Page 40 of Lost Heir
“Thewomanof the hour,” I corrected. “I stopped being a girl a long time ago.”
Adler snorted. “Apologies. I was just telling the king and queen how lovely it is that you’ve returned, even though most of us here have the same question.”
I cocked a brow. “Which is?”
“Are youreallythe lost princess?” he asked with a smirk. “The birthmark doesn’t really tell much, besides that you’re Valorian.” He turned to face the crowd, raising his voice to captivate the audience with his foolish theory. “We all know the lost princess is the only female blood mage since the Goddess. Isn’t it within our rights to ask for a demonstration? To ease our worries, of course.”
“Of course,” I said sarcastically. I held an arm up in front of Selene to stop her from following, then walked to the front of the aisle where Adler and Caelan stood.
“Lyanna, you have nothing to prove,” Caelan argued. “We know who you are—”
“Obviously your brother doesn’t. Seems he’s a bit skeptical that I am who I claim to be,” I said loudly enough for all to hear. “Let’s ease his worries, shall we?” I turned to face Adler. Lifting my hand, I seized the blood circulating in Adler’s veins and flicked my wrist downward, forcing him to his knees.
Caelan’s brother sucked in a pained breath and dropped to the marble floor, eliciting a startled gasp from the crowd. Adler scratched at his skin as I boiled him from the inside.
“I’m sure you’re feeling a bit … warm, right about now,” I taunted, then turned up the heat. “Why don’t I beat you to death and then bring you back to life with my blood? Would that be proof enough for you and anyone else who doubts my claim?” I fisted my hand, seizing control of his body.
Adler collapsed to his side and curled into a fetal position. “S-Stop!” he gritted between his teeth. “P-Please!”
I snorted. “Sure. Why not?” Relaxing my hand, I dropped it to my side and relaxed my stance, gazing out at the crowd that watched in open fear. “Hopefully that’s proof enough for you all!” Spinning on my heels, I faced my parents and bowed to them in respect. “Apologies for the spectacle.”
My father waved me off. “No, no, no trouble, Lyan—” He didn’t have time to finish saying my name before there was a guttural scream behind me. My father’s eyes widened in fear.
I spun around in time to see Adler stagger to his feet with a dagger in hand, heading directly for me. Stunned, I was about to lift my hand up again when a hand intercepted the dagger, catching it by the blade. I gasped in horror as blood dripped from Ronan’s palm as he gripped the blade, forcing it back toward Adler.
“Youdareattack the Princess of Valoria in her own home? In front of all these witnesses?” Ronan growled loudly enough for all to hear. His crimson eyes were the darkest maroon as they glared at Adler. The muscles in his arms stiffened as he grappled against Adler’s assault. He held the dagger so tightly, I worried there would be permanent damage to his palm.
“Stay out of it, you barbarian!” Adler shouted as he ripped the dagger out of Ronan’s hand, cutting his palm even deeper.
“Ro—” I attempted, but Caelan held me back with a tight grip on my wrist. I whirled on him, but he only shook his head in warning.
“I’mthe barbarian?” Ronan scoffed. “Yet here you are, attacking a defenseless woman from behind. I don’t believe anything is more barbaric than that.”
“For someone who wants my hand in marriage, you’re certainly not trying to defend me,” I hissed at Caelan as I ripped my wrist out of his hand. “Don’t try to stop me!”
I raced to Ronan just as Marcellus appeared with a cloth for Ronan’s wound. I took Ronan’s hand in mine and wrapped it. The crowd watched in awed fascination.
Adler laughed. “Why are you savages so serious? This was just a test. I wasn’t actually going to hurt her! Do you think my own brother would stand by idly while I killed his bride to be?”
“Yes. I think he would,” Ronan answered tersely. “Because unlike me, Caelan is afraid of you and what you’re capable of. That cowardice would compel him to stand by while you stabbed hispotentialbride.”
Adler’s expression darkened as he squared off with Ronan. Silas burst from the crowd to stand beside his friend, turning the situation to four against …two… as Caelan stepped past me to stand beside his brother.
“Please don’t start any rumors, Ronan. The relationship with my brother is solid.” Caelan looked between us. “I would never let him hurt Lyanna, nor would he dare to do so.”
Ronan laughed. “Right. Because what we all witnessed here was merely an illusion,” he said sarcastically.
My father bolted to his feet and cleared his throat, catching the attention of everyone in attendance to this spectacle. “Enough! Whether intentional or not, weapons of any kind are not allowed within the palace walls. And you, Adler, know that very well.” Snapping his finger for theguards’ attention, they quickly disarmed Adler and searched him for more weapons.
Adler bowed to my father. “Apologies, Your Majesty. The guards must have missed this one.”
I snorted and looked away, but my thoughts were clearly written on my face. If you dumped a million Glint at my feet, I still wouldn’t believe Adler’s claim that it was merely a demonstration.
13
After the commotion from the banquet finally settled, the night ended fairly early. But due to my father’s request, they celebrated my return for three full nights with enough food and drink to feed a whole nation. I made my nightly appearance, but never stayed long. The feigned smiles and the endless cycle of introductions to faces and names I would soon forget became increasingly wearisome. By the time the festivities drew to a close, I was relieved, tinged with a fatigue born not from physical exertion but from the emotional labor of constant pretense.
By the fourth night, many started to return to their lands while some stayed to explore Valoria and all it had to offer. I was surprised when my father allowed Ronan to stay, even after his father and Silas announced they were returning to the Grasslands. It seemed my father was very appreciative for what Ronan did the first night of the celebration, when he saved his only daughter’s life.
