckles. ‘Oh, that is right; I forgot.’ He glances back at Darius. ‘He doesn’t know, does he?’

Gus’s eyes turn to slits. ‘Don’t—’

‘This is why, Darius.’ He shakes his head in faux shame, walking up to him. ‘I told you that you were siding with the wrong people.’

No, no, no, no.

‘Aurum!’ I shout, but the grip on my hair has me barely able to move an inch of my neck.

He strolls behind Darius before leaning forward as if he is about to let him in on a secret. His gaze is directed at Gus as he says in a venomous whisper, ‘Even your own father has been lying to you all these years. He is the one, after all, who left you and your mother to focus on becoming the leader of those delinquent shifters.’

I see the colour drain from Darius’s face and jerk my arms, wanting to break free from the Elf.

‘No,’ I whisper as he looks down at Gus, and the betrayal sinks in. I can only feel a surge of helplessness as Gus pleads with him from the ground, and Aurum watches the exchange with a sadistic gleam in his eye.

‘Darius.’ Gus’s voice cracks with vulnerability. ‘I never left your mother. He’s lying—’ The pressure from the Elf’s boot on Gus is enough for him to stop talking.

‘Now that that’s over, here is what will happen.’ Aurum strides past a devasted Darius, his gaze so vacant it hurts. ‘While my soldiers—’

‘Dusan’s soldiers,’ I grit between my teeth. From the corner of my eye, I see the slightest hint of a smirk form on Sarilyn’s lips before she looks away.

Aurum comes closer to me, his smile dripping with hate. ‘Whiletheyslaughter those stupid Aerians. You, the shifters and everyone you love will come back to Emberwell with me.’ He stares at how defenceless I am right now and chuckles. ‘I am sure you are looking forward to your new home.’

‘You’re not going to touch her, I swear—’ Darius, fuelled by mounting anger, seems to recover enough to turn towards us.

Aurum doesn’t acknowledge him, keeping his filthy eye on me. ‘Oh, don’t worry, Darius, I’ll be kind enough to let you share it with her.’ With one click of his fingers, the Elves begin to drag Gus and Darius away. ‘But first, you and I are going to have a chat about the stones.’

‘Nara,’ Darius calls out as he’s pushed and pulled. ‘We’ll get everyone out, I promise, okay? Don’t let him break you. You’re stronger than him. Nara!’

I lose sight of him, and my heart splinters into pieces. Tears sting my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall as I look at Aurum. ‘You can wonder where the stones are all you want, torture me toget the answers, but I will never tell you.’ My smile is malicious as I stare into the only eye visible and then look closer at a deteriorating slash of black and green across his jaw. ‘I would rather see you completelyrotbefore you can return to the Isle.’

Aurum’s smirk falters at the realisation that I know what is happening to him. His confident veneer starts to crumble, and I revel in it.

His gaze narrows and the dungeon seems to darken along with his rage. ‘I’m going to enjoy ruining every little bit of hope you have left.’ His words are laced with venom. He takes a step back, tilting his chin upwards – a signal to the awaiting Elves.

Yanked forward, the sharp sting from the Elf’s grip on my hair reverberates throughout my skull. I pass by Sarilyn, nailing her with a vicious glare before I am forcibly claimed as Aurum’s captive.

PARTTWO

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