Page 137 of A Kingdom of Shadows

"Whatever comes our way," he says. "I'll be with you even if the world goes against us... even if Solaris and Crello decide we are not worthy of being their reincarnations. You're stuck with me, Goldie, and I don't plan to ever let you go."

Burning tears collect in my eyes as I hold him tighter and look up at him. "My thief," I whisper.

He chuckles, lowering his forehead so it touches mine. "You and I were meant for the skies, Nara."

I smile, not wanting to let go of this embrace, when Tibith squeaks from the floor, "Let's go save Emberwell, Darry!"

Darius and I ease away from each other as he grins at Tibith. "Ready?" he asks, looking back at me.

I nod and bend down to grab Tibith as Darius steps back and shifts into his dragon form. I mount him, placing Tibith in front of me for safety, and I mentally prepare myself for our last hurdle in Terranos just as Darius takes off.

Chapter Fifty-Three

I hold onto Tibith as Darius lands outside the entrance to the cave. Sliding off his back, I step onto the soiled ground and glance toward the oncoming storm.

My lips pull into a frown. This isn't how I imagined the Isle of Elements. I know that for centuries the power has dimmed from what it must have started out as, but for someone who has watched from her window every Noctura night when the Isle would release its power... I thought the island would look like a haven.

"Is it going to rain, Miss Nara?" Tibith shifts in my arms as Darius turns back into his human form and comes up beside us.

"I thought you loved the rain, Tibith," Darius teases him, and in return, Tibith purrs when Darius rubs his stomach.

I chuckle, and my gaze goes to Darius. He gives me a smile of his own that silences the thunder above.

"Shall we, Goldie?" he whispers, and I nod, entering the narrow threshold with an exhale.

Warm thick air greets me, tightening my chest as we take one step at a time to go down rocky grounds. I watch as Darius leans forward and ducks from the low ceiling. Still holding Tibith in my arms, I press my left palm against the humid walls as a luminous light reflects further down, casting a golden glow.

We near an opening where that light grows deeper. Darius parts to the side, letting me enter first and then him.

My stomach drops an avalanche as I witness the power source of our world for the first time.

Now this is a haven.

Fireflies buzz around us as a pit in the center fills with the same sparkling golden magic of Solaris and Crello I see every year on Noctura night. A waterfall of that same dust pours from the sky as four crystal pillars surround it, each with its elemental power showing above. A flame for fire, a swirl of water on the other, a rush of wind, and finally floating rocks on the last.

I choke out a startled laugh as a firefly lands on my shoulder, and I settle Tibith on the ground remembering the moment I was with Darius in Emberwell. Back when I knew I belonged with him rather than the venators.

We spend the next few minutes captivated by this place's magic and aura.

It's truly breathtaking.

"Goldie, look." Darius's voice echoes around the cave, and I see him standing by one of the pillars. I reach him as he stares at the one with flames. "It's burning out."

I glance at it and notice he is right; the flame is beginning to die.

"We can restore it." I look at Darius, the golden shimmer of power illuminating the side of his face perfectly. "I am not sure how, but—" I take hold of his hand, a hypnotic daze taking over me. "The Galgr, she mentioned I must awaken my powers. What if being here can do that?"

He sighs. "Nara, we came here for answers, to protect Emberwell from Sarilyn—"

"Yes, but—"

He grabs my other hand and brings it to his lips as he kisses my knuckles. "Let us fix one thing at a time. Remember what Dusan said, we can't let greed overtake us while we are here."

There's promise in his eyes, and I bite my lower lip, realizing he is again thinking more rationally than I am right now. I release myself from his clutch, resting a hand on his chest as I lean forward, pressing my lips against his. He cups my face gliding his tongue between the seams of my lips, and I part them, letting him in with a thirst for need.

Darius's kissing intensifies, and I crave just as much. I bunch his shirt between my fists and sigh in pleasure until a pained grunt escapes his lips, and I pull back.

I frown, searching his face for what is wrong before he looks down at his chest.

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