Page 261 of What Lies Within Blood & Heirs

Viper-like darkness slithered between Thalon and Mavros—a young, orphaned male who had chosen to join the legion when of age. Like poison spreading through a vein,herSnakemares tainted the mud, the very air they slinked through.

The Raven holding the male retreated as Mavros stiffened his neck like a king. Unafraid, boldly staring into the darkness when it burrowed into his unbending will. In one breath, violet eyes faded, leaving nothing but a colorless stare before he stood and mindlessly joined the ranks of Ravens.

Those Snakemares turned to the next. To Lonan and Zeya and Erel.

Malik said they would not die. But this …to be magic-washed …not this.

“Our master has come to collect us,” Malik said to Garrik. Voice clipped, unamused.

Alora let out a sound of terror. A sound of rage and hate.

Reptilian focus alit in Malik’s fiery eyes. The lean-built male tilted his head toward Alora. “That female … how she cries in your name … it sounds as if you’re important to her.” A touch of malice contorted his face before that night-blue gaze flickered to the serpent, gesturing toher. “I’m sure you don’t wanther to know about your…” He took in a greedy inhale and crooned, “Mate.”

But Garrik said nothing. Only wrath rippled off him. So violent the ground trembled.

We can fight them.Alora subtly nodded.

He counted her every breath, feeling herfightrising up within her.There are too many,he warned. And if she moved, the serpent … what she would see … what she would do …

And at that moment, he did not care about what it would cost him?—

No, Garrik. We can?—

Alora did not have a chance to flinch. None of them did.

Because Smokeshadows raged from his body, swallowing his Dragons, his brother, his mate, whole before the full power of the gray-haired demon of Elysian was unleashed.

When the darkness cleared,a storm of flames and shadow engulfed camp.

From across the planes and up a steep hill, Alora forced herself not to break.

There, in the midst of chaos and bloodshed, was her mate.

Hundreds of swords were aimed at their wielders, held by hands of darkness as airwave after airwave rammed into battalions, forcing them back with shattered bones and twisted necks. Another battalion, with too many heads to count, had been vaporized. And through the glowing blue light and dusting of rain, Alora glimpsed the sickly shade of red mist showering the ground.

In the sky, Nevilier slammed into … nothing. An invisible barrier. Though the sound boomed like thunder. And that horrendous thing, over and over, never cracked through.

Alora gripped her leg and crawled—crawledforward, as close to the edge of that hill as she could. Crawled to be closer to her selfless mate.

A voice groaned behind her—more than one. But she didn’t care to see who because Garrik’s shadows …

Malik’s flames blasted an orb around him, shot from his outstretched hands as shadows tore from one of Garrik’s and raged around the male.

She’d seen Garrik’s power before, but nothing like this. Nothing all at once. Not so out-worldly. Not without serpent darkness gripping his mind.

Wind pelted rain into her face, but Alora ignored that too because she had crawled forward another inch when the taste of metal coated her tongue. Static energy surged through her, pushing her back. Alora curled her fists and slammed them forward into a solid wall of air.

A solid shield.

No, she thought to herself.No,she screamed at him.

But he didn’t answer. Garrik pummeled another airwave into storming Ravens, who were rushing for him. Pounded another into Nevilier. But they weren’t like before. Nothing like before. Even the force surging around her—that shield—shuddered.

Garrik’s power—it was diminishing. And soon, he would falter.

Dawn, Garrik. Come to us. We can make it out. We can?—

Another blast of flame. Another shield in the sky sent Nevilier careening through the clouds. More shadow. More darkness—too much darkness.

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