Page 83 of What Lies Within Blood & Heirs

Want me to find you?She inhaled deeply.Then you better run.

The hunt was on.

Where did you go?

Standing sharp-eyed, Alora studied every darkened silhouette, meticulously narrowing on the slightest twitch. Every rock, every rustling branch in the cold breeze. All sounds of the forest perking her ears as she watched. And waited.

She lost his trail some time ago, but he was out there. She would find him.

The poorly laid tracks led her mere feet from the bank of a massive lake that extended further than she could see. It was surrounded by dancing blazebugs and a sea of weeping willows swaying in a calm breeze.

A thin layer of scum and algae floated on top of the water. Only broken apart by small, stagnate sections of water that reflected silvery moonlight off the surface, illuminating a bobbing wooden dock.

Why would he lead me here?

Garrik’s voice carried like a whisper muffled by wind,What do you mean?Responding to her first thought.

He had led her deep into the forest. Hopefully, he planned on dawning them back because her legs had begun burning long ago. She wouldn’t mind a quick jump in the lake to soothe her body … if it wasn’t covered with grime.

Alora stifled a frown when she heard dirt and rocks crunching.

His shadow appeared, sneaking out through the tree line to the lake.

A smile tugged at her lips.You have nowhere to run now, mighty prince. Best to surrender before I remind you what happened last time.She didn’t wait for him to respond. Alora advanced.

The lake was his only escape.

Where are you?

She scoffed. That trick wasn’t going to work. Distracting her with pointless questions would only give him more time to make an escape. To dawn or run or outwit her.Not this time.

Her boot meticulously moved forward, making no sound as her eyes narrowed on him, feet from the lake shore.

Did he expect her to lunge? Only to step out of the way in time for her to land in the lake? That would be rich. In fact, the last time they played this little game, he’d crouched at a stream and waited for her until Soulstryker found his neck.

She only wished she had brought weapons on this hunt. It would make catching him much sweeter. But she didn’t need weapons when Elysian’s deadliest predator stood in front of her. Plus, she had starfire.

Gripping the bark of the tree in front of her, she poised herself to run.

Alora?Garrik’s voice sounded concerned.He could play dumb all he wanted. It wouldn’t work.Where are you?he growled, and she shivered this time. The playfulness she expected wasn’t there.

Rolling her eyes, Alora dug her nails into the tree.You really know how to ruin the fun.She crouched down and picked up a stone, tossing it at him and mumbling to herself, “Mighty bastard,”as it bounced off his puffed chest.

She dared to throw another.I’m right in front of you.

It didn’t seem to faze him. An eerie silence hovered before he cocked his head.

Garrik’s voice seemed kingdoms away as he answered,That would be impossible.He paused, allowing her to heara branch snap to her right.Seeing as I am sitting in my tent … alone.

What—

Something cold and hard and unforgiving collided with her head, dropping her to her hands and knees. On the edge of darkness, her head spun as she blinked through a haze of pain.

Two leather-covered hands gripped her upper arms and pulled her from the tree line before she felt her arms yanked behind her and cold metal clasped around her wrists.

They forced her to her stomach, and she struggled to pull her knees under her, trying to propel herself to her feet.

A knee wrenched the air from her lungs.

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