Page 20 of What Lies Within Blood & Heirs

Garrik’s face … he looked worried. The same look he had given her after she survived the gamroara attack.

“Hello, clever girl.” An icy thumb tenderly stroked the soft skin of her hand. Her chin dipped and observed the touch as his quiet voice murmured, “Listen. Breathe. I am right here. I am not leaving.”

If only it were that easy.

Raking her eyes over the small scratches of crimson on his hand, her survey trailed up his wrist and forearm to the rolled sleeves of his night-dark tunic. Then it moved across his half-hidden chest, which was shielded by white cloth to cover the sea of burns.

Burns.Alora shuddered, remembering what she’d done with … with her …

She could hardly form the word.

“Starfire,” was all she could manage.

Garrik’s eyes darkened; his mouth widened in a smirk.“Pretty fucking incredible, aren’t you? A damn star.” He repositioned his stance but still crouched before her. The fabric of his tunic shifted enough that the star-shaped scar over his heart, the seared tips of the healed dragon claw wounds, and the fading slice from her dagger were visible.

Mere hours before, they were festering wounds mortal enough to call upon Death.

But now …

Her eyes widened. “How?” The word felt like flames scorching Alora’s tongue.

Wonder filled Garrik’s tone as he explained, “Eldacar found that when starfire is unleashed in anger, terrible things transpire.” He placed his hand over the scar at his heart. “This did not heal until you sealed my other wounds. The same as this”—stretching his neck, he displayed the dagger mark there—“Not until burned with starfire. It seems to be the intention behind the power.” Silver glowed brighter, awestruck, as he squeezed her hands.

She hated that look. Didn’t want him looking at her that way. Like she could … what could she do?She had starsdamned starfire?What in Firekeeper-filled-hell did that mean?

And that look in his eyes.

It made her feel as if she was the prophesied savior to all the realm’s problems in every fantasy novel she’d ever wildly hallucinated herself into.

She was no such thing.

Don’t look at me that way.

Forming a harsh line between his eyes, Garrik’s hand lowered from her cheek. “How would you like me to look at you, clever girl?”

“Not like that,” she snapped.

“Damn. And I thought only the stars were this stubborn.”

“I’m not a star—or stubborn.”

“You are.”

“I’m not.” Shoving his chest, Alora sent him swaying backward with a grin.The prick.“I know what you’re doing.”

Brow arched, mischief danced in Garrik’s eyes. “Is that so?”

He had this way of centering her when she was nervous, and he laced his teasing with much more than taunts. As if he knew his relentless torment was exactly what she needed to calm herself.

Aiden’s annoyance broke through the air, speaking with Thalon, who had his nose close to the pages of a red leather-bound book. “Well, I bloody well don’t know what said long-and-pointy thing looks like.” Hand gripping the railing of the mezzanine, Aiden’s legs swung over it and slammed heavy-footed into the floorboards of the lower library.

Thalon closed the book in one hand with a hollow thump and swung himself over too, bounding after him.

It was strange seeing them together. Like watching two brothers.

Folded, buckled boots stepped across the wooden floorboards toward them.

Garrik twisted up, towering over her sitting on the chair, and watched the incoming generals of his Shadow Order.

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