Page 51 of A City of Flames

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My brows pucker together, not saying a word while staring at...Darius.

Such an ordinary name. Why did I think it’d be any different? Did I just adopt the idea that his name was simply Golden Thief, or did I not want to believe he could be normal?

“You can stop covering your eyes now, Tibith,” he drawls, his eyes on me, burning in gold under the beam of moonlight.

Tibith lowers his hands, blinking as he looks at the shifter and the blood-stained sword in my hands. Gasping, he points at me. “She killed him Gold—Gold—den Thief!”

I glare. He was going to bite me!

Darius hums in amusement, the corner of his lips curling up to show his carefree smile. “She knows my name now, Tibith. I don’t think there’s a need for any formalities.”

“Does that mean I can call you Darry again?” Tibith asks, hopeful, his large ears flapping rapidly as Darius nods, looking up at me.

“So... Aren’t you going to thank me then, venator? I did just save you.”

I straighten, cautiously, with the sword prominent by my side. “Why did you do it?” Too stubborn as per to thank him for that. His arrogance and constant smiles make me not want to.

He chuckles, moving toward me, but I stop him with my sword, Hake’s blood, clotting and drying on it. Darius’s eyes dart to the blade’s tip, and he smirks. “Not the thank you I expected.”

“Answer me,” I demand. “Darius.”

His smile wavers, and then he takes me by surprise as he pushes the sword away. I try to lift it again, but his right arm comes around my waist, and the other grabs my wrist with the sword still there, pinning my arm behind me.

I struggle in his arms, wanting to set myself free. I glare up at him. The noises and screams start dying down, yet there is a humorous speck of light in Darius’s features.

He’s enjoying this way too much.

“Let go.” I clench my teeth. “Let go, or I—”

“Will try to stab me?” He smiles, and I scoff at him. “Because I don’t think you are in a position to do that.”

“That is because you are being unfair—” I grunt out my words, tugging at my arm, “—again.”

“Darry,” Tibith says from the ground, but Darius’s gaze is rooted to mine. “We need to go!”

I release harsh breaths from my nose as we hold our stare.

It looks as if he’s about to say something, but he never does as he steps back, snaps his head to the side, and catches an arrow right before it strikes his head.

I follow where the arrow has come from and find— “Lorcan,” I whisper.

Exhaling as I bring my sword around, I see he’s at the entrance of the street, armor shredded at the sides and jaw set firm as his narrowed stare on Darius turns severe. Nocking another arrow, he aims it again, firing one after another as he walks with purpose towards him.

Air draws out of me, watching Darius snatch each one, his playful smile never faltering.

“It’s another murderer!” Tibith yells in panic, curling up into a ball and rolling in circles just as Lorcan abandons the bow and arrows, lunging at Darius. They both slam onto the ground, sending a jolt of shock in me as Darius throws his arms up, shielding himself from Lorcan’s hits.

Tibith knocks into barrels, rocketing towards Lorcan as if flames are spreading in his wake from the speed.

I have to do something, I have—

A screech, like a squawking crow, jerks me to the right as another shifter launches himself at me. He swings his arm around, and I duck, coming under him as I twist, curving the sword into his back all the way through to the other side.

He yelps, collapsing, giving me a clear view of Lorcan and Darius tackling each other. But as I rush over to them, Darius shoots a flame from his palm, startling Lorcan, and elbows him across the face, causing him to fall onto his side.

As Darius gets off the floor, he murmurs something low enough that I can’t hear. I figure it is one of his irritating comments with that grin of his.

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