Page 140 of A City of Flames

He heard everything.

I glance toward Lorcan, not knowing what to feel as he lowers his bow and stares at me and Darius.

He nods once, signifying truce and I start to smile.

It hardly lasts a second as the leader of the rümens breaks through one of the walls.

I shout a warning but it’s too late. Time slows and my voice echoes into a gasp as Lorcan spins toward the rümen and its sharp taloned wing scatters out, puncturing Lorcan through the chest.

My feet take off, as the strength of the wing sends Lorcan smacking against another wall. Picking my blade up, Darius darts toward the rümen with whorls of fire right as I reach Lorcan and collapse with him onto the floor. His bow tumbles out of his grip and with a panicked gaze, I press my hands against the blood surging from his chest.

It’s fine, he is part dragon, he will heal, he will heal, he will—

“I’m sorry,” he rasps, the rose-tinted lips now seeping blood from his mouth.

I shake my head. “You can say that to me later. Let’s just get you out of here.” I search around, looking for Darius but he’s on the other side, fighting off the rümen.

“I lied—” Lorcan’s whisper draws my attention back to him. Pale, he’s too pale. “I lied—”

My head shakes again but before I can speak, he grabs my wrist, prying it away from him as he places something within my hand.

I stare at him, my lips parting as I look down at my palm.

The sun.

My carving.

Orange hues from the flames behind lighten the light wood now tinged red with Lorcan’s blood.

“Tell Darius to go after his wish.”

I look at him, and my throat hurts.

He’s saying goodbye, he thinks he won’t survive.

No… I refuse that idea, no.

“You can tell him yourself,” My stubborn voice fails me as he smiles for a little while before his eyes become dim and within seconds they close.

“Lorcan?” I say, gripping his other hand and shaking it. “Lorcan, wake up—wake up—” My breaths come out fast and short. No tears form but everything surrounding me, from sounds, to grunts of others become a blur. “Please?”

No movement occurs.

So, I shout his name this time when an arm comes around my waist from behind, attempting to pull me up. I instantly know it’s Darius, but I struggle against him, breaking free for just one second as I scramble back to Lorcan.

I shake his chest.

Wake up, wake up, wake up.

An arrow from a venator lands straight at my side but I do not care.

“Nara,” Darius says, his arms now cross around me. Even with such command to his voice, it’s also breaking.

“No,” I say and grab onto his arms to try and yank him off, but his grip is unyielding. He starts dragging me and I press my heels into the ground and say the same word over and over, ‘no.’

Lorcan’s body lies so still ahead of me and each time I look, it’s further from view.

I blink and then it’s my father, my cottage, Idris hauling our crying mother away.

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