Page 106 of What Lies Within Blood & Heirs

Before she could speak, he registered that look. Saw the silent, excited question and confessed, “None are substantial enough to house the population of Elysian.”

Those embers threatening to ignite in her eyes were snuffed out to ash.

The answer seemed to wound him as much as it wounded her. “We have searched. Most are too diminutive for a city of even limited society to be relocated. Elysian would be broken apart. Families would not be permitted to reproduce at risk of overpopulation. It is not possible. Most are only worlds of escape. Like Aiden’s, the sea only yields so far until there is simply nothing more.”

At least Aiden was able to escape. If Elysian ever fell further into the hands of Magnelis, he’d be able to endure the rest of his days in an oasis of his own.

“Would you like an escape? I am sure there is one that would be pleasing to you.”

Her heart stopped dead. “You … want to give me an entire world?”

He stared. Didn’t blink as an unreadable expression crossed his face. “How about we start with a ring?” There was something in those words, something she couldn’t place. His attention flashed to his ring in her hand, then to her face. “I will create one for you, then we can go exploring. Any particular design you wish for?”

Rolling her lips between her teeth, Alora paused. Noticing Garrik’s eyes track the movement. But he sat patiently waiting for a response she was uncertain she could give him.

Jewelry was never something she desired. Not even when Kaine proposed and didn’t offer a ring to display them as vowed. He didn’t lavish her with fine jewels, but she didn’t mind. She had watched nobility, lords’ wives—betrotheds—and courtiers practically snapping their spines from the ridiculous amount of gold and gems hanging from their necks and ears.

Besides, a necklace or a ring from Kaine would’ve felt more like a collar.

Alora’s focus trailed to her bedside table—to where one of Garrik’s first gifts sat—and she smiled as the Blazebloom’s petals still danced with ethereal white flames. Her eyes met his face, which followed her gaze to the flower, then trailed to the vase overfilled with pearlseas.

Garrik’s knowing stare met hers.

“Flowers,” she decided, and that smile that was so un-High-Prince-like lifted on his face, sending burning waves down her spine as hot as the Blazebloom beside them. “And make it silver. Like … like polished steel.” Like his eyes. “Anything else, you decide.”

Alora waited on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Blackstone Mountains of Kadamar, stretching as far as she could see. Dawn peeked over thousands of thick, forested slopes. The landscape came alive with endless hues of lush greens. At the point where the first rays of sunlight kissed the earth, the greenery retreated, and deadly rockscapes dissolved into the distant horizon.

Kadamar. The Kingdom of Land and Growth.

The kingdom ruled by Magnelis’s most trusted friend—ally—and revered subject.

Within those slopes, Kadamar’s capitol, Karanagar, unexpectedly awaited the Savage Prince and his Shadow Order. Unaware that in a few short moments, darkness would descend and torment their ornate halls.

Their mission was less than simple.

Somewhere in those mountains of stone, Blood was hidden. And they would stay as long as needed to obtain it. If Garrik’s illusions and story for entering their gates were convincing enough, none would be the wiser of their true intentions.

As part of Garrik’s Shadow Order, Alora held a higher rank than anyone in the kingdom—including King Ladomyr and his entire court. The High Prince’s elite. As malevolent and bloodthirsty as the rest of them by the authority of the High King.

Alora’s fists balled tight. Numbed enough she couldn’t feel her nails piercing her palms. She had been ordered on bed rest for five days until she’d refused to lay another day under the sheets. Ozrin’s remedies, Calla’s healing balm, and her High Fae blood were a testament to strength and power in their own rights. Together, they made her feel unstoppable.

It was time.

And this would be different.

Different from anything she’d encountered since Garrik had rescued her in that Telldairan alley. This wouldn’t be as simple as running up a burned staircase and convincing petrified young Mystics to join their treasonous army.

This time, she was required to be as savage and ruthless and cruel as if MagnelisMadeher.

Behind her, Aiden leaned against a tree. Arms crossed and twirling the scaled ring on his finger, his eyes blazed into thedistance. Hair half pulled back, body rigid in the morning breeze as she walked toward him. Adorning the red cloak of Garrik’s elite and battle-black armor, straight steel had replaced his curved sword. Looking entirely the opposite of his fun-loving, free-spirited nature for the first time since she’d met him.

The sight of him had her nearly frozen.

A warrior—terrifying and intimidating and barbarous. For a moment, her knees shuddered.

Would she strike fear into those who set their eyes upon her, too?

Aiden’s head slowly pivoted to her, almost trance-like in the movement. Dropping his fingers from swirling his ring, he moved to take a step forward when footsteps to their left had them both turning, meeting the darkened eyes of their High Prince, adorned in leathers, his black cloak swaying in the breeze.

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