Page 35 of A City of Flames

I pin my lips to stop myself from laughing at her clear annoyance. “You don’t have—”

“Now, quick.” She darts forward, looping her arm around mine and under my cloak. “We don’t want the carriage waiting on us.” And at that, she rushes us out of the room.

* * *

Aurum arena is nothing like I imagined. In truth, I’m not sure what my mind had conjured it would look like. But it certainly wasn’t this.

The discordance of crowds from higher levels drifts into the large arena opened up to the sky. Freya then drags me to sit beside Link on the stone benches that go in concentric circles and down towards the sanded pit. Across from it, my gaze centers on the balcony where the queen leans her back against a beige-pillared throne.

Even shielded from the mid-morning sun, her golden gown shimmers as she turns her head to speak to venators in each corner. The general sits on a smaller throne next to her, overseeing everything as he glares towards the pit.

“Did you guys know the Golden Thief robbed one of the stores in the Chrysos district the night of the rümen attack?”

Blinking, my head snaps to the left at Rydan, forcing us to scoot further as he drops by Freya’s side.

“How did you find out?” Freya asks. “And since when do you come and talk to us?”

“Since now?” He says, making a face of disbelief. “And Frey-Frey, I know everything. Besides, he left a coin behind and strangely a necklace.” My eyes go round as he sighs pensively. “Sir Longford was not happy his Jewelers was broken into.”

At least Sir Longford didn’t have to deal with an arrogant dragon prick that—

“Imagine coming face to face with the Golden Thief.” Rydan leans back, smiling. A shadow casts over half his face, darkening his warm brown skin. “I’m not sure if I’d shit myself or ask for him to sign one of his posters.”

I refrain from a roll of the eye. The Golden Thief would likely love the second idea.

“Solaris, I’d freeze on the spot,” says Freya, slumping her shoulders and gazing widely.

“I’d run away.” Link shudders. “He’s too dangerous.”

I snort at that last part, causing them all to turn their heads at me. Clearing my throat over their sudden frowns, I say, “I don’t think he should merit from a grand title like that. You know what is dangerous? Someone not liking strawberry pie.”

They all blink like I’ve gone mad. Perhaps, but I don’t want the Golden Thief winning even in conversation.

“So, you think shifters aren’t dangerous?” Freya asks slowly.

“Of course, she won’t think that,” Rydan drawls. “She once killed a rümen without remorse, stood before an Ardenti—” He grins, throwing back what I’d said to him after he’d irked me. He really is a nuisance. “—Caught the attention of the queen with her impressive knife skills and is the daughter of the one and only Nathaniel Ambrose.”

Heads turn at the mention of my father, and I look away, but a pair of hazel eyes further down meets mine from up here. A woman no later than her mid-forties in layers upon layers of thick tunics. Amethyst crystals clip back her vicious and beautiful black curls as she narrows her gaze, tilting her head like she knows me, yet I’d never seen her in my life.

A frown creeps onto my forehead as she breaks off our stare and I return to Rydan still going on about what I’ve done. I shoot him a tight smile. “I’ll show no remorse by throwing you in the pit.”

“Now that would be classified as murder.”

Shrugging, I answer, “A murder with a worthy cause.”

He twirls strands of Freya’s curls in his fingers, and she flicks his hand away, but he doesn’t seem to take notice as he regards me with a contemplative gaze. “Is that the same thought you had for Adriel and Oran?”

I tense at their names, as does Link. “I forgave them,” I mumble.

“Wow, Ambrose, I never took you as the forgiving type.”

“I usually don’t like doing it,” I grit. I didn’t want to stoop to Adriel and Oran’s petty level. Idris had always taught me to forgive, and I’d always disobeyed. For once, it felt good doing it on my own.

A long pause between the four of us breaks out, that is until Link smacks his lips and says, “So, Chrysos streets... Golden Thief. You went up that way, Nara. Did you witness anything?”

“No.” I tuck my lower lip. “Well, except for an odd little creature.” Not a complete lie, at least.

Freya smiles. “What kind?”

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