Page 252 of What Lies Within Blood & Heirs

And when she looked at Garrik, at the silent ask to keep her power hidden, to allow him to be the focus, to be the targetagainover them all, Alora sent a flicker of love and starfire down their tether and reluctantly obliged him.

She imagined he would mist the shackles and chains into iron dust, but Garrik tolerated Dellisaerin’s meaningless sense of security and allowed them to remain.

Lethal awareness and caution gripped Thalon as he stood to Alora’s left, Ezander to Garrik’s right. But it was Aiden behind them, refusing to leave Jade’s side, who was the first to speak.

“They look like you,” he whispered, leaning close to Alora, speaking of the guards around them and murals painted on the ceiling and the few solid walls.

Aiden grunted when Jade elbowed his side. “Now isnotthe time, you fool.”

“He is right,” Garrik agreed, scanning Alora … her hair. “They do.” That look of confusion on his face pinched her nerves, but she didn’t have long to question it.

The soldiers formed a wall behind them, sealing off the only exit other than leaping into the sky.

Parting the sunlight, two startlingly beautiful High Fae ambled from the balcony behind the dais.

A stunning female with honey-brown skin and thick mounds of weaved curls atop her head was delicately led by the palm of a male of Alora’s complexion. With a light of pure affection and adoration in his bright topaz eyes, the male placed a kiss on her forehead before she draped herself elegantly on one throne.

Then he turned to them. A face of honor and fairness stared down. Strands of thick, long, silky white hair tickled his chest, swaying in the wind as he ran a hand through his neck-length, white beard cut perfectly on his strong jawline.

Older. They were much older than her. Perhaps a few years older than her parents would have been.

The king stepped forward. That look of love for his queen fell, scanning the blood and battle leathers, the shadows on her and her mate. His face drew taut; the topaz blue of his eyes darkened.

“Night Stalker,” the king’s ethereal voice flatly greeted, but it was in no way welcoming.

Alora felt Garrik stiffen. Stars, so did she.

He continued, “It is unlike you to betray the sanctuary of the Wall.”

Disbelief cracked through each of their faces as Miwa stepped forward from that barricade of soldiers. Her wings drawn tight as she bowed. “Your Majesty. I didn’t open the gate.” The female failed at keeping her nerves. Sweat lined her hairline, dripping beneath the dark cloak she wore. “We had no choice but to hide in the caves. Kadamar … Galdheir is rumored to be on its way.”

The king’s face remained viciously calm and regarded the obsidian crowns. “It would seemGaldheiris already here,” he said with enough bite that Alora imagined one of those lions devouring a kill.

“If I wished to harm anyone here, Nikolouse, I would have done so already.” Garrik lifted his hands. The shackles and chains clanked in the movement. Smokeshadows coiled around his arms. He cocked his head at the king, offering him a wicked smirk before those shackles misted into iron dust and the chains pooled on the whitestone.

Nikolouse seemed unaffected by Garrik’s display of superiority. He simply gestured to his soldiers, but Thalonstepped forward, balling his fists and teeth bared, eliciting a low growl from the king.

“Mind yourself, Guardian. Or strain alliances with Dellisaerin and the Keep.” Then the king spoke to Miwa. “Who opened the Wall?”

Alora didn’t give her the chance to speak and answered, “I did.” Though wasn’t certainhow.

Thalon fell back in line, shoulder to shoulder with her.

The leader of the soldiers at the Wall slid between the dais and them. And Alora’s palms threatened to ignite with starflames the moment the female lifted a syringe to Garrik.

Garrik scoffed at the sight of it.

Alora didn’t harbor such amusement.

“You seem to lack sense, Nikolouse.” Smokeshadows curled around the female’s hand and burst the crystal, dripping the contents inside to the stones. “Though few are granted the courtesy, I shall reiterate. No harm is intended upon your kingdom. I simply wished to spend a moment worshiping my mate.” Aiden released a sound of disgust, but Garrik ignored it. “Only by Destiny did we find ourselves on your side of the ice.”

Nikolouse considered, then movement behind him stole his attention.

His queen leaned forward and sweetly said, “Nik.”

The king’s strong shoulders dropped a fraction. He deepened a breath, finding her glowing lime-green eyes. They didn’t part for long minutes. Alora wondered if they spoke to one another as she did down the silver tether when Nikolouse said, “Young lioness. I know all in my kingdom. Yet your face is unknown to me. You look to be three centuries old?”

Alora blinked.

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