Page 96 of What Lies Within Blood & Heirs

That familiar voice shouted, “Sentries, to your positions. I want triple the guard around the perimeter. Secure those two inside the shield.”

Thalon.Liquid lined her eyes. Thalon was there. Commanding the soldiers. He was there. All she had to do was call out. She opened her mouth?—

A cloth shoved between her teeth and was tied behind her bloody hair.

No!

Torchlight waved in her face as four sets of footprints crowded around her. The warm grips of her soldiers strangled her upper arms, dragging her forward on stumbling feet.

She understood—carried no resentment for her treatment. They had to be merciless outside the shield. The High King’s armies were all ruthless. And those that were commanded by the Savage Prince could be no different. Anyone could be watching. Beyond the shield, they had to be the killers Elysian knew them to be.

Deimon’s hands gripped the back of her neck and threw her forward onto her palms, digging her weakened knees into the grass. “Move.” His voice cold, uncaring.

Kneeling, Alora straightened, instantly feeling a sword at her back.

But the world was crashing down, threatening to sweep her away. She felt her limbs emptying, lips and fingertips falling numb as Deimon’s sword withdrew into the air.

The steel reflected a beam of dancing flame from a nearby torch. The pommel aimed at her pleading eyes.

She slammed them shut, anticipating the blow?—

Then darkness rearranged the valley.

Exploding—ripping through the sound barrier with earth-shattering thunder.

Every inch of her skin—her heart—cried out, feeling ice crystals forming in the air.

The wrath of Elysian nightmares detonated, sending everyone to their knees. And a voice like endless death roared, “Why the fuck is she on her knees?”

The ground trembled and groaned and cracked at the unearthly wrath unleashed in Garrik’s voice.

Everyone froze.

The realm—the sky—the starsrefused to blink.

All eyes widened as every soldier cowered on their knees, faces paling. Deimon’s stare darted to Alora, then their High Prince.

Garrik’s body was a deadly storm of Smokeshadows misting and tendriling along the ground with razor tips threatening to cut off the hands of anyone who came near her. The dawn's arrival over the valley was devoured as if the night sky aimed to darken Elysian for a while longer.

Nearly choking on relief at his voice, at the raw power she felt surging behind her. She couldn’t see his eyes but felt the frigid depths of oblivion burning at them. Promising death to anyone who so much as twitched.

Those deadly shadows wrapped around her like they were his comforting hands. Smokeshadows created a barrier of protection as Alora’s eyes fluttered back. Forgetting the pain and exhaustion and the chaos the moment shefelthim descend on the valley. Her heart could’ve cleaved open at his voice. Could’ve split in two.

Garrik.

Garrik was there.

Alora's breath caught in her throat, fighting to remain strong, though she didn’t need to be a moment more. Picturing her High Prince, eyes blaring in a deathly rage, she shoved her thoughts across their unique tether.I found you.

A deep shuddering sob accompanied her limbs, emptying the last kernels of strength. Drained and boneless, her body gave out and collapsed.

Voices surrounded her. Or were they shouting to her? To others?

The cloth lifted from her mouth, reminding her of how incredibly dry her lips were. How the corners ached from blood and bruises. A cold, rough pressure cupping her cheek enticed her eyes to slit, bobbing heavily as she fought to keep them open. Catching glimpses of swirling ink over beautiful, polished steel. Staring down at her with wrathful and distraught consideration before darkness comforted her again.

Then his voice.His incredible voice …

“You found me, clever girl,” he repeated, breathless as if the words comforted some deep-seated pain from her absence.

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