Page 124 of What Lies Within Blood & Heirs

Smoke misted around what she knew was Garrik’s face as he prowled another step forward. The movement was so calculated, so menacing, it sent a vicious shiver down her spine. Then, that unsettling manifestation of his power began misting away, revealing the wickedly beautiful planes of his face.

Not one piece of gray hair was out of place as a spiked crown of glassy obsidian rose from his head.Endless oblivion found her, and his smile ghosted the corner of his mouth, only for a breath, until wicked delight had his mouth contorting into cruel hunger.

With animalistic grace, the Savage Prince carried himself. And like a bride’s veil, a cape of Smokeshadows flowed from his shoulders and spilled over the purple carpets as the court flinched with each daunting step.

Do not be afraid.It was Garrik’s voice.

If anyone else, they would have felt that rush of panic and cloaked themselves in fear simply from the warning in his voice.

But not her. Never from him.

Someone cried out to Alora’s left, and she didn’t so much as flinch as the meaning behind his warning surfaced.

The crowd gasped and cowered away from a dignitary who hurled himself to the floor, hands clasped around his throat as he attempted another scream. But nothing more came out. Nothing but his face heating to a crimson sheen as a noose of shadows denied air passage to his lungs.

Another scream.

From the center of the crowd, directly beside her High Prince. An elder male with a round belly thrashed to the floor but couldn’t do anything other than claw his neck. Darkness swirled around Garrik’s steps when his boots met the gasping male.

He simply stepped over the body like it was nothing more than a watery puddle of mud.

Garrik should do some stretches or something. Bloody hells. He barely cleared the sod’s belly.Aiden snickered, and by the way Thalon’s shoulders struggled to not bounce in laughter and Jade shifted on her feet, Alora realized Garrik had them all connected in their minds.

Perhaps some lunges?Thalon’s laugh was like the kiss of summer skies as he scratched over his mouth and beard, concealing a smile.

Pants too tight?Aiden side-eyed them and subtly waggled his eyebrows.Can’t bend the knees?

With a side glance, bitter amusement passed through Jade. Then something gathered behind their males’ heads.

Alora glimpsed the movement, noticing the way shadows manifested in the shape of two hands.

With the court’s eyes downcast, those two shadows solidified and slapped the back of Thalon and Aiden’s heads, causing them to stiffen at attention.

Alora had to bite her cheek in fear she’d burst out laughing.

One more word.There was little threat there. In fact, in his tone, it seemed Garrik may have been resisting his amusement too.

Alora could’ve hugged Aiden at that moment. Thalon too. Doubtless that the males’ intent wasn’t only to lighten the mood but to bring Garrik some solace too. With death lingering and undoubtedly more to come, the temporary relief was appreciated by more than one.

She sharpened her cruel expression, as it was to be expected of anyone in the Savage Prince’s Shadow Order, and scanned the dead. Alora wondered how many of them had left shackle scars, festering wounds raw and bleeding, or painted their servants’ bodies with bruises. How many of them were like the Ravens who sold faeries and attacked females like those soldiers in Telldaira’s alley? How many were like those who’d abused Garrik? How many were like Kaine? What unforgettable—unforgivable—things had they done behind closed doors or in the company of others simply for sport?

Bile burned her throat, but that burn was nothing compared to the disdain settling in her soul.

No onedaredto offer aid, as one by one, two more faeries fell. And by the time the chaos had settled and Garrik haunted the dais steps, six males and two females had met Firekeeper.

Garrik ascended the steps with out-worldly grace.

Thalon and Alora moved then, closing the space. They avoided the eyes of Ladomyr, whose face had turned a furious shade of crimson.

Alora risked a glance to her left. Thalon and Jade stood stone-faced and arms crossed, chins held high, as if they were the High Prince himself. As if the display of power and death didn’t affect them at all. To Alora’s right, Aiden stood with the same ferocity, trading his usually cheerful demeanor for a conniving smirk that settled on a male with dark markings on his face and a shimmer of unyielding calculation in his blood-red eyes.

Silas.

A female servant fainted to the right, beside Ladomyr’s wives.

Alora battled the urge to go to her as the silver tray clanged across the marble along with shattered crystal glasses. Not one eye wavered or seemed to care as each royal, exquisitely and richly fashioned, sunk lower and lower and lower beneath their High Prince’s shadow.

Steely muscles flexed and outlined Garrik’s back through that shadowed cape. He turned to the court, away from an illustrious black throne sculpted as a ruby-eyed raven.

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