Page 90 of A World of Ruins

He pauses for a second as if my statement has surprised him. I feel his fingertips running over my jaw as he nods and visibly swallows.

He does that lately.

If a thought bothers him, he doesn’t like to bring me down along with it. And while he is usually good at hiding it behind a façade of witticism and distracting me with his touch, this time I can see right through it.

Then it hits me.

Darius has only ever known what it is like to be hated, to be called a monster, and he thinks this will always be true.

Grasping his hand, I place it on my chest. ‘Darius—’

Ruvyn bursts through the double doors, his face flushed. ‘I tried to make them wait—’ Following him, a procession of men clad in regal blue uniforms stride past with spears made of shells as they pave the way for another figure.

Darius carefully turns in the other direction, placing his hand on the small of my back as the man ahead looks at us with a less-than-friendly stare. In the golden room, his crown made of broken lapis lazuli shards shines, and the stark contrast between his rich, bronzed skin and white frosted hair is mesmerizing.

It’s the ruler of Undarion.

I know because the first time I laid eyes on him was on the night of Noctura. Back then, he was laughing while in conversation with others. He looked so welcoming yet unapproachable for someone like me. Now, the level of disgust in his expression makes him look . . . ordinary.

‘So, this is what Emberwell is faced with now.’ His voice doesn’t suit him. It’s higher than expected. ‘A criminal as the future king, and his whore.’

The insult stings my skin, and I consider my response, but Darius has already snapped into action. His anger is so palpable I can feel it vibrate onto me through his hand.

‘I suggest you be careful of how you speak about my wife, Hedris,’ Darius says almost menacingly. ‘I would hate for your kingdom to be without a leader.’

Hedris’s eyes – too pale to be blue – enlarge. ‘My, my, you haven’t been crowned yet, and you are already trying to threaten those above you.’

My fists clench at the lack of respect he blatantly has for us. Ruvyn looks over at me, waiting for my approval to kick him and his lackeys out.

I shake my head, signalling for him to leave. If something goes wrong, he can alert my brothers.

He seems to hesitate at my request for a second before he storms away.

When Hedris sees Tibith peeping around the corner of our legs, his eyes drop to the floor. ‘How intriguing,’ he says. ‘We exterminated that species in our kingdom because they served no purpose for us.’

As a reflex, Darius and I step forward to shield Tibith.

‘What is it you want?’ I demand. Arlayna had already forewarned me that the people of Undarion were furious over the treaty. They were rule followers. Always have been – unlike the Aerian’s.

Hedris looks at me. There is no kindness behind his eyes. ‘I want you out of here. Neither of you are fit to rule over a kingdom, we already witnessed that today.’

I scoff. ‘And what? You take over instead?’

He considers it while his men around him cast sly glances at each other. ‘I have an army at my disposal, loyal followers, and I’m respected among others. What do you have, except for people who cannot differentiate between a dessert fork and a fish fork?’

‘Well, of course, you would know,’ Darius says, and by the amusement in his tone, I can tell he is about to make things worse. ‘You can’t be eating your own kind with a dessert fork. At least have a little respect for your people.’

Hedris’s face darkens. ‘I am giving you a warning here. Stand down and hand the reign over to me—’

‘Or you’ll have my head on a platter. I’ve heard it all before.’ Darius sounds bored, a smirk playing on his lips. ‘So, I think I’ll pass.’

Furious, Hedris’s nostrils flare. ‘You’re making a mistake here.’

I take a step away from Darius, narrowing my eyes. ‘What is it that you would do differently if you were to take over instead of us?’

Hedris gives me the side eye and blinks as if he hadn’t anticipated me speaking up once more.

‘Suggest another treaty so that kingdoms can’t so much as communicate with one another?’ Again, I move an inch forward, the heaviness of my gown making it hard to walk any quicker. ‘Feel more powerful than the rest for ruling two kingdoms rather than one?’ I cock my head to the side. ‘Tell me.’

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