Page 82 of A World of Ruins

Lorcan’s eyes widen and he ducks right as these shadow blades glide past the current me and lodge into a nearby tree trunk.

As a child, the anger in my eyes dims and my brows rise in fear.

I’d only gone through Ardenti’s powers and the beginnings of mind manipulation. Shadow was entirely new to me, and it made me terrified despite what my mother might have once told me.

‘I’m sorry,’ I’m whispering as Lorcan steadily rises to his feet. ‘I’m so sorry.’

He has a hand over his cheek, and when he withdraws it to look at the blood staining his palm, past me starts crying.

Sobs wrack my chest uncontrollably. ‘Please don’t tell him,’ I beg. ‘Please?’

Rayth.

I meant Rayth.

Lorcan slowly walks towards me, hands raised as if approaching a wild animal out of its cage. ‘I won’t,’ he says. ‘I promise. I’ll say I fell.’

And he did promise. It was just never enough.

That night, I was punished, not because Lorcan was hurt but because I was outside when I never should have been.

‘Why did you show me this?’ I look down at my side, the corner of my eye catching Crello’s silhouette.

‘Because on this very same day, you made yourself a promise,’ she says. ‘One where you would make yourself known to the world.’

When she comes to my side, I feel the need to look away.

I hear a soft sigh. It dares me to turn and face the image of my mother.

Crello stares at the trees, a serene smile coating her lips. When she notices my attention is on her, she says, ‘Everyone always says that the Rivernorths were the first dragons to be born.’

‘Were they not?’

‘There is always a mother, is there not?’

The corner of my lip lifts. ‘I suppose so,’ I murmur.

‘When we created this world, we also made the first piece of land, the first tree . . . the first dragon.’ Crello’s gaze flickers over to mine. ‘A dragon who possessed fire, mind, shadow and light like the Rivernorths. The ones to be born first were those by the rivers, and the next were what are now known as Umbrati, Ardenti, and finally, Merati. But because the Rivernorths were the first kind, they were something new, something powerful. And so, when the mother of dragons perished after the final birth of Meratis, Solaris and I made sure there would be another one day. Another source, for a newer generation.You– and Nara.’

I shake my head. ‘I never asked for this. Neither did Nara.’

‘We know,’ Crello whispers. ‘But sometimes sacrifices have to be made.’

Like today.

‘So, Darius, I ask you this. Are you willing to become more than just a shifter?’

I stare at her, the answer on the tip of my tongue.

I never say it.

I don’t think I need to as Crello smiles at me.

‘Goodbye, Darius,’ she says and starts to walk away.

‘Wait,’ I say, grinding my teeth at what I am about to ask. ‘You said I could speak with my mother.’

Crello bows at the waist. ‘As you wish.’

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