Page 57 of A Kingdom of Shadows

"This still doesn't mean I don't find you less annoying," I breathe, tipping my head back as I fist his hair between one hand while the other rests against the flat surface of the desk.

The heat of his breath on my neck has me almost losing it as he chuckles hoarsely. "Like I've said before, Goldie, annoying you is something I love to see."

I grin, feeling like I've drunk a whole bottle of wine, intoxicated by his hold on me. Lifting his head, our lips find a way back to each other—

"Nara? I know it is late, but—"

The desk vibrates beneath me as the door hits its side, and I jump off, gripping Darius's shoulders as my gaze widens toward Aias.

His obsidian eyes are blinking at the sight in front of him. His hand is still gripping the doorknob as he looks between us and clears his throat. "Darius, I didn't know you were in here."

I'm breathless as I touch my swollen lips and glance up at Darius. A lazy smile is plastered on his features as he hums, content and not at all embarrassed.

"Goodnight, Aias," he says, stepping back from me and slapping a hand on Aias's shoulder. The action has Aias jolt while Darius turns his head to look at me one last time, his eyes lingering on my lips before leaving.

Oh, I am in trouble.

Aias's forehead scrunches, expecting an answer from me, but my mind is useless to come up with one. "It's—"

"It's exactly what it looks like," he says, shutting the door.

I groan in defeat, slouching my shoulders as I trudge over to my bed and plop down. "What is wrong with me?" I run my hands over my face, squishing my cheeks together as I turn to look at Aias sitting beside me. "First, it was his brother, now him. I—" I stop to breathe. It's impossible to think straight or hardly regret it when I don't. "I said to myself that if I ever fell in love, it would only be if it was Crello himself."

"So, you love him?" Aias concludes.

"What? No," I rush out, scowling at him as I shake my head. "He—he angers me, he's the worst person to talk to, he's pretentious, has an ego the size of Zerathion, and—"

"And yet you would do anything for him."

I frown at him as he looks at me like I'm supposed to agree with him after the absurdity that has just happened.

"Nonetheless... he is a dragon, and you are a human," he adds slowly. "So, despite it all, you are both from different worlds. If you were a shifter like him, maybe things would be easier."

I let his words settle in, and if possible, my shoulders sag even more as I think it through. "I don't want to be a shifter," I whisper. "I can't be one."

A mortal can't be bitten unless they want to bet on their life.

"Then the answer is right in front of you," Aias says, standing up from the bed, his hands reaching out to my shoulder. "You can't be with him."

Something feels like it's gutting me from the inside out as I hear that. Freya would know what to say right now. She'd always have a positive mindset about this, so I find myself searching for comfort in Aias. "What would you do if you were me?" I ask, and he lets out a long sigh.

"I'd risk it all and become what he is." He shrugs. "A dragon with powers sounds better than having none at all."

I half chuckle, half snort, and shake my head. "Remind me not to ask for your advice next time."

"Take it as you will, but I haven't seen a connection such as yours and his in a long time."

"He has a connection with everything he comes into contact with," I say, and he screws his face with amusement.

"Well, anyway, my original intention had been to bid you good luck before your task in the morning, but considering everything, perhaps I should have waited." He chuckles. "I think I'll head back. Tibith is likely snoring away by now."

I smile at him, but my energy seems to drain as I think about what he said.

"Nara?" Aias draws me out of that endless worry loop, and I spot him by the door. "I know you will do brilliantly at each task; I don't doubt you once." He closes the door behind him, and I'm left in the silence of my room.

How will I do brilliantly when I doubt myself about every little thing nowadays.

Chapter Twenty-Three

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