Page 141 of What Lies Within Blood & Heirs

“No, Garrik is right. It won’t work,” Aiden grumbled, frowning.

There had to besomethingshort of hunting down every last ruby in the castle. Scouring every inch of the kingdom… There had to be an easier way. Something like Garrik’s location magic. His powers only located living things, not something as simple—or as complicated—as this gemstone.

Sunlight streamed through the windows, masking Jade as a darkened silhouette. Alora surveyed the mountains beyond. Every tree. Every dark cloud of the storm moving away, leaving that delectable earthy aroma fluttering in through the openbalcony doors. Taking notice of how polished those windows unveiling the world beyond were. An eye into the unknown.

An eye. A window unveiling the unknown.

Alora shot from her seat and blurted, “What about my window?” and whirled to Garrik as they all gaped at her. The look of confusion across the room had her explaining, “The night of the bonfires.” On Garrik’s birthday. “He gave me Smokeshadows in a window that would show me anything I wished to see.”

Garrik was moving before Alora could say anything more. Smokeshadows tore from his good hand near a door behind them.

Darkness gathered inside the threshold. Swirling and tendriling until it misted away, revealing black wood entwined like the waves of Zyllyryon’s oceans. Inside that threshold, Alora’s window reflected the room like polished black crystal, void of any light.

Behind, Thalon and Aiden’s warmth enveloped her as Jade joined her side. Garrik flanked the other.

Alora only needed to press her fingers to the glass before those familiar whorls began gathering and coiling out from the frame. They danced as if in waiting, as if asking her to speak. So, she indulged them. “Show me the sister stone, Blood.” If this worked… Then she’d ask where Payment—Death—was too.

Shadows swirled like vortices on the black reflection. For a moment, she wasn’t entirely sure anything would happen other than the darkness and frost collecting on the edges. But Garrik’s powers danced over every inch of the smooth surface until they misted away?—

“Starsdamnit,” Thalon cursed as all that stared back was …

Darkness. A ruby inside pure darkness.

Garrik ran a hand down the back of his neck.

Thalon sighed and muttered, “What other options are there?”

Stars. Back to square one. It felt utterly hopeless. Maybe theywouldhave to test every ruby on that mountain?—

“Whatever we do, we need to stay out of Ladomyr’s eye,” Aiden mentioned.

“Ladomyr is a floorman,” Garrik answered. From their expressions of confusion, he clarified, “He is suited for kneeling. As long as he resides in power, Ladomyr will cower from sight, obey my every command, only to keep his head and remain in Magnelis’s favor. We are not likely to be bothered by him. If he were his father, however, there would be need for concern, but Ladomyr is a gutless weakling. It is why Magnelis executed the late king. He would not kneel.”

Jade ran her fingers along the wood of Alora’s window. “Mind play?” And met her gaze in the reflection before those green eyes flickered to the defeat settled in Alora’s. However unlikely, Jade offered her a ghost of a smile.

“The drug Magnelis takes to fortify his mind against my invasions, I sensed it at dinner,” Garrik quickly responded. He flicked his smooth wrist lazily at the window and Smokeshadows swallowed it, removing it from the room. “A few dignitaries, lords, Ladomyr, generals… They were dosed. Depending on the amount, they could be guarded for days, weeks. I cannot steal into their minds under its influence. Anyone important will not be easily convinced of schemes I can inlay inside. I can only convince them of illusions on the outside. What their eyes can see.”

It was a smart play. Ladomyr had most likely circulated the drug directly after the Savage Prince’s arrival.

“Perhaps a servant?” Jade asked. “Ladomyr has plenty with bruises. I’m sure some of them would be happy to divulge information.”

“Miwa—my maidservant. I believe she can be trusted?—”

“No,” Thalon coldly growled, cutting Alora off. He seethed until he stood behind his chair. That unusual shadow flared as inked hands gripped the back, causing the cushion to groan as he shook his head. “Not her.” Taking on a tone of finality, there was no room for argument. Even Garrik had closed his mouth and returned to his chair, elbow to armrest, propping his temple against a finger.

Alora turned to Thalon and furrowed her brows. “Why don’t you like her?”

“I never said that.”

She leveled a glare, challenging him to argue, and crossed her arms. He could deny it all he wished, but she didn’t believe it.

That glare prevailed. When she didn’t back down, when Garrik pointed an arched brow in Thalon’s direction, he sighed. “It’s her wings. Her …kind.” He seemed to be struggling with finding the words. “If she can’t follow the laws, then no, she can’t be trusted.”

Garrik shook his head when Alora opened her mouth, stopping her.

Kind?She almost mind-spoke to Garrik when Aiden called from above them on the mezzanine.

“If mind tricks and servants are out, where the bloody hells does that leave us?”

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