Page 140 of A Kingdom of Shadows

My eyes go round with fear as realization dawns on me.

Aurum's slow smile feels like a knife twisting my insides as he says, "His soul was tied to mine the moment I used his blood to bring me back. His power and his mind belong to me."

Death, reign, and resurrection commence.

Leira's haunting lullaby.

Many believe there is a reason why she also slaughtered the rest of his bloodline.

Renward had said.

She wanted to make sure there were never any remains that could possibly bring Aurum back.

"Don't look so saddened, Nara." Aurum's scornful tone brings me back to the horrible truth I am facing. The shadows fade from my wrists, and he takes a step back. "Falling in love with a Rivernorth was never going to be easy. Look at what Darius's father did. He ran away at the first chance he had. Such a pity."

My gaze is vacant as I look over at Darius. Even in this state, his eyes are filled with raw anger and hatred as he stares at the one family member he has left.

Aurum grips my chin between his fingers, forcing me to look at him. "Now, here is what you are going to do. You will grab that annoying little animal of yours and take us back through the portal without so much as a fight, understand?"

No. "Yes," I grit out.

Aurum smiles, letting go of me forcefully. I glare at him, never taking my sight off that malevolent gaze as I pick Tibith up and walk toward Darius.

"Goldie," he whispers, his eyes half closed as he tries to wrap his arms around me. Tears slide down my cheeks as I rest my arm around his waist and nod for him to stand up.

"It's okay," I say, my voice trembling. "We will figure something out."

Darius nods, leaning against my side as Tibith lies in my left arm, sleeping with a small bump on his forehead, which fuels my anger even more.

"Perfect," Aurum hisses, letting us lead the way out of the Isle of Elements.

Chapter Fifty-Four

Darius and I sink to the floor once we push through the portal and into the throne room. Shocked murmurs circulate the chamber as I look up at Arlayna rushing down the dais' steps.

"What is this?" she asks, kneeling beside me as she takes Tibith from me and assesses his injury before checking on Darius and me. "Where is Aias? He was supposed to go in and fetch you both."

Before I can answer and beg for her help, her eyes lift as a chuckle comes from where the portal is. "How kind of you, princess, to worry for others."

Arlayna looks from Aurum to me. Guards reach for their swords in case any action is needed, but they fall back when I spot the king lifting his hand as he rises from his throne.

"Who are you?" Arlayna asks, her gaze narrowing as she stands, clutching Tibith in her arms.

"Ah," I hear Aurum say as he walks past us, the greaves of his boots clashing against each other. He stops in front of Arlayna, pries her right hand from Tibith's hold, and drops his lips to kiss her softly. "Aurum Rivernorth and Darius's uncle."

Meriel's mouth drops at the revelation, and Darius's grip around my waist tightens as he glares at Aurum.

"You're supposed to be dead." Arlayna yanks her hand from his grip and backs away from him, but all Aurum does is laugh like he'd expected that from her, from everyone, in fact.

"Well, that is a rather long story I shouldn't get into right now. Perhaps your uncle might tell you more."

Everyone looks toward Dusan as he makes his way over to Aurum. I try to keep my mouth shut as I already had a prior inkling that the king was up to something, but this... this is more than what I thought he would be capable of doing.

Once again, I had trusted, I had underestimated, and I had become too comfortable.

"You said you wouldn't harm them?" Dusan says harshly, grabbing Aurum's arm.

Aurum glances down at the hold on him and flicks him off like he is simply dusting on his armor. "That is rich coming from the person who covered my tracks with the servant and gave me that ring." He turns to me just as Arlayna glances at her uncle with a horrified look. "In all three hundred years of being stuck inside that frail elf body, I must say I thrived watching you believe Darius had kissed one of the princesses. Oh, Darius, I think you and I are a mistake. You have to stop lying to me, Goldie." He laughs at his own imitation of us before his eyes lock onto me, and his upper lip curls into something so vicious. He steps into my view, and every speck of hatred inside me grows but not as much as Darius's anger. I watch his arms tense, and the veins on his neck protrude like the dragon in him is trying to get out. He lets go of me, managing to stand before Aurum.

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