Page 262 of What Lies Within Blood & Heirs

Garrik—stop. You can’t!

I have to. They know—Iknow everything. We cannot leave here alive. This I must do.

The legions. Their allies. How to breach Dellisaerin’s Wall. And so many other things she didn’t know but he did. They couldn’t have him. He knew they couldn’t have him.

And as Garrik shielded another blast of flames, her heart hollowed out.

He thought he could be their sacrifice. That they didn’t need him to fight Magnelis. That if he could kill the serpent and Malik … himself…

You already gave enough!she pleaded, her voice and heart breaking.Thirty years for us, Garrik. And seventeen Blood Years after. We can gohome—to our family.

Too much power. Too many of them. They kept coming. An endless sea against a grain of sand.

We can fight another day. Everyone is safe. I am safe. It’s your turn!

Malik stepped forward, a battering ram to a steel door. But Garrik… Those flames. The way his boot slid back in the mud as shadows began to slow. As his strength began to fracture.

Movement behind Garrik stole her attention.

He turned to throw out his hand.

Alora’s body stilled like death just as Garrik’s roar of pain swept toward her.

Not ten paces behind him, the female in Garrik’s nightmares prowled forward—unhurried, unrushed. Streams of serpent darkness slithered from her daggered fingertips dipped in pure ink, feathering to the pale skin at her knuckles.

Blood poured from Garrik’s back—his abdomen—as the sharpened points ofhermagic impaled him.

Sheripped her magic back with a harsh jerk.

Garrik flew toward the female, landing on his back. Malik’s boot pressed into his throat before Garrik’s thumb twitched, twisting a ring on his finger she knew sealed that final shield over the hill as those flames formed shackles around his wrists.

Alora’s head roared with a piercing sound. Despite it, she managed to form starflames in her fists, and demand,Release the shield. I can fight them!

Garrik’s body relaxed.There are … too many, my love.His voice calm, as if he gazed upon her face.And they cannot know about you. Magnelis?—

I canfight.I can get you out of this. Garrik,please—PLEASE,she shrieked.

Choked coughs wheezed behind her. Ahead, gray hair flattened in the mud as he dropped his head. And as if it took every ounce of strength in him, shadows encircled his fingers.

Alora felt something fall into her hands breaths later.

Glancing down, almost tumbling from her fingers … Garrik’s rings.

Garrik gasped the moment the serpent stabbed a needle into his neck.You were … worth finding, Alora. You were worth it all.And if somehow the stars grant me another life, I will find you sooner … so I make up for the mistakes I made.

Tattooed arms were pulling her from the ground the moment she opened her mouth to scream for him.Garrik, don’t—don’t do this.

Kneeling beside him, the female’s daggered nails brushed through his hair. Her mouth was moving.

Alora vowed to kill her, slowly.

Bury me in Airatheldra,her mate’s voice pleaded, sounding kingdoms away.I will not be their monster again.

The female stroked a finger down his leathers.

Tell my family…His voice cracked.Tell them I regret not having the time to show them what they meant to me. That … that I am sorry I could not return to them—now, and all those years.

Alora sobbed into Thalon’s solid, warm chest that feltwrongas he lifted her.Come with me, please.

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