Page 82 of A City of Flames

A breeze hits my chest as I step outside and as I look over the ledge, I try thinking of how to tell Ivarron that I don’t have what he wants, that I’ve failed, even when I hated the idea of that the most. I stare back into the palace, watching my brothers, though Iker as usual has disappeared. I then wonder what I will tell Freya and whether she’ll be annoyed I hadn’t told her beforehand.

A groan rises to my throat as I rest my forearms on the stone ledge, thinking about all my misfortunes. The night blossoms with swirls of purples and blues and I just wait, wait for when the Isle of Elements will unleash that power into the air.

“I saw you didn’t switch partners.”

I jolt, turning my head at Lorcan leaning by the entrance, stoic and fierce.

My brow lifts. “You danced with Rydan.”

“He tried,” he clarifies, stalking towards me and a smile finally covers his lips. “I’ve never met someone so persistent.”

I chuckle low and breathless, shaking my head as the silence prolongs a bit. Sinking my teeth into my bottom lip, I gaze out beyond the palace walls, the city bright and cheerful. From here I can hear the drumming sounds, the excitement children must feel twirling and dancing over the summer solstice, praying for good fortunes Solaris and Crello will bring.

“Look,” I say quietly, staring up at Lorcan, his gaze boring into me. “Balls, parties like these aren’t my thing, I’ve been used to celebrating with my brothers back in our village, never this.”

“The thought overwhelms you.” An observation rather than a question but it’s not that, I’d always craved an adventure, but this... isn’t what I’d expected. In some shape or form I still feel trapped.

“It’s just new to me,” I lie and without meaning to, I place my hand on my heart, remembering Darius’s words. “I suppose if I’d grown up the way you did, I’d be more used to it.”

“Age does not matter, I may have been younger than what you are now when I first came here but I still had a difficult time adjusting.” His brows draw in. “I still do.”

I snort. I find that hard to believe.

“Maybe one day you’ll take over my position.”

My eyes widen so vast that he chuckles. “Someone has to take over when I make it as a general.”

Second in command, which is what my father was, I’d be honoring his title, but did I want it anymore? It’s the first I’ve been so unsure of something.

“You’ll make a great venator Nara,” Lorcan’s words soften, much like his expression as he clutches my hand on the ledge. Shame paves a line along my skin. Would he still think the same if he knew I’d helped a shifter steal from the queen?

He rubs his thumb against mine, slow, steady causing my stillness to grow, my aching desire to run miles. And as his head lowers and lips brush mine, I tip my head back.

“Sorry,” I whisper, puzzled by my actions. “I—”

“You don’t need to apologize, Nara,” he says and steps back.

This whole moment is suddenly awkward and most of all annoying. Lorcan smiles down at me, pressing his palm against my cheek.

“I will see you inside,” his words are light and calming as I nod.

When he goes back into the hall, my shoulders hunch and I let out a grunt of misery, resting my head against my forearms.

However, the cheers from the city seem to get louder and as I lift my head up at the sky, spirals and streaks of fiery colors burst through the dark clouds.

I straighten up as childish excitement flickers inside my stomach and I smile in awe, reminiscing the times I’d spun around with Illias, laughing as dust shimmers resembling snowflakes fell onto us. Now an upper balcony shields me from it, but I can still see the gold specks landing on the ledge.

My palm comes out to catch a few and I think of the wishes I’d made every year on Noctura night. It was always a tradition, whatever wish you made, Solaris and Crello would someday grant it.

I close my eyes, focusing my breathing in tune with the warmth of Emberwell and the sounds of distant cheers as I think of a wish.

When I have it, I smile and make one.

Walking back inside the throne room, I blink as I find Iker half confused, half aware coming from the entrance. I careen past a few people before reaching him. “Iker?” Tilting my head in suspicion I loosely glance at his hand in his pocket. “What do you have there?”

He furrows his brows, looking at me then down at his hand as he slowly drags out a glowing emerald stone.

Recognizing it, I gasp, leaping forward and gazing around the hall astutely as if someone had noticed. It’s hard not to when the cuts of it shine the entire floor. “How did you get that?” I hiss, mouth half open as I usher him to place it back in his pocket.

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