Page 83 of A World of Ruins

She disappears from my sight.

‘Shit,’ I mutter, running a thumb over my brow. Nerves gut me like a fish as I wait for something to happen.

After a minute, I hear my name spoken softly from behind me, and my heart and mind instantly tell me it is her.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-FIVE

NARA

‘What about this one?’

I look over my shoulder as Link holds up a bright yellow gown – rather sore to the eyes. A few other dresses lie behind him on the settee of the dressing chambers inside the castle.

‘Link, I adore you most of the time,’ Rydan says with a hand on his chest, ‘but your style is worse than the Ambrose family.’

Freya grimaces as she nods in agreement, and I frown at them.

Link pouts, throwing the frilly dress onto the bed. ‘Should we not have a seamstress or maid for this?’

‘We do.’ Freya nods.

‘Sarilyn does,’ I correct her. ‘Or did.’ I turn back to the assortment of jewellery in front of me that is safely placed within a glass case. ‘The majority died at the hands of Aurum.’

The room becomes quiet.

It’s only been a week since I trapped Aurum inside the Isle of Elements; a week since Gus sacrificed himself to save me. We have managed to lock Sarilyn away and send the Elves back to Thallan, both dead and partially alive, per Darius’s wishes.

Yet, even with that, the people of Emberwell still fear for their lives. Our world is crumbling by the second; our crops are dying; other kingdoms are suffering from the change in weather patterns, and then Darius . . . Darius is not himself. He hasn’tbeen for a long time, ever since Aurum captured him, but now it is different. Despite gaining his powers back and embracing the Crello side of him – figuring out new powers tied to water each day – I often awaken at night to find him drinking in another room. Even Freya has tried to speak with him, but she can only go so far with tuning into his emotions. He likes to play it all off with humour, and Freya falls for it just like I always do.

‘This one looks good enough,’ Rydan says, cutting through my daydream.

‘Oh, that one is gorgeous.’ Freya crosses the room as I turn to look at the three huddled together, all ogling a golden gown.

I recognise it as one of Sarilyn’s. Its cape sleeves resemble ethereal wings as they flow from the shoulders and touch the floor, while its heart-shaped bodice looks like it can mould to any figure.

My friends might admire how it looks, but I, on the other hand, can’t shake the queasy feeling it evokes within me.

Still, too much wafting through gowns has made my head pound with useless thoughts that I don’t wish to endure any longer.

‘I can just envision it!’ Freya is beaming excitedly, her bronzed cheeks reddening. ‘I could even style her hair into—’

‘I’ll let Darius know,’ I cut them off with a nod, waltzing towards the double doors.

‘Nara, wait,’ Freya calls out, and I stay put. I keep my eye on the doorknob, knowing that if I look at her, that glow of happiness might just fade. She has tried so hard to keep it all together for me. ‘Iker told me that Lorcan wanted to speak to Darius.’

My shoulders relax as I release a slow breath. ‘I know,’ I say softly and leave the dressing chamber.

Regardless of the times I’ve been inside this castle, the long corridors seem endless as I turn and search for Darius. He’sinside the sitting room, murmuring something to Lorcan, when I stop just outside the door and dip behind the wall.

I peer over the side, hoping Darius won’t catch my scent. He is always ever so perceptive when I am around.

Lorcan stands while Darius lounges on one of the quaint chairs by the long windows. His legs extend comfortably and his chin tilts upwards. He contemplates the ceiling as if that is more interesting than listening to his brother.

‘You can’t win them all over,’ Lorcan is telling him. ‘Remember, in their eyes, you are still the criminal that Sarilyn hunted for years.’

Darius huffs out a chuckle, levelling him a look. ‘You’re forgetting you also hunted me for years.’

That doesn’t go down well with Lorcan. His jaw ticks. ‘Under Erion’s influence.’

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