Page 189 of What Lies Within Blood & Heirs

Every High Fae there was extravagantly designed to resemble a creature, part of nature, a royal not of themselves, or a theme of the kingdom they hailed from.

Alora dodged a female dressed like a thunderstorm. Dripping gemstones from her raincloud-like hat while lightning branched down her gown. Others wore wings bigger than doorways, some in gold, others in crimson laced with rubies, and another appeared like stained glass. She tried to hold in her disdain the more she looked around. Finding serpents, sea creatures, a male of crystals so glassy they were like mirrors, a female who seemed she rode through a forest and attached every tree branch possible to her cream gown, and one particularly vibrant couple who looked like peacocks.

The master of ceremonies had called out each arrival by their chosen name.

Alora apparently missed that missive because when the short, brown-eyed male inquired, she only swallowed and drifted her gaze around the room before he announced,The Lioness of Icestorms.

She didn’t entirely hate it.

Jade was a vision in metal scales down both shoulders, extending to her wrists. Those silver scales covered the left of her body while thistle-gray silk draped down the other. The master announced her appropriately—Dragon of Death.

Aiden,The Sea Bastard, who didn’t fancy such occasions and wore his captain’s coat, couldn’t stop staring at her.

A tuft of red roses made into wings brushed her arm. Alora turned and regarded one of Ladomyr’s wives standing beside her silently. The same female she’d seen smiling that first banquet.The same that had grinned at the guard, who returned her wicked smirk. Her gown was exquisite. With black coils and cutouts in the bodice, most of her torso bared skin and weaved the coil cage down into a garden of red and black roses, draped far behind her to follow as she walked.

Alora studied every flower with a scowl until her eyes found familiar markings underneath the coils on her side.

Burn scars.

The female noticed her exploration. She found that same guard from the other night before acknowledging her. “Ladomyr likes to display it.” Whispers of Ezander drew Alora’s attention away for a moment, then the sensual voice of the female returned, “Now you might know why I smiled when His Highness punished Ladomyr.”

“You’re not afraid of what he’d do if he found out?”

The female darkly laughed. “What else could he do to me? He’s already taken my wings.” She flexed her muscles, disturbing the rose-covered faux wings, and said through her teeth, “And everything else.” Her rose-colored glove rubbed the burn scar as if it were the last beacon to life. “My mate’s is the same.” She subtly inclined her chin at the male who watched her.

Alora’s heart squeezed.

Mate.

She’d never met anyone who the stars had blessed as mates.

The female’s lips quivered. “I can only hope His Highness doesn’t show mercy next time.” Tears clouded her eyes. A deep-seated sorrow, collecting her pain to release it down her cheeks. Ladomyr’s wife swiped under her eyes and raised her chin. Poising herself as the court expected of her. Collecting a strength Alora recognized intimately.

Alora observed the guard. Watched his hand tighten around the sword at his side as the female drew her attention away like it wounded her to do so. And she wondered if there was anythingshe could do. Even a moment of privacy shared in a hallway with her guarding the door.

That longing in the female’s eyes haunted her. Haunted her in a way she knew too well. Of not being able to touch the one she loved when they were so close that they saw the other breathing.

“How do you know he’s your mate?” What a stupid question, if they both held a mark blessed by the stars …

Regardless, the female smiled as if life had been given to her anew. “It’s the one being you desperately search for.” The guard dropped his chin and deeply inhaled as if he heard her over the crowd. “Your skin is clammy. Your heart refuses to beat until you lay eyes on them. That’s who your heart belongs to. It’s who you would risk everything for. Even your life.”

Motion at the throne room doors had everyone turning before the master of ceremonies announced him. They could all feel his presence the moment he entered the castle.

“The High Prince of Elysian.”

He was already staring when she met his abyss.

If Miwa thought Alora would bring him to his knees …

Flawlessly tailored to his muscles, an obsidian three-piece suit displayed his power. But the surprise—the shock gripping her so viciously she couldn’t breathe—wasn’t from that.

It was from thegold.

From the golden embroidery and winged serpent with its wings stretched wide across his shoulders, twisting its barbed tail down his back. Everywhere she looked, the gold extended to his chest and on the cuts and hemline, with one of his shoulders exploding in black flames.

Her eyes fell upon golden scales painted up the right side of his neck, over his jawline and cheek, extending past his eye onto his forehead. On anyone else, it would’ve looked absurd, but on him?—

“Just like that,” the female said, drawing her attention. “A look exactly like yours.”

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