Page 153 of What Lies Within Blood & Heirs

He was being very,verycareful.

They strolled in silence until Ezander stopped in front of a pottery house and surveyed a bowl with gold rimming the marble. In the window’s reflection, russet eyes met hers when she brushed beside his shoulder and also examined it.

“I used my power yesterday,” he started. “I thought he would throw me over that cliff, so I slowed down time and lunged. When I allowed time to settle, he’d been mid-blink when my sword cracked his face.” Rubbing the back of his neck, Ezander chuckled a breath. “I didn’t think it would work.” And chuckled again.

She almost wanted to like it.

“He’s grown so strong. And when I swung again, I held back. I didn’t want to cut him but also didn’t want him to win so I could speak with him… But then I saw his scars and…” The princeling shook his head.“Well, now it is too late. He’ll never speak to me. Never know the truth.”

Alora focused on another piece of pottery made from black clay shining in the sunlight. Gold branched through it as if it had once been dropped and shattered on stone. Now the gold filled the missing pieces, making it whole. A new creation.

Like her …

Like Garrik.

“What happened to him?” the princeling’s hoarse murmur broke the silence.

She squeezed her eyes closed and listened to songbirds in the blossom trees. To the musician’s melodies. The words lingering on her tongue made her mouth taste like ash. She had to playa part. A Dragon in the High King’s army. She couldn’t be anything less.

Hoping he would glimpse the lie in her voice, the same she was certain she glimpsed in his, Alora said, “It was … for the good of the realm.” It took everything in her to not side-eye him. Clenching her jaw to keep from showing emotion.

On the pommel of the prince’s sword, his fist tightened until she thought it would crack the iron beneath. “Forgive me, my lady. I am finding it difficult to accept that something as horrendous as those scars can doanygood for the realm.”

She couldn’t agree more.

Erissa insistedon emptying an entire eatery for private dining.

Apparently, The Ruby Crown was more than willing since the establishment was named in honor of the princess. Between the breathtaking views and high-quality liquors and wines served in gold-flaked crystal chalices, Alora couldn’t convince herself she wasn’t appreciative of the spoiled heiress’s gesture. The silence after walking through the constant hum of the city was a pleasant escape.

By the way Garrik rubbed his temple and plucked his tunic from his abdomen, she was certain he appreciated it too. No doubt in his silence, when he’d hardly spoken a true word all day, his mind searched the city dwellers’ consciousnesses. Just because they were out for respite didn’t mean they didn’t have a job to do.

The princess and Garrik sat on the terrace overlooking the cliffs and river, harboring countless ships, docks, and riversidebuildings below. Alora thought she glimpsed females with fishtails lounging on the shores.

Ezander had decided against dining in the shadow of the Savage Prince and delighted in lunch with Alora on the other end.

Before long, she’d eaten her fill and had to deny every servant that carried yet another tray of Kadamarian delicacies to spoil them with—on the house,of course, because stars-forbid Erissa ever shoveled out a grain of coin.

“My father lavishes her in so many jewels, I don’t see why she needs yet another ruby necklace,” Ezander mentioned the moment they sauntered out of The Ruby Crown and onto the street.

Erissa flipped her long blond curls over a bare shoulder, her back facing Garrik, who held a gaudy statement piece in his hands and appeared clueless as to what to do with it.

The princess’s mouth was moving, waving her hands and tapping her neck before Alora’s High Prince lifted it over Erissa’s head and draped it around her neck.

Warmth pulsed in Alora’s palm before she recognized the ember forming. Quickly snuffing it and that uncomfortable pressure in her veins out before she quirked a brow and said to Ezander, “Rubies are her favorite?”

Ezander scoffed and curled his lip at the princess lifting on her toes and puffing her chest to show Garrik her … necklace. “That’s anunderstatement. Father redecorated the entire castle the moment my sister mentioned the color. As much as Father despises females, he dotes on her rather disgustingly.”

Their tour of the High City continued. The more they ventured, the fewer attendants and maidservants waited on their whims. Most were excused to carry Erissa’s purchases to the castle. Some left with items Ezander felt Alora should have.

Ezander browsed inside a weaponry shop, mostly made for decoration rather than sport. Garrik stood stiff-shouldered and arms crossed, speaking to their Dragons, when silver found her eyes. She admittedly missed his attention after spending all day looking in flaxen flecks and noticing sunset hair.

Garrik’s gaze softened the more they stared at each other. As if seeing her face was enough to calm the discomfort of suffering the day with Erissa.

Hey, mighty prince.She smiled.

He did too. A beautiful, real smile when no one else was looking. Or no one she cared to notice.

Alora turned in time to see Miwa’s careful eyes, brow raised, and a feline smirk across her painted purple lips. Before the female could say a thing—knowing she would—Alora looked to the castle, a mere blur of turrets and crimson flags, and asked, “Where were you last night?”

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