Page 73 of A World of Ruins

Understanding my every word, he twists as I slide out of the way of an oncoming attack onto the ground. Darius gracefully manoeuvres through the Elves, dodging, using his powers and striking each Elf down with such fluidity.

He hasn’t been able to do this in so long without Aurum manipulating him that I can’t stop watching him with a mixture of admiration and determination for his success.

I forget where we are for that moment until an Elf charges towards me, lifting a spear above his head. I react instinctually, raising my hand to block the blow when a beam of magical energy shoots from my palm, sending the Elf reeling back with a powerful blast.

I glance at my hand with wide eyes, feeling the pulse of energy course through my veins as it throbs and burns for me to use it again.

What will happen if I choose to accept who I am?

Then you will become the true immortal vessel you were meant to be.

My lips twitch with a smile of disbelief.

The Galgrs were always right.

Guswas right.

‘Miss Nara!’ Tibith shouts, and I look up as he runs towards me. ‘I told you that you have powers!’

Lorcan is behind him. ‘Sorry we’re late,’ he says, helping me up.

I consider the thousands of questions I have for him, whether he orchestrated all this with the remaining shifters or how he is after knowing Hira was his mother all along, but there isn’t time for that. Not now. Not in the middle of this.

Nodding in appreciation, I glance over his shoulder, where I spot Leira and Aelle with violet swirls of magic dancing from their fingertips while Fernah dives across the arena with other Ardenti dragons behind her.

‘Rydan,’ I suddenly say.

Lorcan frowns.

‘Rydan, Freya, Link, my brothers . . . Gus – they’re all locked in a cage,’ I add, panic scratching the surfaces of my heartbecause I have no idea if Illias is safe having left for the cells. ‘We need—’

The ground quakes beneath our feet and my attention is drawn to the rising cage – my brothers, desperately scanning the chaos to find me. However, my focus shifts to the balcony, where a jolt of shock pulses through me as I see Sarilyn’s hand resting on the lever. Her gaze is fixed on me with a strange smile that paralyses me.

A split second later, Aurum grabs her by the arm and shouts something in her face. She mutters something back, enraging Aurum as he backhands her across the cheek. Fury wraps around me, making me start towards the balcony, but Lorcan pulls me back as an arrow cuts across me, narrowly missing me.

I whip my head towards the one who has fired it and watch as he reaches behind him to grab another arrow. Still ramped up with rage, I clench my fists. ‘Get Tibith to Darius,’ I order Lorcan, never taking my eyes away from the Elf.

Whether he is doing it or not, I don’t know as I march across the arena. The Elf aims the arrow at my head, and with a flick of my hand, the ground splits, making him stumble. His bulging green eyes widen even more as he desperately tries to nock the arrow, but I am already nearing him.

I grow angrier, the accumulation of everything that has happened fuelling me as light from my hands turns blinding, and I snap the Elf’s hand with the motion of my fingers. He screams, attempting with his free hand to use his powers, but failing, and as I raise my palm, a distant voice snaps me out of it all. There’s a grip on my wrist, and I turn my head, staring at deep blue eyes that make me think of my mother.

‘Idris,’ I whisper softly. I look behind him, where all my friends are now free, and then Ruvyn is beside them.

Our eyes meet and he sends me a decisive nod.

He freed my brothers from the cage.

He choseme.

‘Leave the Elf to us,’ Idris says to me as my eyes cut to him. ‘It’s Aurum you want.’

‘You’ll lose either way,’ the Elf chuckles from the ground. When I look at him, sweat beads down the side of his head, his straggly long hair sticking to his neck. ‘Whatever you are—’ His words are cut short into a gurgle as a dagger made of shadows punctures a hole between his eyes.

I glance past him, watching Darius stalking towards us. His eyes blaze a golden colour that I haven’t seen except when he is absolutely mad. His lips part, a snickering comment likely brewing.

‘Nara!’ Freya’s voice comes out as a frightened gasp. All of us turn to find her in front of Aurum as he wraps a hand around her throat.

Rage sluices through my veins, my legs aching to propel myself forward, but I know better. Idris and Iker, however, let their desperation take over as they rush ahead, and Aurum’s grip tightens, causing Freya’s chin to lift more.

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