Page 75 of A Kingdom of Shadows

She frowns, bafflement slicing through her grey eyes as she looks me up and down. "Why do you laugh?"

I shake my head, laughter still present on my lips. "When I was young, I always imagined royalty meant you could do whatever you wanted. I guess I was wrong."

"Royalty in Terranos is much more different to other kingdoms in Zerathion."

I don't miss the disappointment in her voice as she looks off into the fields. We are so different in our upbringings, yet we crave the same thing.

Freedom.

She huffs a big breath, turning to me. "We should go. This area is too dangerous at night."

I frown. "What is it?"

"Shadow Calps," she says. "Creatures that belong to Thalore. Ever since my father's death, they seem to be lurking everywhere."

The name alone has my stomach twist. Not even the thought of capturing one sounds the least bit exciting as I follow behind Arlayna.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Star-shaped lanterns decorate the outdoors, ready for Llerune festivities.

Arlayna and I come out of the stables laughing, having annoyed the palace guards in charge of ensuring Arlayna was always kept an eye on.

One of them chases after us. A new guard who had recently been sworn in. The layers of his metal armor clash against each other as he catches up. "Your Highness, you must know—"

"Relax, Ruvyn," Arlayna says, peeling the gloves off her fingers. "I won't tell my uncle you lost sight of me on our outing."

I chuckle, and she nudges me with an amused look before my smile dies as soon as I spot Darius coming toward us. Immediately, I excuse myself, turning the other way and quickening my steps to escape him. He calls after me, but I ignore it as I enter the maze, thinking I will lose him here if I walk fast enough.

It fails when his hand grips my elbow, and he whirls me around to face him.

Great, just great.

His hair is damp, and water droplets fall on his shirt, which he hasn't bothered to tie up at the chest. He must have bathed not so long ago, and I hate that he has to look this perfect when I am supposed to be angry at him.

"What do you want?" I snap, trying to free my arm from his grip.

He relents. "To talk."

I roll my eyes, finding a chance to turn my back on him and head deeper into the maze. "We are already doing that."

"I wouldn't consider you walking away from me talking."

I spin, almost bumping my head against his firm body. "Fine, what is it you want to talk about? Is it to do with what I saw or apparently did not?"

He breathes out a quiet laugh, shaking his head as he rubs the pad of his thumb along his jaw. "How many times do I have to say I did not kiss Faye."

"I saw it happen right in front of me, Darius!"

"And have you wondered if maybe it was someone else who, I don't know, wanted to mess with you?"

My mouth snaps shut. Maybe he is right. Maybe he is absolutely right, and I should trust him.

Yet I can't seem to do so as I walk away from him again.

"You need to stop running away from me at every opportunity you get, Goldie," he yells after me, hot on my trail. "Are you that afraid of me?"

I halt, clenching my eyes shut. I take a deep breath, looking up at the starry sky before I face him. "I do not want to be another one of your conquests."

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