Page 90 of What Lies Within Blood & Heirs

Kyr, who she determined as her rider, jumped up and squared his shoulders to the male. “How about I take it from your guts instead?”

The ice-blue male slowly raked his eyes over Kyr. Unmoving and relaxed as his gaze offered an unspoken threat. Death danced in those gray eyes as he cocked his head, and his ice-blue skin rippled like stars on fire as if they found their eternal home there. Gleaming like bursts and explosions in scale-like paths.

“Another word,” was all he said, brow lifted, daring Kyr to speak. When he didn’t and only seethed with arms crossed, the male who seemed to be in charge merely plucked a stick from the ground and began slicing with his knife before he continued, “I have word from our general. We leave for Dellisaerin after The Hunt.”

Kyr growled, “The hell, Rune? We were just stationed here. And you want us to move out again?”

“I didn’t make the call,” the male—Rune—said.

Kyr gritted his teeth and balled his fist, opening his mouth, but Rune snapped. That knife in his hand flew, perfectly embedding in the dirt between Kyr’s boots. Alora didn’t doubt that if Rune had wanted it to, the blade would have sunk into Kyr’s boot.

Rune snarled, “Sit down and shut the hell up. I’ve had enough bullshit for today.” Another knife was pulled from his belt. His face fell wholly calm as he began whittling again.

The others turned and resumed their quiet conversations. Kyr stormed off.

At least they were fighting each other and not bothering to notice her. Allowing her body time to regain some strength while she stared up at the stars from her back. Alora watched them glisten as the fire crackled the logs. She felt its warmth, reminding her of the warmth inside herself.

As she lay there, a wheezing sound—a constant reminder of the pain she desperately tried to endure—accompanied every breath she took. She fought against the fog and dullness in her mind from the blood loss, biding her time to release the full might of her starfire and burn down the entire forest.

Alora watched the stars as if she were in an annulus. Felt their calming spirit wash over her as she studied the darkened sky. She felt the darkness’s comfort, too. Allowing her mind to drift as she’d done in the manor for so long. Let herself search that darkness and watch it dance like Smokeshadows caressing the stars.

In fact, that darkness lookedexactlylike Smokeshadows.

Like Garrik was searching for her. Like he was there.

She wanted to reach through the amber glow of the fire, through the rustling leaves of the tree’s canopy, and grab hold of it. To let Garrik know she was there. To pull her into his arms. But her heart only dropped when her arms refused to move.

Alora felt a part of her begin to break.

Please. Can you hear me? I don’t know if I can make it.

She imagined his soothing honeyed voice and an icy hand brushing her cheek. And that comfort she needed was there. She felt him there.You can, clever girl. Do not surrender. You are stronger than this.

Tears burned her eyes. He would be right if he’d actually said it. She’d been through worse. Had suffered monsters and had survived every single day before this. And so had Garrik.

If he had made it through the dungeons. If he had survived the torture, thedeath …then she could survive this.

They wanted a prize?

They were going to get much more for their effort.

A storm of starfire was coming for them. Enough to light up the entire sky.

An hour later, Alora was ready—her starfire was ready. Warmth scorched through her veins, feeling every nerve and bone, and what was left of her blood built to a boiling burn.

She had managed to remain calm, illusioning herself as utterly helpless—lifeless—on the forest floor while the moon shifted and the Ravens talked, paying her no mind.

But now…

Her fingers curled into fists, feeling embers spark inside.

Calling to her power, Alora directed her thoughts to each of the pricks sitting there. Kyr would be first. After that, she didn’t care who. As long as they were all as lifeless as she felt.

Inhaling a painful breath, embers ignited in her eyes as one of the blond males called across the clearing, eyes fixed on Rune, “Easy for you to say. You’re practically made from ice.”

She didn’t care about the meaning. Her embered eyes caught a glimpse of Rune.

Maybe the one in charge should go first.

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