Page 132 of What Lies Within Blood & Heirs

The eldest male heir of Land and Growth simply smiled.

Instead of wavering, she studied him. Conjuring a look of boredom, she acknowledged flatly, “Ezander.” For a moment, her heart pinched, but she warded off the sudden unease of addressing royalty so callous and informal. She wouldn’t be intimidated. If she’d been a Lady of Telldaira forsaking histitle in such a manner, the punishment could’ve been life-threatening. But not now. Not with whose constant presence and threat lingered in the air when Garrik wasn’t there.

Chin poised high, she offered a feline grin, and challenge danced wildly in her eyes.

Ezander apparently decided he didn’t mind her insult, crossed his arms, and chuckled. “I may need to reconsider the ban of females in my father’s armies.”

“Finally. The first intelligent thing you’ve said,” Alora dared, sheathed her sword, then went on, “You don’t allow females in your army? Quite foolish of you. Seeing as every male here has been bested by us today.” Her attention flashed to Jade, who kept careful watch. Even Deimon’s feathered wings unfurled slightly.

“No,” the princeling countered. “Thatwould be foolish of me. If they were half as beautiful as you, what a distraction that would be, my lady.” And if she ever needed more proof of royal arrogance, Ezander’s half-lidded eyes and flirtatious tone were the prime examples.

Alora saw through it and rolled her eyes. “I’m notyour ladyand certainly not interested. Stop trying to convince me you’re not the bad guy.” If not for Garrik’s encounter with him last evening, then maybe …maybeshe would entertain his kind grin and bright eyes. Nevertheless, she needed nothing more than Garrik’s judgment to not trust the High Fae royal.

Ezander frowned and straightened his shoulders, shaking his head. “You don’t even know me.” The sky darkened a fraction, dulling the flaxen flecks in his russet eyes. But even the clouds gathering in the sky didn’t hide the still small gleam that settled when he offered, “Though … I’d like you to. If you would allow me the honor. Perhaps a tour of Karanagar—the High City?“

There was something honest there. Some openness and decency most royals didn’t possess. The way that arrogant smile fell into something sincere…

Perhaps if she hadn’t been sitting at her High Prince’s table the evening before, this type of attention would’ve flattered her. But there was only one male she considered indulging in such a way, and it wasn’t Ezander.

“You’re delusional if you believe I’ll say yes.” She raised a brow and crossed her arms.

“Confident, I think you meant to say.”

Garrik. Alora was tempted to grin.Just like Garrik. “Ithinkyou should be more concerned with yourself.” Alora’s gaze cut skyward above the prince’s shoulder. In the distance, darkness gathered across the sky. Only it wasn’t a fury of storm clouds and thunder swiftly thickening over the peaks.

It swallowed the sky like ink in water. A slather of black that turned the morning to night.

One after one, High Guardsmen, as if in a trance, looked to the skies and squirmed. Unable to still their trembling when eyes of petrified wonder recognized what she knew was coming. Something terrible enough to frighten them—the elite of Kadamar—and what they could allfeelcoming.

Power—brutal, desolate, unending icy power—trickled over every inch of flesh.

The air. It was calm and still and quiet… For only a moment.

A sudden rush of darkness swelled in the sky, crashing like a wave against a rock.

And from within it …

Wings.

Great, terrible, incredible shadow wings.

Barely visible without the light, three males adorned in battle-black scales burst from the swell. Over the blackstone crests and intended directly for the arena and crowd.

It wasn’t her friends she’d laughed with at their firesite. Not the males who raced each other up a mountain. No hint of happiness or peace or comfort. But ruthless Celestials of Death. Rulers of every dark and depraved thing. Masters of bloodshed. Carried by powerful shadow wings with faces hewn from unyielding stone…

Thalon.

Aiden.

Sadistic weapons—ready to lay waste to the crowd trembling around her at the mere whim of the creature of nightmares they flanked.

Alora looked at Jade and Deimon when a pulse of energy seeped over her. Feelinghimthere.

Ezander cursed.

A veil of night slammed into the cliffside a moment after, rattling the stones beneath their feet.

Not one Dragon moved. Not even the princeling. Grunts of pain and shock rang out as Ladomyr’s High Guard stumbled backward and knocked into each other. If not for the blast, she was certain soldiers would have skirted in fear at the mere sight of them hovering.

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