Page 27 of What Lies Within Blood & Heirs

Garrik opened his mouth to speak again, but footsteps beside her drew their attention instead.

“Stairs. They’re always up to something.” Aiden’s grin was cunning.

Alora rolled her eyes and loosened a breathy laugh.

“Last one up washes my boots for a month!” And with a quick smack of his boot on the first step, Aiden bounded up. Thalon, with his golden sword and Jade carrying a backpack, followed close behind, taking more steps and at a quicker speed than their half-human brother.

But Garrik didn’t move. His fading eyes were set on the shake in her hand.

She looked down, enclosed her fingers inside a quick fist, and flexed the ache from them.

Garrik stalked to the wall of bedrock below the first step. His shoulder leaned against the stone with his arms crossed, and he made a sound of uncertainty. “I am not convinced my legs can make the climb. Perhaps there is another way up.” Loud enough for everyone a hundred steps high to hear.

Alora flashed him a skeptical half-smile. She’d seen him training in the annulus for far longer than it would take to climb this mountain. Unless injured, stamina and strength didn’t seem like any issue for him.

Jerking his head to point at his Shadow Order racing up, Garrik added, “They can handle finding the stone. Would you like to return to camp with me?”

Alora shifted, digging her boot tip into the dirt. “You want to go back?”

“I am accustomed to dawning.” He shrugged. A wry gleam flickered in his eyes. “Two steps and I will likely be begging you to carry me. I will feel dreadful traveling alone. Probably find myself lost.”

The roll of her eyes could have summoned a mighty wind. “What a shame.”

“Indeed.” He smirked.

High above, Aiden squealed before fumbling on his hands and knees. Jade smugly stepped behind him, boot tip pressed into Aiden’s heel, forcing his boot half off.

Thalon simply jumped over the obstacle, taking first place in their youngling-ish race. Through curses and one guttural sigh from Aiden, Alora smiled.

“Wimp.”She pivoted to Garrik, who shook his head, looking up the staircase.

Side-eying her, he merely grinned. “Terribly so.”

Alora trembled a footstep forward, inhaling deeply. It was then she realized Kaine’s illusion was gone.

So, she stepped again, fighting off the flood of memories as her boot touched the first blackstone surface. Not bloodstained marble. Blackstone that held tiny cracks and chisel marks. Blackstone that bore chips of pebbles and dying plants between each crevice.

Another step.

Then another.

Each step sent pricks through her nerves as her mind refused to look up. Refused to take her eyes off the step she was about to press her foot against until she was on the fifth, then seventh, then ninth.

Her shaken voice, calming, called out, “What will Elysian think when they find out our High Prince is subdued by stairs?”

Step thirteen.

But Garrik was silent.Not even a footstep echoed behind her.

“Still down there, mighty prince?”She continued upward despite a nervous tremble in her legs.

His warm voice carried, and she heard his smirk laced within the words. “Apologies. I was distracted. My legs might not be that strong, but my eyesight is impeccable. What a view.”

She whipped around, sapphires so wide the whites glowed, glaring ten steps below.

Garrik wolfishly grinned up at her as he bounded up six steps, two at a time, until he stood on the same as her.

“Sore already?” he asked, beaming. “If so, I am certain I could work out a few of your kinks.”

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