Page 151 of What Lies Within Blood & Heirs

“Is that possible?” Alora asked, handing Jade a glass of water, hoping to rouse Aiden.

Garrik gripped the couch harder. “It would seem the impossible has become achievable in the last few days. I would be a fool to believe otherwise.” The null’s magic. He didn’t have to say it. “No one goes anywhere alone,” he ordered.

Alora and Jade nodded. Thalon groaned. Aiden still appeared caught in a daze as his fingers twitched on the scaled ring on his finger.

“Aiden can’t go anywhere like this.” Jade’s voice… Alora hadn’t heard it that way since the gamroara attack. Since Aiden hadn’t returned to them after so many months. She hated hearing the worry there. Hated seeing Jade like this as she guided Aiden onto his back.

Garrik agreed, “Take him to his room, Jade. Donotallow him to fall asleep. I will send Ozrin to tend to him.” He gazed down at Thalon. “You too.”

Thalon grunted his disapproval but said nothing else as Jade helped Aiden to his feet. It was evident Aiden wouldn’t be walking easily down the halls and stairs. Garrik must’ve known that too because one moment, Aiden swayed in Jade’s arm banded around his waist, and in the next, Smokeshadows coiled around them until nothing but a damp bloody cloth remained.

Another day… Another starsdamned day they would have to endure this horrid kingdom.

Defeated. She feltdefeated.

Like the hope of a long-lost lion trinket was in her sights, only to be burned away when she was so close to reaching it.

There had to be more they could do than sit there and tend to wounds.

“If we can’t search the tunnels tonight, then we must try alternatives. It would do little damage to get close to the royal family. Ladomyr’s wives … I have glimpsed some disgust toward the king. I could get to know them. Invite them for tea. Something.”

Garrik seemed interested enough that she thought to take it a step beyond steaming drinks. Her next word was cautious, bordering on something careful like it would aggravate a volcano into eruption. “Ezander.”

Death entered the room in the form of Garrik’s eyes.

Alora stiffened her spine and spoke with caution, “He’s asked me on a date.”

It appeared as if he couldn’t speak. For long moments, he stared and breathed. At last, when he did open his mouth, that rumbling warm voice was cold enough to freeze the fire in her blood. “Ezander,” he repeated, voice dancing on the brink of nightmares. Of terrible destruction. “Asked you on a date.”

Thalon pulled the ice off his temple and attempted to sit up. Garrik sank his palm onto the Guardian’s shoulder and pushed him back down.

She threw Thalon an appreciative look and cleared her throat. “I could convince him I enjoy jewels. Maybe sway him to see the royal collection. He said he’d escort me anywhere I’d like.”

“And sugarcoatedbullshitstill tastes like bullshit,” Garrik warned.

Alora wondered if she’d find Ezander scattered across Elysian by morning. Knowing it wasn’t her that Garrik was angry at, she sighed and countered, “If Ezander isn’t an option, maybe you could entertain Erissa’s attention?—”

“No.” Garrik pushed from the couch and walked to the table of liquors before his word was final. “Never.”

Erissa possessively hung onto Garrik’s arm, reeking of confidence as she flaunted her newest jewel in the form of considerable muscles and death behind silver eyes.

Below the castle, tucked between the blackstone mountain peaks and valleys, a new world awaited; The High City of Karanagar. Not one lower faerie to be seen. Only High Fae and Kadamar’s upper class were permitted through the marble gatesand walls. And deep below, splitting the valley and buildings flooding the slopes, awaited a crystal-blue river, splitting the city like an aquamarine-encrusted necklace.

Every step was gilded in sunlight. Reflecting off crystal windows and warming the streets despite the chill of mountain air. It was as if she walked in a utopia, where stars would venture from their palaces and bask in luxury until called back to the night.

Even the air seemed too lavish to breathe.

They climbed the streets of Karanagar and ventured along white-bricked streets of shops so elegant she imagined the Lord of Telldaira’s wealth too insufficient to step inside. But the patrons, the nobility and courtiers, and visiting dignitaries, those fortunate enough to be born into the higher class, strolled along the busy streets as if time was as infinite as the riches in their pockets.

When Alora lived in Telldaira, the moments she was permitted to walk the city streets alongside her maidservants and the male she once called betrothed, she’d never imagined something as great as this. Had never smiled at the rush of laughter, the faces smiling. Of shop owners with their doors wide open. The hanging baskets of exquisite flowers and blossom tree branches swaying in the breeze or the musicians playing on the balconies of music halls and squares of the streets.

But this…This.

There were no words forthisfeeling.

Gradually, they weaved through the city decorated in banners of every shade of red to honor the Festival of Cullings and Hunt. Stopping at every gown shop and jewelry showroom Erissa insisted upon, with Garrik by her side.

The attention of the locals and spectators may have been insignificant enough for the princess and princeling to dismiss and ignore, but Alora didn’t miss the awe on their faces as theyglimpsed Erissa’s golden hair and immaculate gown… Or the intimidation and terror when they laid eyes on the gray-haired demon shadowing her.

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