Page 184 of What Lies Within Masks & Shadows

A sharp gasp pulled inside her lungs, sharp as shattered glass. Her entire body tensed, every muscle taut as if ready to detonate.

He isn’t real. He isn’t here. It wasn’t real. It wasn’t?—

An icy hand cradled her shoulder, and she flinched at the touch.

Icy hands. Not warm. Itwasn’tKaine. He wasn’t here.

A screaming release shuddered down in her chest as that deep voice, smooth, warm, and refreshing as a colorful sunrise, whispered, “Ara.”

He isn’t Kaine.But if she turned, would the pointed eyes of the Savage Prince be staring back? Would Kaine’s? Garrik’s voice had returned to normal, but she didn’t dare turn to see his face.

“Please, look at me.” Was that a crack in his voice?

Could she even lift her head? The immense weight of what she felt mocked her mind and what she witnessed at the wall was too heavy.

“I never wanted you there. I did not want you to see …me.”

The bed shifted against his weight. An icy hand pulled her hair away from the pillow, brushing against her neck as he exposed her skin there, too.

She shuddered at the touch, a reminder of who had once wrapped warm hands around her and squeezed, but also a reminder of what the High Prince’s hands had forced his magic to do. Despite her every nerves protest, she allowed the coolness of his presence to touch her burning skin.

“Forgive me,” he breathed a shivering whisper, gently placing a hand on her back. “This is … a mess.” His hand shook against her leathers, cursing under his breath. “Alora, please.”

Her tense muscles heaved in her shoulders against relentless sobs. A mess. This was a mess;shewas a mess. “I’m sorry. I’m not the brave soldier everyone else is. I’m not sure I can do this.”

“Brave? You were pretty damn brave today for your first time. You have nothing to be sorry for. It is I that holds this responsibility, I alone.” His hand soothed her back. “Come here, come to me,” he whispered with such a gentleness, a complete contrast to the beast outside Alynthia’s walls.

Almost steaming, Alora’s skin felt on fire. She wasn’t entirely sure she wasn’t ablaze. “I’ll burn you.”

“I do not care.” And without warning, he was pulling, twisting her around to look into his eyes.

Not on fire. No white flames anywhere.

The overwhelming pressure glided her straight into his awaiting arms. She melted into his body, throwing her arms around his torso before burying her face in his icy chest.

And then, his solid arms locked around her shoulders, a hand brushed through her hair, pulling her against him. His abdomentightened. Each breath he took, her heart slowed, and he didn’t feel like the monster who could carelessly kill younglings in front of their father.

The burning in her skin subsided, listening to his unusual heartbeat. “I was afraid.”

Garrik’s body fell with a labored breath. “I was too.”

Alora pulled from his chest, gazing at him. He was … pale. Dark circles laid under his eyes. His armor was dirty, covered in scrapes of dirt, a smear of blood on his wrist guard. She tried to hold it back, the look of disgust at the blood, the heart pounding in her chest from the memory of what he’d done.

He noticed, though. His chin sunk low before releasing his arms around her and pulling away. “Do you hate me for it?”

There was pain in his eyes as she sat back against the pillows, guiding her knees to her chest.

Before she could say a word, a flash of light lit up the canvas and heavy boots crushed the dirt outside. “Garrik?” Thalon’s voice was urgent, trailing away as the sound of footsteps trailed off.

“Will you be alright?”

She nodded.

“I will be right outside.” With a gentle squeeze on her knee, Garrik stood and walked to the door, peering over his shoulder before exiting.

After some minutes passed, Alora unsteadily rose. She exited her tent to find Garrik and Thalon holding a map. Strong fingers glided over streets and communities across an Alynthian mountain range, beveling the paper at Thalon’s exploration.

“The …item… you requested is waiting at a tavern here.” Thalon’s tattooed finger pressed an indent into the map as Garrik glowered. Shrugging, he added, “He insisted.”

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