Page 82 of A Kingdom of Shadows

She spills her wine as she jerks back. "Between you two?"

"Look, I was meaning to speak to you the other day, but I just assumed you’re both courting each other—"

"Darius and I?" She makes a face and then bursts into laughter. "Oh, I would never court him."

"I'm sorry." I shake my head, trying to grasp what is being said. "Do you not—"

"He's infatuated with you!" She grins, gesturing her hand to all of me. "Don't get me wrong, he is a dream, but... he is not who I want."

That adds more questions to my nightmare of a life. Frowning, I ask, "Where were you the morning before you left, Olcar?"

"So inquisitive," she says, her emerald eyes bright. "But if you are so eager to know, I was having tea while my mother scolded me for—"

I silence her voice as I try to piece the puzzle. None of it makes sense. I'd seen them kiss right outside my window. Aias had witnessed it—

Aias.

Where did you get that ring from?

The king gifted it to me.

"Could you excuse me for a moment?" I say to Faye, barely hearing her response as I careen through the crowd, searching for Aias. I shoulder past a group of young Elves when I spot him talking to one. Reaching him, he smiles at me, but before he can even open his mouth, I demand, "I need that ring."

His forehead pinches as he stares at his finger, the ruby glinting off it. "What, why?"

"I have something I want to test out."

He chuckles. "If you wanted it from the start, you could have—"

"Aias," I say, my tone tight, and more like a warning.

His eyes widen, and he quickly removes the ring and places it in my palm. I don't respond when he asks why I need it again as I sprint the opposite way into the gardens. As I stalk to the maze, I keep the ring steady in my fingers. My feet start to hurt, and I slide off my heels, kicking them to the side, with a quiet grunt. The grass feels cool and damp on my skin. It's relaxing in comparison to my pounding heart.

Dipping into one of the maze sections, I lean against the hedge and lift the ring out before me. At a closer inspection, I spot what appear to be red waves swirling within it.

I tap it to see if it does anything.

Nothing.

I shake it.

Nothing.

"Great," I mutter, tipping my head back and not caring about whatever leaves tangle within my hair.

Maybe I am going out of my mind.

That would explain everything that is going on with Darius.

At least if Idris were here, he'd scold me for thinking it.

Illias, on the other hand, would be thrilled to just speak to me.

And Iker, he'd flirt and grab whatever animal he finds.

I chuckle, but it turns into a sad whimper until a burst of light and echoing voices travel from the corner of the hedge. Frowning, I push myself off the row of bushes, treading warily as I peer through the vines.

My pulse shoots into the air.

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