Page 57 of A City of Flames

We’ve always fought the most, never seen eye to eye on anything but his loyalty and love for us is something I’ve admired from a young age.

His lips crack into a smile. I know he wants to tell me it’s nothing, to say he’d do it for anyone and not to make a fuss out of it, but he keeps it to himself.

“How come you get a gift, and it’s not Yule yet?” Iker moans across us, rubbing the sides of his head. “All I get is an earache from Idris about letting Dimpy shit on his bed.”

Illias chokes on his mead, sparks of laughter burst out of him that finally cause Idris’s smile to widen, silently chuckling at Iker.

I titter, staring at the three, content they’re here with me after weeks. Never have I gone without them for more than a day, and now I can only wish that they’ll eventually move out to the city with me.

After dropping my brothers off at an inn within reach and unaffected by the attacks, I stroll down the pathways gilded by the silver light of the moon while holding the blade Idris gifted me. I smile, tracing the indents on the wood, already thinking of ways to carve something onto it. Perhaps the sun again, or my brother’s names entwining between leaves of the Marigold tree I adored so much.

Whichever option I choose, the thought is put to a halt. My smile vanishes as I notice a figure resting its body inside a crescent-shaped hole on the wall, overlooking the other side of the city.

Walking closer, orange fur scurries in front of me, and the figure is revealed to be Darius. One leg dangles off the moon, and the other is pulled back with a hand draping over the knee in such tranquility.

He leans his head against the curve, tilting it slightly to look at me. “Hello, foul mortal,” he greets, a dark smirk dancing across his lips.

Annoyance replacing itself with a sudden vex, I press the button on the hilt and lower my brows as twin blades slide out at the side. “Dragon pig.”

Darius chuckles, staying in his calm position. “Always a warm welcoming with you.”

“Hello, again, Miss!” Tibith waves, drawing my gaze down at him and his round frame.

I’m doubtful whether to smile back or frown questionably.

It doesn’t look like I can do either as he turns and crawls up Darius’s leg and plops himself on top of his knee.

“What are you doing here, Darius, stealing again?” I say his name tight enough I might as well be pulling on a rope.

Between the shadows of the night and the oil lampposts littering the empty street, Darius straightens off the crescent as Tibith slides down with a slight noise resembling a cheer.

I’d step back if I didn’t hold such stubbornness within myself as Darius emerges into the bright moonlight shining down on me. I don’t let him see the slight jolt of surprise in my body at the sight of him not wearing a mask.

Stopping a meter away from me, air glides over the raven hairs toppled on top of his head and then falling across his forehead. While amber eyes adorned with black kohl liner study me in that same mirth he carries around so effortlessly.

I always knew with or without the mask, his features could dominate anyone. The carved jaw—a dangerous weapon and someone who is lethal, summoning power at his command.

“I’m here to make a deal,” he says, darting his gaze to my blade. “That is, of course, if I can get through a conversation without you trying to hurt me.”

With that, I’m reminded of his nonsensical ways. “You make it impossible not to.”

“How so?”

“For starters, everything you say vexes me.”

“That’s not a valid reason, venator.”

Perhaps it’s the cool smile or the tease in his voice, but I already want to swing at him. “Alright,” I drag the word, biting the inside of my cheek. “You’ve played unfairly each time I’ve encountered you.”

He laughs, crossing his arms over his jacket. “As have you. If I recall, you even placed traps to capture me.”

Traps he’d known about for a whole week and disarmed, making me look witless— “That’s different.” I quell the anger.

“Different how?”

“Different because you’re supposedly dangerous. I had to place traps to protect myself.” I can’t tell if I’m lying or not. I’m finding it hard to come up with ways to win in this conversation. “Besides.” A small shrug. “I could have succeeded in capturing you. It’s just the first time I was caught off guard.”

He narrows his eyes and smiles. “And the second time?”

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