Page 79 of A City of Flames

I’m not one to back down easily. I never cower. I follow through even if it fails me, even when I am on the brink of giving up. I indeed felt the changes while living in the city and the creak of the gates in my chest opening to new things... experiences. But for my brothers, that’s the one thing that stays the same.

“Fine,” I say. “I might have an idea where she has it.” As clapping ensues and the music halts, Darius steps back. I gaze at everyone bowing once again to signal the end of the dance. And as I do the same to Darius, I lift my gaze, looking at him beneath my brows, adding, “Wait for me by the entrance and don’t talk to anyone.”

The side of his lip curls, giving me that smile that says he knows he’s won and I walk the other way, attempting not to draw any attention to myself.

* * *

When the joyous parades of people clink their chalices and go forth with the celebrations, I make a move to the entrance of the throne room. I’d waited around cautiously for a good five minutes, watching Link and Illias talk by the walls, Iker, flirt, and fail with a girl while Freya distracted Idris, although his irritation was clear as day. Much like Lorcan’s with Rydan’s continuous nagging even after the dance had finished.

Weaving through guests, I arrive at the foot of the latticework doors already open. I step out into the hallways and look to my right, where Darius leans against a pillar. With one coin flipping between his fingers, he smiles, turning his head to me. “Took you a while, Goldie.”

“Let’s just get this over with,” I mutter, walking past. It takes him two seconds to be by my side, and I peer up as the light from the throne room gilds the tan of his skin, disappearing as darkness shields the corridors and silence follows.

His slight side smile hints that he knows I’m looking at him, so I divert my gaze elsewhere, turning each corner when his firm hand pulls me back.

Startled and wide-eyed, I stare up at him as he presses me against the wall and places my arms around his neck. “What are you doing?” I whisper, but it’s ineffective when he hushes me and slides a hand by my waist, pulling me further to him.

My sight then catches onto a venator guarding the hallways as he walks down our path. The moon shadows through the double-hung windows, casting an iridescent light against Darius as he sends the venator a single nod. “Evening.”

Resisting the urge not to hit Darius, I look as the venator slightly laughs at our position, not thinking of us as any threat other than just two... lovers.

“You should really give me more credit for always saving you,” Darius lowers his head to mine in a drop of a whisper once the venator heads off into a different sector of the palace.

“I’d rather give credit to a rümen,” I say flatly, sliding my hands down to his chest and pushing him off as I waltz as far away from him as I possibly can.

“Or perhaps to that guy,” he says, trailing after me again. “Lorcan.”

I stop, carefully turning on my heel, but I don’t utter a word, making his grin widen—an infuriating grin, that is.

“Oh, come on, Goldie, I saw the way you were looking at him.” He chuckles bitterly under his breath. “You were practically undressing him with your gaze.”

And that’s enough of that.

Pivoting back around, I eye each door, the ones I’d looked at when I was last here and the areas I’d tried to memorize by heart.

“I get it,” Darius says into my ear. “A man can be just as desirable as a woman. In fact, my first male sexual encounter was when I was—”

I exhale sharply and whirl to him, pointing a finger at his chest. “You want to know who isn’t desirable? You.”

His gaze is challenging. “Now that’s a lie.” Lips part, and then he breathes a laugh inclining his head so it’s inches from mine. “In fact, I can guarantee that you’ll think about me, even dream about me tonight when you are lying in bed.”

He smiles as if he can sense how his words have made my stomach clench, my palms sweat, and my breath shaky.

“The only time I think about you is when I want to punch you,” I say, and his smile turns dangerous and seductive.

“So, you do think about me?”

My face flushes. That is not what I meant.

His fingertips touch the curls of my hair by my ear, tucking them behind as he leans to whisper. “How about we change that vulgar imagery of yours?”

I glare, facing the front, and when I try to answer, he’s already speaking into my ear again.

“Imagine you’re in that throne room, no one is around, no one will be able to hear for miles, especially not the sounds you’d be making as I bury my face between your thick thighs.”

I suck in a breath, and pressure that I’m not familiar with builds right between the spot he’s just said.

He rears back to look at my face. His golden eyes flash with lust before he tries to hide it as he laughs it off. “See? Even someone like you finds me desirable.”

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