Page 255 of What Lies Within Blood & Heirs

The king’s unnerving scowl sobered. He hadn’t moved to silence his queen, only regarded her with reverence and respect. Not only allowing her to speak, but captivated by her. “Ah, Zemira, my mate. Your tender heart will be my undoing.”

Garrik’s mouth ghosted into a smile.

Alora caught it.What?

It seems the king and I have something in common. Only, I am already undone by my mate.

Velvety shadows brushed the inside of her mind, placing a tender kiss there for only them to see. And she decided, when given a moment, she would see just howundoneshe could make him.

Alora tightened her thighs.

This time, Garrik caught it and sent her an image of the last moment they were joined together, threatening her sanity—apparently, his too as he subtly adjusted his belt.

“High Prince.” Nikolouse snapped their attention to him. “My queen’s decision stands. We will grant you this small rarity and allow, along with our niece, you, and your outsiders to remain within the castle walls until Alora can prove with undeniable certainty your intentions.”

“Thank you, Nikolouse,” Alora said, eyes glimmering.

“Do not thank me yet, lioness. If he will not take the needle, he will be under guard.”

Garrik smirked. “I would not expect anything less, Your Majesty.”

Nikolouse frowned but gestured to his soldiers. “My sister’s wing has been vacant for centuries. Allow me the pleasure of her daughter bringing light there once again.” Then scanned their Shadow Order. “Guest quarters will be provided for your soldiers, under guard as well.”

But Alora hesitated. After the last kingdom, the last king… What if—Can we trust him?

His mind is sincere. He harbors no malice or dishonesty,Garrik answered.

That small part of her still reeling from Kadamar wanted to doubt him but didn’t. Alora acknowledged the female leader from the Wall when she stepped forward to escort them from the throne room when Thalon moved beside Garrik, his fingertips crackling with lightning.

Thalon murmured, “The legion, sire.” Home. Their Dragons. Eldacar and Deimon and Draven. Their Mystics and soldiers protected behind Garrik’s shield that Silas had secured. They were still out there waiting for their High Prince to return with orders and a new book for Eldacar to read.

Garrik brushed a hand over his tired eyes, deepening a breath. “Is there room at the Keep?”

Their Guardian shook his head. “No, but we can settle throughout the mountains until we know what Galdheir knows.”

Zemira arched a brow at Nikolouse. It didn’t take long for him to sigh defeatedly and her to grin, catching the chandelier light on her flawless cheeks. “It appears my queen would move to offer grounds for your legion.” Nikolouse’s whine could’ve competed with one of Aiden’s. Alora smirked as he added, “Let me inform you that my armies are ten thousand times in capacity than the Ravens. And my lions a race of their own.” He spoke to Thalon, “By your Earned, Guardian, if they cause any trouble…”

“By my Earned, king,” Thalon vowed, his eyes brightening like sunshine.

Wholly satisfied, the king turned his attention to Miwa, who had remained silent before the wall of soldiers until now. Addressing her, “Night Stalker. Show their Highnesses to Nadeliene’s chambers, then return to speak with me.” Nikolouse beckoned to the female leader. “Loan. You and their soldiers?—”

“Shadow Order,” Alora corrected with a smile.

Nikolouse nodded. “You and their Shadow Order can discuss the retrieval of … Dragons.”

It was Garrik who nodded at the correct title, then advised, “General Realmpiercer has gifts to portal them through the Wall if it suits you. He holds the authority of conducting decisions on our behalf. In all respected rights, he is Her Highness and I’s voice, unless we say otherwise.”

“Very well,” Nikolouse remarked, and after arranging a meeting and time for tomorrow, permitted them leave.

Watery sunlight poured through the crystal windows, but not a hint of it touched Alora. Smokeshadows, dancing over them like Garrik’s wings of darkness, veiled the waving light, far too warm but still inviting.

They barely made it through a bath that morning before their eyes had closed. Certainly no energy to look at much of her mother’s rooms—yet. Deciding on a guest chamber, he had carried her from the bath, half-asleep himself, and neither of them had cared to take in the luxury of it all.

It was only when a snowflake outside the window fluttered by did Alora gawk.

The room’s cinquefoil windows, decorated by elegant, curving struts, turned the cathedral-like windows into more of intricate frames for the landscape than simple architectural additions. Each pane set within the lattices was of polished, white-stained timber. The designs curling like filigrees and waves were much like her Smokeshadow window. And when the morning sunlight filtered through, the construction gilded the room in exquisite patterns of design, casting elaborate shadows on the furs they laid under.

She didn’t get a much better look at the room other than those windows.

---