Page 30 of A Kingdom of Shadows

I consider it, and a thousand thoughts pierce my mind, enough to give me a blazing headache. "I would have thought about it," I say, not bothering to hide that statement. "Anyone would, out of anger, spite, and heartbreak. Whether we choose to act on it, in the end, differentiates us. Sarilyn happened to have chosen that path, but no matter what she might have accomplished—shifters dying at her mercy, an army and mortals at her side, she's still alone... nothing can ever replace that void."

Renward’s stare never loses that interest in me. My stomach hollows, not for fear, but because he has that same stare with which Lorcan would look at me—intrigued.

Someone interrupts us, barging past me. It's a male who ignores my presence and says to Renward, "Meridi wishes to speak with you."

Renwards slit-like eyes don't move from mine. "Send her in."

I rise from my seat, seeing this as my cue to get out. Dropping the untouched cup on the table, I bid Renward farewell and leave.

"Naralía," he calls out to me, and I tense. "Do you know if all the Rivernorth’s were killed?"

Like a trap catching the attention of a creature, he has me interested. "Yes," I say over my shoulder.

"Then you should have nothing to worry about when it comes to bringing peace to Zerathion."

I'm about to whirl around when Meridi enters, rambling about not catching enough creatures from the forest. I don't think anyone realizes my departure or the confusion pressed on my face as I look back.

A breeze beats through the air, trees howl, and for a moment, they sound as if they are... screaming.

Souls trapped, wanting freedom.

Something unexplainable then skitters along my back. My blood hums in a strange energy source with the air, nature, and the forest. But it's gone too soon as struggling sounds emerge from one of the bridges. I turn my head and foot it to where my hut is. Outside the door, Darius holds up a young male by the back of his moss green shirt with Tibith beside them, growling on all fours.

I'd smile at Tibith's need to fulfill his protective duties over us if it weren't for me, remembering the boy in Darius's grip and how he had stared at me the day I first went to meet Renward.

"Goldie." Darius grins as he spots me. "Glad to see you're well." His gaze darts down to the young elf. "Look who I found rummaging through the stuff inside your hut."

The boy looks no less than twenty, maybe younger. "I mean no harm, I promise!"

Darius's voice oozes coolness, but his eyes flicker with impatience. "Then what were you doing inside of there?"

The boy panics, his wide gaze jumping from Darius to mine. "I wanted to know more about her!"

Surprise jolts inside me before I look at him with a skeptical glare. "Why?"

"Because," he sighs, "you are putting yourself in grave danger by agreeing to marry Renward."

Chapter Thirteen

The word "Danger" registers in my mind, but I'm not sure I'm even blinking properly at the boy. I've become so accustomed to danger being part of my life that I'm almost desensitized.

Darius lets go of the boy, his brows creasing as he stares at him. "What do you mean danger?"

The boy straightens his shirt, huffing as his eyes dart to mine. His moss-colored skin shines emerald as the sun hits his head. "Renward won't take you to the Elven King. He is just saying that to get you where he wants you. Our kind isn't like the rest of the Elves in Terranos. We hold very little nature magic, and Renward loathes that. Especially after the king mocked him at an annual competition between Elven lords. After that, he tried to have the Fallcrown princesses of Terranos murdered and made the king so enraged he banished all woodland Elves to the Screaming Forest. He hates us, and all Renward wants is to dangle you in front of him like a trophy before killing you."

"So, we're dealing with someone who is out of his mind," says Darius in no shape of a question but a knowing statement.

I had never planned to marry Renward. When I asked Darius to trust me, I meant it. I just needed time to figure out the next step. I shake my head; Everything this boy says makes my stomach turn. "Why would he choose a human for that?"

The boy's eyes wander in all directions before he speaks quietly, "Over the years, being inside this forest has made him grow crazier and crazier." Nothing he does now makes sense."

Tibith lets out a frightened squeak and hides behind Darius's leg. "Darry, the elf wants to harm Miss Nara!"

Darius's eyes flit to me. Restrained anger clouds the streaks of gold like a storm hiding the sun. "He won't."

He watches me suck in an unsteady breath at the assurance in his voice.

For as long as I live, immortality or not, I will make sure nothing ever happens to you.

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