Page 254 of What Lies Within Blood & Heirs

“That’s it. Another one. Again.”

Her lungs choked in life. Burning, cruel life.

“How didn’t we see … You … my stars. You resemble her. I see her in your face,” Nikolouse admitted, seemingly in shock as Garrik leveled him a glare.

Alora was still focusing on breathing. Doubting the words she’d heard.

The king and queen were wide-eyed, searching each other’s faces before Nikolouse spoke. “We have preserved her memory, her belongings, in the hope she would return. Come, niece, allow us to?—”

“Give her a fucking minute,” Garrik growled, thumbs rubbing her cheeks as she blinked and blinked and blinked. “She will gonowhere with you.”Alora, focus on me. My voice. On the way the air feels in your lungs.

Garrik, she sobbed. Calling his name as the only anchor. The only thing keeping her from bursting into flames.

I am here. Right here. Look at me—that’s it.Garrik deepened a breath. She did too.

“Alora is a white-haired,” the king barked. “She belongs with us.”

Starfire exploded from her shoulders. Alora pushed from Garrik’s embrace and surged forward, orbs of star-kissed flames as her fists. “I belong withhim.Not in a kingdom that hides behind walls while Magnelis burns down cities and killsmothersandfathers?—”

“You will see we do much more thanhidebehind?—”

“I wasspeaking,” Alora roared. And continued, “I don’t belong with afamilywho abandoned their princess because she fell in love and locked themselves in paradise while the entire realm suffers and starves.”

“At the hands of him,” Nikolouse pointed a damning finger at Garrik, and her blood heated. “You would remain with Magnelis’s savage beast instead of your family?”

“He is my family,” she reminded Nikolouse, snarling. “I woulddiefor him.Allof them. That should prove well enough he isn’t the savage you think him to be.” Alora inhaled slowly as starflames receded.

There wasn’t one face in the throne room that wasn’t radiating with shock besides their friends—family. Aiden’s smirk was cheerfully menacing. Jade appeared terrifyingly mesmerized by the flames, and Alora reminded herself to create her a new ring.

Sharing a pointed stare with her mate, Alora lifted her chin, her obsidian crown glinting from the chandeliers. “If you wish for me to remain, then as High Monarchs of Elysian, youwillgrant us the courtesy of an audience. Otherwise, open your Wall and we’ll tend to the needs of the realm while you bask in paradise and us in blood.” Shadow raged inside her mind, along with Garrik’s heated growl of approval.

She stood taller from it, like the Dragon she was.

Nikolouse said nothing.

It only boiled her blood more. “You believe His Highness to be Magnelis’s willing beast, yet do not truly understand the full extent of the High King’s cruelty and power. I commend you for protecting your kingdom, but you must understand, like your own example, it is our High Prince who shoulders the same burden for theentirerealm.”

The king flicked a dismissive hand and retorted, “The High Prince. The gray-haired demon of Elysian. We may have a wall, but the rumors have bled through. How do slaughtering cities and turning the realm into mindless slaves prove he is anything but a monster for his father? When he deals in powers of shadow and darkness, laying waste with magic at a whim?—”

“He has infinite power yet remains docile at your feet. Show His Highness some starsdamned respect,” Thalon boomed. Eyes alit with holy flames. “If you are in allegiance with Tarrent-Garren Keep, then you know the gravity of when I say,by my Earned, if our High Prince is anything but what we say, I will lose my honor and be damned for eternity, never to resurrect in Glory.”

It was as if thunder cracked. A heavy pressure coated the room, enough to slice it with blades.

Revelation brightened those topaz eyes.

The queen lifted her head to her king. Then met Garrik, eyes soft as her gaze drifted to the leather scales covering his abdomen, then to his wrists. Garrik shifted uncomfortably under her examination before she extended a hand, but she hesitated to touch him. “I believe them, Nik. I can feel a great deal hashappened to you, my nephew. Things that were not of your doing or will.” The green of her eyes raked to his hair, at the blood Alora couldn’t entirely wash clean. She turned to her king and said, “Quite recently, too. This is … his blood.”

Garrik didn’t speak.

The queen sweetly said, “MiraBelle was my dear cousin.”

Ezander shifted as the queen spoke of his mother, Kadamar’s late queen.

She continued, “I remember her letters, speaking of your mother. Of how much my cousin loved you as well as her own faelings.”

A muscle feathered in Garrik’s jaw.

Carefully, the queen hovered her hand in front of Garrik’s abdomen. “My gift whispers the truth in their words, Nik, as it senses terrible pain here.” And without seeking out the king’s permission, decided, “We will hear what you have to speak.” Then turned to her king. “But tomorrow. I can also sense he is moments from collapsing. No family of mine will endure another second without rest.”

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