A World of Ruins
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Synopsis
THE THRILLING EPIC FINALE TO THE SOLARIS AND CRELLO TRILOGY BY TIKTOK SENSATION RINA VASQUEZ
Will King Aurum succeed in taking over Emberwell?
Will Darius and Nara be able to reunite and fulfil the prophecy of Solaris and Crello?
The fate of the kingdom rests on their shoulders.
Release date: July 16, 2024
Publisher: Headline
Print pages: 352
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A World of Ruins
Rina Vasquez
I find myself gazing at an obsidian ring I fashioned from one of my scales many years ago. The den is crowded tonight, with many shifters celebrating Noctura. One child bumps her hip into my table, and I glance at her. She shoots me an apologetic smile, and the warmth from it fills my core.
Deftly taking out a small pouch from my pocket, I pass it over to her.
She opens it up and gasps. ‘Is this the magic dust from the Isle of Elements?’
I nod, chuckling when I feel her excitement. ‘Make sure your mother doesn’t see it, or I won’t hear the end of it.’
Margie might love me, but she often told me off – sometimes for as little as swearing in front of her.
‘Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you! You are the best, Darius!’ As she runs off, I smile and return to looking at the ring while nursing a mug of ale in my other hand.
‘Are we ever going to see Miss Misty again, Darry?’ Tibith’s enthusiastic question pairs with the fluttering of his ears as he climbs onto the table.
Hearing that nickname brings another smile to my lips, one that appears too quickly whenever I even think about her.
‘Naralía,’ I say. ‘Her real name is Naralía.’ I bring the mug up to my lips and scoff. ‘Or Nara, as she says, and no, I don’t think we will.’
From the side, I can see Tibith blink in confusion. When I told him to stay behind while I went to the ball, he worried I would be caught. He isn’t used to me being this bold, inserting myself into situations amongst Venators. So, seeing how affected I am around Goldie, all he can do is wonder. I’ll tell him more about who she is to me eventually, but after tonight, I doubt I will see her again despite me still having her scent of jasmine on my clothes.
A sensual thought crosses my mind, about our dance and how close she was to me. I shift on my chair, grumbling as I take another swig from my mug, hoping to drown her out of my head with alcohol.
An hour later, it still doesn’t work. I’ve only achieved a new-found hatred for Cutler, who seems to think he can beat me at Liars’ Dice.
Tibith then talks my ear off, explaining how he wants all the bread in the world, but although I usually always listen to him, this time, I cannot focus. Otis comes by and whispers something into my ear. On any other occasion, I would have happily agreed with him.
By the time male shifters are slurring their words and women have taken their children up to bed, I stand and flick a few coins onto the table. I tip my head at a couple of people I know more than others and whistle over at Tibith to come follow. He lifts his head and smiles as he trots behind me and into the warm night air.
I pause by the doorway, staring up at the crisp moon, marvelling at how large it looks tonight. An attractive beacon of light.
‘Come on, that’s it—’
I frown, dropping my head to look to my right. It appears to be Gus, with an Ardenti dragon named Fernah, aiding one of her hatching eggs.
Tibith and I look at each other before waltzing across the grass field. Likely hearing us, Gus glances behind his shoulder and chuckles as he spots me.
‘Darius,’ he says, holding up a hatchling that can barely open its eyes. ‘Leaving already?’
‘Cutler was getting on my nerves.’
This time, Gus lets out a howl of laughter. He often finds the simplest things I say hilarious. ‘You should cut him some slack. He looks up to you; everyone does.’
I shift uncomfortably on the spot, and I am relieved Gus doesn’t notice. I may take pleasure in being the centre of attention, but having people look up to me leaves me with too much space to mess things up.
Clearing my throat, I decide to involve myself before Gus can say something I am not in the mood for. I roll my shirtsleeves up and crouch beside him, with Tibith staring curiously from the side.
Gus turns his head as I grab one of the colossal eggs with the dragon hatchling still inside. ‘Looks like that one is having too much fun inside; it doesn’t want to leave.’
Fernah rumbles in response, lowering her head to the ground. I chuckle as I move my hand over the scaly exterior of the shell, helping the creature to emerge from its home. ‘It likely is better in there than out here.’
‘But it looks so small, Darry! How can a whole dragon fit inside an egg?’ Tibith asks inquisitively.
I slant an amused glance his way. ‘How do you think you came into this world, hm? You once hatched from an egg, too, Tib.’
Tibith gasps, pawing at his plump figure as if wondering how he himself could fit somewhere so small. I think he forgets he was once the size of a thumb. ‘Did you hatch from an egg too, Darry?’
Before I can answer, Gus huffs out a laugh. ‘Have you taught him nothing about our species?’
I shrug. ‘He knows the important stuff.’
Gus’s brows shoot up. ‘Rolling around in gold isn’t what one might consider important.’ He slides his gaze towards Tibith. ‘Shifters don’t hatch from eggs, boy. We’re a much more evolved species of dragon. Thank Solaris and Crello for that.’
Fernah doesn’t like that answer, as she stirs and growls at Gus, baring her sharp teeth at him.
I straight-out laugh as I slap Gus on the shoulder with my free hand. ‘Now I’m starting to see why you are single.’
For a moment, something odd passes across Gus’s features, but not long enough for me to question it as he clears his throat and looks down at the nest.
‘There we go,’ he says, directing my attention back to the few hatchlings already by their mother. Some have a red shine to them: Ardenti. Others pure obsidian: Umbrati.
The one in my hands, though, is still shy to emerge. ‘Come on, little guy,’ I encourage. ‘I promise it is not so bad out here.’
Gus snorts, and I give him a quick smirk.
‘Of course, the food could be better, but what can we do? Gus seems to be fine with serving everyone meat that is slightly off.’
‘Watch it.’
I grin, knowing there’s a scowl on Gus’s face. ‘Maybe gold will tempt you.’ I reach into my pocket and take out my gold coin and flick it in the air. Leaning in, I hold the coin in front of the egg. ‘Between you and me, this is my most prized possession. It belonged to someone . . . exceptional.’ Still does.
Slowly, the cracks in the eggshell widen, and a soft glow spills forth from the emerging fissures. The dragon within is determined to break free now, and I marvel at its resilience as a sleek black snout pushes against the confines of its shell.
Soon, the hatchling’s wings burst free from the crack, and I have to wipe away the excess gunk coating its leathery skin. I bring the hatchling towards my chest and look over at Gus, laughing as the dragon squirms in my hands. My heart swells with a profound sense of connection with the hatchling’s accomplishment.
As I look over at Gus, he smiles at me proudly. ‘It seems to like you, Darius.’
I click my tongue. ‘What can I say?’
‘Maybe it can smell Miss Nara, Darry!’
I stiffen at her name, and the hatchling almost slips from my grip.
What is it about you, Goldie, that has every living thing so enamoured?
My mood shifts, and I clear my throat as I gently place the dragon next to his mother and rise to my feet, gesturing for Tibith to come along.
I’m walking away when Gus says, ‘You’re still heading off early?’
I throw him a thumbs-up without looking back.
‘Not even going to celebrate your birthday?’
I pause before slowly turning to look at him. A slow blink follows before I narrow my eyes. ‘How did you know that?’
He sighs, taking his time to get up from the ground. As he straightens, he smiles down at me. ‘Tibith.’
My eyebrows almost hit my hairline as I drop my gaze to the orange furball beside me. He looks up at me sheepishly, an apology already circling his eyes.
‘Were you ever planning on telling anyone what today was?’
A huff pushes through my nose, and I shake my head at Gus. ‘I don’t need to when Tibith can do that for me.’
‘You’re twenty-six, Darius.’
No kidding.
‘Sooner or later, you’ll be of age to become a full-fledged shifter. Maybe you should think about settling down and . . . finding someone to spend your life with.’
‘Is this another way of saying I need to stop stealing people’s clothes after I bed them?’
He glowers. ‘I’m serious.’
I grin. ‘And when am I not?’
Gus is clearly annoyed, meaning I have done my job here and can leave. I turn to walk away and smile as I quickly assess what I can steal away from him.
‘You do realise that relying on thievery has its limits,’ he remarks, stating the obvious. ‘But if you joined . . .’
The implication has me shaking my head. Fists clenching at my side, I twist around to confront him.
‘Darius, I—’
‘I accepted your friendship because I thought you understood me,’ I assert, my tone cutting through the warm air like a warning. ‘You didn’t ask questions, and I didn’t care whether you attacked Sarilyn’s castle or her people. I may have helped you and the rest of your group on a few occasions, but that’s it.’
He tries to talk, but I don’t give him that chance.
‘So, if you want to see me around here again, stop asking me to join you. You stay on your path, and I’ll stay on mine.’ I back away, watching as his expression sours. My hand slips into my pocket, fingers wrapping around the ring. I pull it out, casting it a lingering look before my gaze rises once more.
Solaris, I despise you.
I know. But do you despise me that much to take me down with you . . . Naralía?
My mind replays that memory as I flip the ring between my thumb and forefinger. A smile lifts the corner of my lips, envisioning Goldie’s face, the anger reddening her cheeks, and the way she was still beautiful, even while hating me.
Without another thought, I hand the piece of jewellery over to Gus. ‘Here, before I go, I need you to take this,’ I say.
Gus takes a long look at it, his eyes widening when he realises what the ring means. ‘A scale ring?’
I nod, taking a deep breath. ‘I want you to throw it away.’
He starts to shake his head, but I firmly plant the ring in his hands. ‘Darius—’
‘I’ll be seeing you, Gus,’ I dismiss him, not even sparing the ring a final glance as I turn my back on him and stride off.
Tibith follows beside me, leaping to catch up. ‘Why do you want to throw that ring away, Darius? You said it was special!’
‘I’ve said a lot of things, Tibith,’ I respond, my eyes fixed on the pathway leading into the woods. ‘I guess I was wrong this time.’
‘You need to concentrate, Nara. You’re overthinking it.’
I squeeze my eyes shut, then open them and turn to face Gus, who is standing a few metres away from me in the Aerian training fields. He has his arms crossed over his chest as he analyses my stance, sensing how discouraged I am that I don’t seem to possess any source of power, despite what I thought after we found out three months ago that I was the reincarnation of Solaris.
‘I’m starting to believe I am no Solaris,’ I huff, flexing my gloved hands in front of me as if that will conjure up my power, or at least summon an animal like I have done in the past.
Gus cocks his head to the side and smiles through his thick beard. ‘And yet only yesterday you were grinning at the fact you beat a shifter – one who has never trained in combat before – in a sword fight.’ My silence makes him breathe out a sigh. ‘Have you considered that perhaps you do not want to accept this change?’
I shrug, even though I know he is not entirely wrong. Changing means that I am no longer who I once was. It’s too much pressure, too much of a burden, to see others place their hopes in me.
Flames charge through the winter air as a few phoenixes fly towards us, stopping me from entering another self-doubting conversation with Gus. As they land, I realise my brothers and Link are atop them. Having the Aerian headquarters be airborne on floating landmarks meant you had to travel within Aeris by riding with phoenixes or dragons, many of which Gus had managed to save.
Illias is the first to jump off a phoenix’s back as its gold- and scarlet-feathered tail thrashes against the grass. Illias then jogs over to me, his arms out, and squeezes me into an embrace, and I chuckle, rocking us back and forth on our toes. ‘How is training coming along?’ he asks.
I open my mouth, but Gus answers before I do. ‘She is getting there. She has the fighting down thanks to her time as a Trapper and Venator trainee, but in terms of power, she just needs to stop doubting herself.’
Offence takes refuge in my chest. ‘That is not—’
‘Give her time, Gus,’ Idris cuts in, his hands in his trouser pockets. ‘It was only a year ago she was still trapping pixies and carving flowers out of wood for a living.’
‘Not to mention falling for a shifter.’ Illias chuckles and shakes his head as he steps away from me. It seems I have no say in this matter. Everyone is speaking for me.
‘Are we forgetting she is a reincarnation of Solaris?’ Iker adds, still in disbelief since he first heard about it months ago. ‘Our sister is a deity – who would have thought!’ He frowns. ‘I wonder what that makes me? Semi-powerful?’
‘Nothing,’ Idris deadpans. ‘It makes you nothing.’
‘If it helps, Nara,’ Link says, a small smile colouring his lips as he comes up beside Illias, ‘I always felt there was something special about you. It was just a matter of time before we figured out what exactly.’
I smile, having missed Link’s soft reassurances. That is until I hear the landing of a creature behind me and Rydan’s voice as he dismounts a sleek black Umbrati dragon with shadows curling around its talons.
‘And alas, my heart breaks, for I was not chosen to be your other half, Ambrose. But I suppose sometimes even the deities can make mistakes.’
I turn to him and cock a brow, only for him to wink back at me. ‘Maybe you should try explaining how you would woo me in the bedroom again?’
Idris starts coughing uncomfortably, and I bite my lip so that I don’t burst out laughing.
Rydan shakes his head, pulling off the tips of his gloves. ‘Unfortunately, not today, Ambrose.’ His expression turns sour. ‘Hira would like to see you; they are all holding a meeting right now in the common area.’
Any tinge of laughter or humour drains from my body. I look over my shoulder at my brothers, acknowledging the worried glances they share with Gus. I turn and give Rydan a nod as I head towards Gus and ask him to take me to the meeting.
He accepts and shifts before I mount him and slide my hands over his leather skin. No matter how much time passes, I can never get used to not seeing Darius’s unique silver scales. Letting out a sigh, I pat the side of Gus’s neck, and he takes off into the sky towards the Aerian headquarters. Fog ahead shields the grand open spaces of the palace, where Aerians flash into flames and become phoenixes. Despite the chaos spreading across Zerathion with Aurum’s return, I’m still able to take a moment to admire the Aerian architecture. Roofs made of red stone and marble curve around the entrance to the balcony, while gossamer leaves that shimmer in emerald hues hang from the surrounding trees.
As Gus lands, I hop off and rush inside before he can return to his human form. I half jog and half walk past spacious rooms glowing in the winter light. When I reach a set of golden doors with a phoenix engraved on them, I push through and into the great hall where Freya, Leira, her wife Aelle, and a few Phoenix warriors are waiting. Gus catches up to me, shaking his head, though he is now used to me escaping him.
My mood further deflates when my eyes snag on russet hair as Lorcan looks up at me from across the round glass table.
I ignored him for three months, making sure he couldn’t come anywhere near me, but lately, it’s harder to avoid him when we all live in the same place, especially now that I know . . . he isn’t a Rümen any more.
Recalling the moment I found out Lorcan was alive, my vision fogs up, and I’m suddenly back in that hallway where I bumped into him.
‘—I cried for you . . . I mourned you.’ My voice cracks uncontrollably as I stare at Lorcan after having pushed myself off him. ‘Darius mourned you.’ Agony ruptures through my heart as I think of Darius and how he is not here to soothe away all the rage I feel, and for one blinking moment, I let myself picture him. I let myself believe he is beside me, his eyes burning into mine with that golden fire.
I run my hands through my hair, frustrated, as I bite down on my tongue to make the image fade.
Lorcan looks at the ground solemnly when he says, ‘I know.’
You do not know. You do not know the half of it. ‘How . . . how is it—’
‘I did die that day.’
Intense silence cuts through the frostiness of the hallway.
‘And I accepted it.’ Shame takes over his expression as he looks up. ‘But the leader of the Aerian warriors . . . she took my body back here, Nara. She felt something in me – something alive and worthy.’
Staring at him, I’m not sure where he is going with this.
‘See, they have this belief.’ The apple of his throat moves visibly as he swallows. ‘A belief that life can be reborn.’
A rebirth from the ashes . . .
Recognition of what he now means tightens a coil around my chest. ‘You’re a phoenix.’ I don’t pose it as a question; it is more of a statement that I need to hear myself say.
He nods slowly as if conscious of admitting it. ‘Aerians believe my ancestry dates back to them, that perhaps my mother was never exactly mortal, and that is why I became Erion’s first successful Rümen.’
‘Nara,’ Hira speaks, pulling me out of my memories with a welcoming smile. She moves her long raven hair to the side, showing off the typical Aerian armour she wears – a burgundy chestplate over leather attire, to match the banners inside the hall. If I have learned anything from the past few months staying here, it is that the three Aerian leaders take great pride in being warriors. Since I first met Hira that night at the Noctura ball, she made sure to impress that onto me, despite now knowing who I was.
‘Thank you for joining us,’ she says. ‘We appreciate, with all the training you are undertaking, that you have enough time to spare and give us a chance to speak with—’
‘Any news?’ I interrupt her, anxiety dripping from my words.
Her lips thin into a closed smile as she gestures for me to take a seat. I remain upright, causing her to awkwardly clear her throat as she walks around the table and plants her hands against it. ‘We have received word from the princesses of Terranos that Aurum is no longer there.’
My hands begin to clam up. ‘Where is he?’
‘Princess Arlayna believes he has returned to Emberwell to finish what Sarilyn started.’
Hope blooms inside my chest, and my breath comes out in short bursts. Excitement is taking over at the prospect of good news for once. ‘Then if he is there, we can find a way into the castle and free Darius.’ I glance at Freya and Leira. ‘How is the preparation for the unbinding spell coming along? I assume that is why I was brought here to this meeting, right?’
Freya grimaces, biting her lip as she looks at her aunt and Aelle for guidance. Leira seems at a loss, and I do not like it one bit.
‘Even if Aurum is there with Darius,’ Hira’s voice ripples across the room, ‘Freya and her aunt are beginning to believe the spell wouldn’t work. Aurum used his blood in the Isle of Elements to bind their souls together. Our research tells us that simple witchcraft cannot sever that tie.’
My eyes slide to where Lorcan shifts from his statuesque pose. He stares at the floor with enough focus to burn a hole through it. ‘So, what then?’ I say to Hira and begin to tap my fingers against my thigh.
‘Aelle has been able to locate where Aurum is hiding the Elemental Stones inside the castle through her scrying. In the meantime, I’ll have Leira and Freya keep searching for a way to free—’
‘But that’s not good enough!’ I lose all patience, raising my voice. I have kept myself busy and let everyone else take the reins so I could focus on building up my strength, but I can no longer hold in my frustration.
‘Nara—’ Gus touches my shoulder, but I shrug him off, taking a step forward.
‘I have waited three months,’ I say. ‘Three months where I have had to suck it up and listen to everyone tell me that it won’t be long until he is back here with all of us. How much longer must I wait while he is stuck with his deranged uncle, who is likely torturing him right as we speak?’ Guilt wraps around my heart, imagining the terrible things he must be going through. I don’t want to believe the worst has happened, and I don’t want to think we will never get him back. ‘The longer we spend planning what to do next, the more Aurum gains control over everything else around him. He did it three hundred years ago; he did it in Terranos with me and Darius, and he will do it again.’
‘We understand your frustrations—’
‘No, you don’t understand!’ My lips wobble, and I bite down hard. ‘Darius probably doesn’t even know I am alive,’ I whisper, and everyone inside the room takes turns looking at each other and then at me pitifully. I do not want pity; I want everything to go back to normal. ‘If it were him in my position, he would have done everything to get me back by now.’
I just know that he would have torn the whole world apart and wouldn’t have waited just because others told him to. I feel like I am failing him right now.
‘We are trying everything, Nara,’ Freya says quietly, and I don’t even realise she is now at my side. My gaze locks with her hazel eyes, and for a second, I feel as if I am drowning in something I can’t control.
I need to get out of here.
Backing away, I mouth my apologies to her before I cast everyone else one final stare and storm out of the room.
‘Why do you look so sad, Miss Nara?’ Tibith sits upon my knee, his paws patting the tears that are running down my cheeks. I’m leaning against the window ledge, my legs raised to my chest, a melancholy smile creeping across my lips. I’ve worked hard to maintain a cheerful attitude for Tibith all these months. I guess today is just one of those days where even carving into the wooden window frame does nothing to calm me.
‘Would you believe me if I said these were happy tears?’ I cough out a laugh, wishing it were true, as I fiddle with the coin necklace Darius gave me.
Tibith shakes his head, and his fur tickles my fingers when I run them through the sides of his face. ‘Y-you don’t need to lie to me, Miss Nara. Those are tears for Darry, aren’t they?’
I stroke his stomach to get a giggle out of him. ‘Have you always been this smart?’
He grins. ‘Darry has told many that I am a genius!’
A fist clenches around my heart, and I almost let out a whimper before I tamp it down.
Tibith notices the anguish in my expression and pouts. ‘He will come back, right, Miss Nara?’
That has been my only hope since I woke up here in Aeris.
‘When has he not?’ I whisper, smiling, before the door to my room opens, and I wipe my eyes with the sleeves of my tunic. My smile disappears, and I look over my shoulder at Freya. She walks up to the ledge, bunching her violet dress in her hands, and sits down. Tibith glances at her with a thrilled squeak and slides off my knee. We watch as he clambers onto the single bed and positions himself against the pillow, falling asleep within seconds.
‘I apologise for what happened during the meeting with Hira,’ Freya says. ‘We really have tried everything, Nara.’
I slowly turn my head to look at her, and though the corners of my lips lift, the smile feels broken. ‘I know that.’
Freya tilts her head, curls dangling from her updo as she stares at me like she understands that nothing is fine with me. We have spoken less since I arrived here. She busied herself with finding a way to help Darius while I occupied myself training with Gus. I have rarely seen Freya except when she showed me her new-found powers as a witch. Telekinesis comes naturally to her, like many of her kind. I suppose it goes hand in hand with other mind magic for witches and how in tune she is with my emotions.
I confess with a shaky breath, ‘I am just frustrated with it all. I mean, here I am, supposed to be this deity reincarnation who will bring life back to Zerathion, yet I am limited in what powers I have. The man who I am annoyingly in love with is locked away and . . . and I am letting him down each day I spend here without figuring out a way to get him out.’
‘Maybe this is how it had to be.’
Her response makes my lips fall and I frown.
‘They always say Solaris and Crello shared the skies,’ she explains. ‘But they were also separated until they were finally able to reunite. It sounds like you are living through that right now with Darius.’
‘But I didn’t ask for this.’
‘Then what did you ask for?’ The intensity of her gaze burrows deep into my soul. ‘The Nara I met would have told me that she is confident she is far better than Solaris.’
I stare back in silence and almost chuckle.
‘Let’s not forget you’ve broken hands, killed, talked back to my father when he was the General, and helped a dragon thief steal a pendant from the palace.’
My eyes suddenly sting with her words.
‘What happened, Nara? Because I know you and I know that all you have done these months is either act all tough just to torture yourself or busy yourself with writing who will be the first to die on your kill list.’ She raises her brows. ‘Aurum being number one.’ With a sigh, she says softly, ‘What would Darius say if he were here?’
I blink, looking at her like a child missing their mother. Images float inside my head. Darius’s golden eyes, his mischievous smile, and that stare he would hold me with that spoke a thousand love letters.
I am here.
I have a purpose.
I cannot and never will be daunted.
I press three fingers against my heart and whisper, ‘That it is okay to be vulnerable.’
Freya nods with vehemence and smiles. I shake my head and slide my legs off the ledge as I wrap my arms around Freya. ‘Solaris, how I have missed your encouraging words.’ I close my eyes as she rubs my back. ‘Every moment I was in Terranos, all I could think of was how wonderful you would find it. You don’t understand how much I needed you there with me.’
She separates from our embrace, clutching my face in her hands. ‘And I needed you at the den with me.’ She sighs, letting go and looking away briefly. ‘So much happened while you were gone. I—’
‘I know,’ I say to reassure her. ‘You don’t need to tell me—’
‘I kissed your brother,’ she blurts out, snapping her head back at me. ‘Idris.’
My eyes widen and, almost comically, all I can say is, ‘Oh.’
‘It’s been killing me not to be able to tell you all this time. I am so sorry, Nara. I mean, it didn’t mean anything. He can hardly look at me now and—’
I grab her hand before she can spiral into one of her panicked monologues. She looks at me grimly as if I am irritated with what she has done. She could not be more wrong. ‘Idris . . . is the hardest person someone can get through to. Trust me, I have had to live with it for twenty-two years of my life. But I have seen how he looks at you now for a long while, and if he is avoiding you right now, then he clearly does not realise how lucky he would be to have you, so don’t apologise. There is no need.’
A reflection of the moon shines in her hazel eyes as she takes in my words. A smile almost touches her lips, but it falters, and I wonder if there is more to it. Lately, I feel that something is on her mind, and she doesn’t want to let me know what it is, or maybe she can’t.
‘Nara, I—’ she starts, but the door to my room creaks open and Iker’s head pops through.
‘Oh, uh, I didn’t realise Freya was here. I’ll just leave—’
‘No, stay.’ Freya stands up, darting her gaze from Iker to me. ‘I need to go find Leira. She and Aelle wanted to teach me the differences between certain herbs. Apparently, star anise doesn’t help our psychic visions, although I have yet to have one.’ She laughs, and I want to tell her not to go, but she doesn’t give me a chance as she hurries past Iker and leaves the room.
Iker keeps glancing back at the door as if hoping Freya will reappear.
My brows draw into a frown, seeing how restless he is as he paces around and runs a hand through his short curls. ‘You never come into my room unless you want something, so what is it?’
He halts, turning to me with a bemused look. He lets out an incredulous laugh. ‘What if I wished to spend quality time with my little sister? We were apart for months—’ One raised-eyebrow look from me, and he sighs, dropping onto the edge of my bed. ‘Fine, you got me.’ A pause. ‘I need your help in ridding someone.’
Well, that is not what I expected, and by my reaction, Iker can also see the sudden worry.
‘Not in that sense,’ he amends quickly, and the rise in his voice has me shush him before he can wake Tibith up. ‘It is more of a forgetting your feelings situation.’
That does not make it any better.
Puffing my cheeks, I blow out a breath and lean f
Deftly taking out a small pouch from my pocket, I pass it over to her.
She opens it up and gasps. ‘Is this the magic dust from the Isle of Elements?’
I nod, chuckling when I feel her excitement. ‘Make sure your mother doesn’t see it, or I won’t hear the end of it.’
Margie might love me, but she often told me off – sometimes for as little as swearing in front of her.
‘Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you! You are the best, Darius!’ As she runs off, I smile and return to looking at the ring while nursing a mug of ale in my other hand.
‘Are we ever going to see Miss Misty again, Darry?’ Tibith’s enthusiastic question pairs with the fluttering of his ears as he climbs onto the table.
Hearing that nickname brings another smile to my lips, one that appears too quickly whenever I even think about her.
‘Naralía,’ I say. ‘Her real name is Naralía.’ I bring the mug up to my lips and scoff. ‘Or Nara, as she says, and no, I don’t think we will.’
From the side, I can see Tibith blink in confusion. When I told him to stay behind while I went to the ball, he worried I would be caught. He isn’t used to me being this bold, inserting myself into situations amongst Venators. So, seeing how affected I am around Goldie, all he can do is wonder. I’ll tell him more about who she is to me eventually, but after tonight, I doubt I will see her again despite me still having her scent of jasmine on my clothes.
A sensual thought crosses my mind, about our dance and how close she was to me. I shift on my chair, grumbling as I take another swig from my mug, hoping to drown her out of my head with alcohol.
An hour later, it still doesn’t work. I’ve only achieved a new-found hatred for Cutler, who seems to think he can beat me at Liars’ Dice.
Tibith then talks my ear off, explaining how he wants all the bread in the world, but although I usually always listen to him, this time, I cannot focus. Otis comes by and whispers something into my ear. On any other occasion, I would have happily agreed with him.
By the time male shifters are slurring their words and women have taken their children up to bed, I stand and flick a few coins onto the table. I tip my head at a couple of people I know more than others and whistle over at Tibith to come follow. He lifts his head and smiles as he trots behind me and into the warm night air.
I pause by the doorway, staring up at the crisp moon, marvelling at how large it looks tonight. An attractive beacon of light.
‘Come on, that’s it—’
I frown, dropping my head to look to my right. It appears to be Gus, with an Ardenti dragon named Fernah, aiding one of her hatching eggs.
Tibith and I look at each other before waltzing across the grass field. Likely hearing us, Gus glances behind his shoulder and chuckles as he spots me.
‘Darius,’ he says, holding up a hatchling that can barely open its eyes. ‘Leaving already?’
‘Cutler was getting on my nerves.’
This time, Gus lets out a howl of laughter. He often finds the simplest things I say hilarious. ‘You should cut him some slack. He looks up to you; everyone does.’
I shift uncomfortably on the spot, and I am relieved Gus doesn’t notice. I may take pleasure in being the centre of attention, but having people look up to me leaves me with too much space to mess things up.
Clearing my throat, I decide to involve myself before Gus can say something I am not in the mood for. I roll my shirtsleeves up and crouch beside him, with Tibith staring curiously from the side.
Gus turns his head as I grab one of the colossal eggs with the dragon hatchling still inside. ‘Looks like that one is having too much fun inside; it doesn’t want to leave.’
Fernah rumbles in response, lowering her head to the ground. I chuckle as I move my hand over the scaly exterior of the shell, helping the creature to emerge from its home. ‘It likely is better in there than out here.’
‘But it looks so small, Darry! How can a whole dragon fit inside an egg?’ Tibith asks inquisitively.
I slant an amused glance his way. ‘How do you think you came into this world, hm? You once hatched from an egg, too, Tib.’
Tibith gasps, pawing at his plump figure as if wondering how he himself could fit somewhere so small. I think he forgets he was once the size of a thumb. ‘Did you hatch from an egg too, Darry?’
Before I can answer, Gus huffs out a laugh. ‘Have you taught him nothing about our species?’
I shrug. ‘He knows the important stuff.’
Gus’s brows shoot up. ‘Rolling around in gold isn’t what one might consider important.’ He slides his gaze towards Tibith. ‘Shifters don’t hatch from eggs, boy. We’re a much more evolved species of dragon. Thank Solaris and Crello for that.’
Fernah doesn’t like that answer, as she stirs and growls at Gus, baring her sharp teeth at him.
I straight-out laugh as I slap Gus on the shoulder with my free hand. ‘Now I’m starting to see why you are single.’
For a moment, something odd passes across Gus’s features, but not long enough for me to question it as he clears his throat and looks down at the nest.
‘There we go,’ he says, directing my attention back to the few hatchlings already by their mother. Some have a red shine to them: Ardenti. Others pure obsidian: Umbrati.
The one in my hands, though, is still shy to emerge. ‘Come on, little guy,’ I encourage. ‘I promise it is not so bad out here.’
Gus snorts, and I give him a quick smirk.
‘Of course, the food could be better, but what can we do? Gus seems to be fine with serving everyone meat that is slightly off.’
‘Watch it.’
I grin, knowing there’s a scowl on Gus’s face. ‘Maybe gold will tempt you.’ I reach into my pocket and take out my gold coin and flick it in the air. Leaning in, I hold the coin in front of the egg. ‘Between you and me, this is my most prized possession. It belonged to someone . . . exceptional.’ Still does.
Slowly, the cracks in the eggshell widen, and a soft glow spills forth from the emerging fissures. The dragon within is determined to break free now, and I marvel at its resilience as a sleek black snout pushes against the confines of its shell.
Soon, the hatchling’s wings burst free from the crack, and I have to wipe away the excess gunk coating its leathery skin. I bring the hatchling towards my chest and look over at Gus, laughing as the dragon squirms in my hands. My heart swells with a profound sense of connection with the hatchling’s accomplishment.
As I look over at Gus, he smiles at me proudly. ‘It seems to like you, Darius.’
I click my tongue. ‘What can I say?’
‘Maybe it can smell Miss Nara, Darry!’
I stiffen at her name, and the hatchling almost slips from my grip.
What is it about you, Goldie, that has every living thing so enamoured?
My mood shifts, and I clear my throat as I gently place the dragon next to his mother and rise to my feet, gesturing for Tibith to come along.
I’m walking away when Gus says, ‘You’re still heading off early?’
I throw him a thumbs-up without looking back.
‘Not even going to celebrate your birthday?’
I pause before slowly turning to look at him. A slow blink follows before I narrow my eyes. ‘How did you know that?’
He sighs, taking his time to get up from the ground. As he straightens, he smiles down at me. ‘Tibith.’
My eyebrows almost hit my hairline as I drop my gaze to the orange furball beside me. He looks up at me sheepishly, an apology already circling his eyes.
‘Were you ever planning on telling anyone what today was?’
A huff pushes through my nose, and I shake my head at Gus. ‘I don’t need to when Tibith can do that for me.’
‘You’re twenty-six, Darius.’
No kidding.
‘Sooner or later, you’ll be of age to become a full-fledged shifter. Maybe you should think about settling down and . . . finding someone to spend your life with.’
‘Is this another way of saying I need to stop stealing people’s clothes after I bed them?’
He glowers. ‘I’m serious.’
I grin. ‘And when am I not?’
Gus is clearly annoyed, meaning I have done my job here and can leave. I turn to walk away and smile as I quickly assess what I can steal away from him.
‘You do realise that relying on thievery has its limits,’ he remarks, stating the obvious. ‘But if you joined . . .’
The implication has me shaking my head. Fists clenching at my side, I twist around to confront him.
‘Darius, I—’
‘I accepted your friendship because I thought you understood me,’ I assert, my tone cutting through the warm air like a warning. ‘You didn’t ask questions, and I didn’t care whether you attacked Sarilyn’s castle or her people. I may have helped you and the rest of your group on a few occasions, but that’s it.’
He tries to talk, but I don’t give him that chance.
‘So, if you want to see me around here again, stop asking me to join you. You stay on your path, and I’ll stay on mine.’ I back away, watching as his expression sours. My hand slips into my pocket, fingers wrapping around the ring. I pull it out, casting it a lingering look before my gaze rises once more.
Solaris, I despise you.
I know. But do you despise me that much to take me down with you . . . Naralía?
My mind replays that memory as I flip the ring between my thumb and forefinger. A smile lifts the corner of my lips, envisioning Goldie’s face, the anger reddening her cheeks, and the way she was still beautiful, even while hating me.
Without another thought, I hand the piece of jewellery over to Gus. ‘Here, before I go, I need you to take this,’ I say.
Gus takes a long look at it, his eyes widening when he realises what the ring means. ‘A scale ring?’
I nod, taking a deep breath. ‘I want you to throw it away.’
He starts to shake his head, but I firmly plant the ring in his hands. ‘Darius—’
‘I’ll be seeing you, Gus,’ I dismiss him, not even sparing the ring a final glance as I turn my back on him and stride off.
Tibith follows beside me, leaping to catch up. ‘Why do you want to throw that ring away, Darius? You said it was special!’
‘I’ve said a lot of things, Tibith,’ I respond, my eyes fixed on the pathway leading into the woods. ‘I guess I was wrong this time.’
‘You need to concentrate, Nara. You’re overthinking it.’
I squeeze my eyes shut, then open them and turn to face Gus, who is standing a few metres away from me in the Aerian training fields. He has his arms crossed over his chest as he analyses my stance, sensing how discouraged I am that I don’t seem to possess any source of power, despite what I thought after we found out three months ago that I was the reincarnation of Solaris.
‘I’m starting to believe I am no Solaris,’ I huff, flexing my gloved hands in front of me as if that will conjure up my power, or at least summon an animal like I have done in the past.
Gus cocks his head to the side and smiles through his thick beard. ‘And yet only yesterday you were grinning at the fact you beat a shifter – one who has never trained in combat before – in a sword fight.’ My silence makes him breathe out a sigh. ‘Have you considered that perhaps you do not want to accept this change?’
I shrug, even though I know he is not entirely wrong. Changing means that I am no longer who I once was. It’s too much pressure, too much of a burden, to see others place their hopes in me.
Flames charge through the winter air as a few phoenixes fly towards us, stopping me from entering another self-doubting conversation with Gus. As they land, I realise my brothers and Link are atop them. Having the Aerian headquarters be airborne on floating landmarks meant you had to travel within Aeris by riding with phoenixes or dragons, many of which Gus had managed to save.
Illias is the first to jump off a phoenix’s back as its gold- and scarlet-feathered tail thrashes against the grass. Illias then jogs over to me, his arms out, and squeezes me into an embrace, and I chuckle, rocking us back and forth on our toes. ‘How is training coming along?’ he asks.
I open my mouth, but Gus answers before I do. ‘She is getting there. She has the fighting down thanks to her time as a Trapper and Venator trainee, but in terms of power, she just needs to stop doubting herself.’
Offence takes refuge in my chest. ‘That is not—’
‘Give her time, Gus,’ Idris cuts in, his hands in his trouser pockets. ‘It was only a year ago she was still trapping pixies and carving flowers out of wood for a living.’
‘Not to mention falling for a shifter.’ Illias chuckles and shakes his head as he steps away from me. It seems I have no say in this matter. Everyone is speaking for me.
‘Are we forgetting she is a reincarnation of Solaris?’ Iker adds, still in disbelief since he first heard about it months ago. ‘Our sister is a deity – who would have thought!’ He frowns. ‘I wonder what that makes me? Semi-powerful?’
‘Nothing,’ Idris deadpans. ‘It makes you nothing.’
‘If it helps, Nara,’ Link says, a small smile colouring his lips as he comes up beside Illias, ‘I always felt there was something special about you. It was just a matter of time before we figured out what exactly.’
I smile, having missed Link’s soft reassurances. That is until I hear the landing of a creature behind me and Rydan’s voice as he dismounts a sleek black Umbrati dragon with shadows curling around its talons.
‘And alas, my heart breaks, for I was not chosen to be your other half, Ambrose. But I suppose sometimes even the deities can make mistakes.’
I turn to him and cock a brow, only for him to wink back at me. ‘Maybe you should try explaining how you would woo me in the bedroom again?’
Idris starts coughing uncomfortably, and I bite my lip so that I don’t burst out laughing.
Rydan shakes his head, pulling off the tips of his gloves. ‘Unfortunately, not today, Ambrose.’ His expression turns sour. ‘Hira would like to see you; they are all holding a meeting right now in the common area.’
Any tinge of laughter or humour drains from my body. I look over my shoulder at my brothers, acknowledging the worried glances they share with Gus. I turn and give Rydan a nod as I head towards Gus and ask him to take me to the meeting.
He accepts and shifts before I mount him and slide my hands over his leather skin. No matter how much time passes, I can never get used to not seeing Darius’s unique silver scales. Letting out a sigh, I pat the side of Gus’s neck, and he takes off into the sky towards the Aerian headquarters. Fog ahead shields the grand open spaces of the palace, where Aerians flash into flames and become phoenixes. Despite the chaos spreading across Zerathion with Aurum’s return, I’m still able to take a moment to admire the Aerian architecture. Roofs made of red stone and marble curve around the entrance to the balcony, while gossamer leaves that shimmer in emerald hues hang from the surrounding trees.
As Gus lands, I hop off and rush inside before he can return to his human form. I half jog and half walk past spacious rooms glowing in the winter light. When I reach a set of golden doors with a phoenix engraved on them, I push through and into the great hall where Freya, Leira, her wife Aelle, and a few Phoenix warriors are waiting. Gus catches up to me, shaking his head, though he is now used to me escaping him.
My mood further deflates when my eyes snag on russet hair as Lorcan looks up at me from across the round glass table.
I ignored him for three months, making sure he couldn’t come anywhere near me, but lately, it’s harder to avoid him when we all live in the same place, especially now that I know . . . he isn’t a Rümen any more.
Recalling the moment I found out Lorcan was alive, my vision fogs up, and I’m suddenly back in that hallway where I bumped into him.
‘—I cried for you . . . I mourned you.’ My voice cracks uncontrollably as I stare at Lorcan after having pushed myself off him. ‘Darius mourned you.’ Agony ruptures through my heart as I think of Darius and how he is not here to soothe away all the rage I feel, and for one blinking moment, I let myself picture him. I let myself believe he is beside me, his eyes burning into mine with that golden fire.
I run my hands through my hair, frustrated, as I bite down on my tongue to make the image fade.
Lorcan looks at the ground solemnly when he says, ‘I know.’
You do not know. You do not know the half of it. ‘How . . . how is it—’
‘I did die that day.’
Intense silence cuts through the frostiness of the hallway.
‘And I accepted it.’ Shame takes over his expression as he looks up. ‘But the leader of the Aerian warriors . . . she took my body back here, Nara. She felt something in me – something alive and worthy.’
Staring at him, I’m not sure where he is going with this.
‘See, they have this belief.’ The apple of his throat moves visibly as he swallows. ‘A belief that life can be reborn.’
A rebirth from the ashes . . .
Recognition of what he now means tightens a coil around my chest. ‘You’re a phoenix.’ I don’t pose it as a question; it is more of a statement that I need to hear myself say.
He nods slowly as if conscious of admitting it. ‘Aerians believe my ancestry dates back to them, that perhaps my mother was never exactly mortal, and that is why I became Erion’s first successful Rümen.’
‘Nara,’ Hira speaks, pulling me out of my memories with a welcoming smile. She moves her long raven hair to the side, showing off the typical Aerian armour she wears – a burgundy chestplate over leather attire, to match the banners inside the hall. If I have learned anything from the past few months staying here, it is that the three Aerian leaders take great pride in being warriors. Since I first met Hira that night at the Noctura ball, she made sure to impress that onto me, despite now knowing who I was.
‘Thank you for joining us,’ she says. ‘We appreciate, with all the training you are undertaking, that you have enough time to spare and give us a chance to speak with—’
‘Any news?’ I interrupt her, anxiety dripping from my words.
Her lips thin into a closed smile as she gestures for me to take a seat. I remain upright, causing her to awkwardly clear her throat as she walks around the table and plants her hands against it. ‘We have received word from the princesses of Terranos that Aurum is no longer there.’
My hands begin to clam up. ‘Where is he?’
‘Princess Arlayna believes he has returned to Emberwell to finish what Sarilyn started.’
Hope blooms inside my chest, and my breath comes out in short bursts. Excitement is taking over at the prospect of good news for once. ‘Then if he is there, we can find a way into the castle and free Darius.’ I glance at Freya and Leira. ‘How is the preparation for the unbinding spell coming along? I assume that is why I was brought here to this meeting, right?’
Freya grimaces, biting her lip as she looks at her aunt and Aelle for guidance. Leira seems at a loss, and I do not like it one bit.
‘Even if Aurum is there with Darius,’ Hira’s voice ripples across the room, ‘Freya and her aunt are beginning to believe the spell wouldn’t work. Aurum used his blood in the Isle of Elements to bind their souls together. Our research tells us that simple witchcraft cannot sever that tie.’
My eyes slide to where Lorcan shifts from his statuesque pose. He stares at the floor with enough focus to burn a hole through it. ‘So, what then?’ I say to Hira and begin to tap my fingers against my thigh.
‘Aelle has been able to locate where Aurum is hiding the Elemental Stones inside the castle through her scrying. In the meantime, I’ll have Leira and Freya keep searching for a way to free—’
‘But that’s not good enough!’ I lose all patience, raising my voice. I have kept myself busy and let everyone else take the reins so I could focus on building up my strength, but I can no longer hold in my frustration.
‘Nara—’ Gus touches my shoulder, but I shrug him off, taking a step forward.
‘I have waited three months,’ I say. ‘Three months where I have had to suck it up and listen to everyone tell me that it won’t be long until he is back here with all of us. How much longer must I wait while he is stuck with his deranged uncle, who is likely torturing him right as we speak?’ Guilt wraps around my heart, imagining the terrible things he must be going through. I don’t want to believe the worst has happened, and I don’t want to think we will never get him back. ‘The longer we spend planning what to do next, the more Aurum gains control over everything else around him. He did it three hundred years ago; he did it in Terranos with me and Darius, and he will do it again.’
‘We understand your frustrations—’
‘No, you don’t understand!’ My lips wobble, and I bite down hard. ‘Darius probably doesn’t even know I am alive,’ I whisper, and everyone inside the room takes turns looking at each other and then at me pitifully. I do not want pity; I want everything to go back to normal. ‘If it were him in my position, he would have done everything to get me back by now.’
I just know that he would have torn the whole world apart and wouldn’t have waited just because others told him to. I feel like I am failing him right now.
‘We are trying everything, Nara,’ Freya says quietly, and I don’t even realise she is now at my side. My gaze locks with her hazel eyes, and for a second, I feel as if I am drowning in something I can’t control.
I need to get out of here.
Backing away, I mouth my apologies to her before I cast everyone else one final stare and storm out of the room.
‘Why do you look so sad, Miss Nara?’ Tibith sits upon my knee, his paws patting the tears that are running down my cheeks. I’m leaning against the window ledge, my legs raised to my chest, a melancholy smile creeping across my lips. I’ve worked hard to maintain a cheerful attitude for Tibith all these months. I guess today is just one of those days where even carving into the wooden window frame does nothing to calm me.
‘Would you believe me if I said these were happy tears?’ I cough out a laugh, wishing it were true, as I fiddle with the coin necklace Darius gave me.
Tibith shakes his head, and his fur tickles my fingers when I run them through the sides of his face. ‘Y-you don’t need to lie to me, Miss Nara. Those are tears for Darry, aren’t they?’
I stroke his stomach to get a giggle out of him. ‘Have you always been this smart?’
He grins. ‘Darry has told many that I am a genius!’
A fist clenches around my heart, and I almost let out a whimper before I tamp it down.
Tibith notices the anguish in my expression and pouts. ‘He will come back, right, Miss Nara?’
That has been my only hope since I woke up here in Aeris.
‘When has he not?’ I whisper, smiling, before the door to my room opens, and I wipe my eyes with the sleeves of my tunic. My smile disappears, and I look over my shoulder at Freya. She walks up to the ledge, bunching her violet dress in her hands, and sits down. Tibith glances at her with a thrilled squeak and slides off my knee. We watch as he clambers onto the single bed and positions himself against the pillow, falling asleep within seconds.
‘I apologise for what happened during the meeting with Hira,’ Freya says. ‘We really have tried everything, Nara.’
I slowly turn my head to look at her, and though the corners of my lips lift, the smile feels broken. ‘I know that.’
Freya tilts her head, curls dangling from her updo as she stares at me like she understands that nothing is fine with me. We have spoken less since I arrived here. She busied herself with finding a way to help Darius while I occupied myself training with Gus. I have rarely seen Freya except when she showed me her new-found powers as a witch. Telekinesis comes naturally to her, like many of her kind. I suppose it goes hand in hand with other mind magic for witches and how in tune she is with my emotions.
I confess with a shaky breath, ‘I am just frustrated with it all. I mean, here I am, supposed to be this deity reincarnation who will bring life back to Zerathion, yet I am limited in what powers I have. The man who I am annoyingly in love with is locked away and . . . and I am letting him down each day I spend here without figuring out a way to get him out.’
‘Maybe this is how it had to be.’
Her response makes my lips fall and I frown.
‘They always say Solaris and Crello shared the skies,’ she explains. ‘But they were also separated until they were finally able to reunite. It sounds like you are living through that right now with Darius.’
‘But I didn’t ask for this.’
‘Then what did you ask for?’ The intensity of her gaze burrows deep into my soul. ‘The Nara I met would have told me that she is confident she is far better than Solaris.’
I stare back in silence and almost chuckle.
‘Let’s not forget you’ve broken hands, killed, talked back to my father when he was the General, and helped a dragon thief steal a pendant from the palace.’
My eyes suddenly sting with her words.
‘What happened, Nara? Because I know you and I know that all you have done these months is either act all tough just to torture yourself or busy yourself with writing who will be the first to die on your kill list.’ She raises her brows. ‘Aurum being number one.’ With a sigh, she says softly, ‘What would Darius say if he were here?’
I blink, looking at her like a child missing their mother. Images float inside my head. Darius’s golden eyes, his mischievous smile, and that stare he would hold me with that spoke a thousand love letters.
I am here.
I have a purpose.
I cannot and never will be daunted.
I press three fingers against my heart and whisper, ‘That it is okay to be vulnerable.’
Freya nods with vehemence and smiles. I shake my head and slide my legs off the ledge as I wrap my arms around Freya. ‘Solaris, how I have missed your encouraging words.’ I close my eyes as she rubs my back. ‘Every moment I was in Terranos, all I could think of was how wonderful you would find it. You don’t understand how much I needed you there with me.’
She separates from our embrace, clutching my face in her hands. ‘And I needed you at the den with me.’ She sighs, letting go and looking away briefly. ‘So much happened while you were gone. I—’
‘I know,’ I say to reassure her. ‘You don’t need to tell me—’
‘I kissed your brother,’ she blurts out, snapping her head back at me. ‘Idris.’
My eyes widen and, almost comically, all I can say is, ‘Oh.’
‘It’s been killing me not to be able to tell you all this time. I am so sorry, Nara. I mean, it didn’t mean anything. He can hardly look at me now and—’
I grab her hand before she can spiral into one of her panicked monologues. She looks at me grimly as if I am irritated with what she has done. She could not be more wrong. ‘Idris . . . is the hardest person someone can get through to. Trust me, I have had to live with it for twenty-two years of my life. But I have seen how he looks at you now for a long while, and if he is avoiding you right now, then he clearly does not realise how lucky he would be to have you, so don’t apologise. There is no need.’
A reflection of the moon shines in her hazel eyes as she takes in my words. A smile almost touches her lips, but it falters, and I wonder if there is more to it. Lately, I feel that something is on her mind, and she doesn’t want to let me know what it is, or maybe she can’t.
‘Nara, I—’ she starts, but the door to my room creaks open and Iker’s head pops through.
‘Oh, uh, I didn’t realise Freya was here. I’ll just leave—’
‘No, stay.’ Freya stands up, darting her gaze from Iker to me. ‘I need to go find Leira. She and Aelle wanted to teach me the differences between certain herbs. Apparently, star anise doesn’t help our psychic visions, although I have yet to have one.’ She laughs, and I want to tell her not to go, but she doesn’t give me a chance as she hurries past Iker and leaves the room.
Iker keeps glancing back at the door as if hoping Freya will reappear.
My brows draw into a frown, seeing how restless he is as he paces around and runs a hand through his short curls. ‘You never come into my room unless you want something, so what is it?’
He halts, turning to me with a bemused look. He lets out an incredulous laugh. ‘What if I wished to spend quality time with my little sister? We were apart for months—’ One raised-eyebrow look from me, and he sighs, dropping onto the edge of my bed. ‘Fine, you got me.’ A pause. ‘I need your help in ridding someone.’
Well, that is not what I expected, and by my reaction, Iker can also see the sudden worry.
‘Not in that sense,’ he amends quickly, and the rise in his voice has me shush him before he can wake Tibith up. ‘It is more of a forgetting your feelings situation.’
That does not make it any better.
Puffing my cheeks, I blow out a breath and lean f
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