Of Blood & Roses by Georgiana Kent

Author:Georgiana Kent
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy romance, spicy books, vampire romance, fairy tale, retellings
Publisher: Urban Myth Publishing
Published: 2023-10-27T00:00:00+00:00

11

The Elixium Tree

The palace gardens stretched out before her. The mountain ranges amongst which the city of DÃ¥rath nestled were a bruised blue on the horizon, visible over the palace walls. Though spring in Noxterra retained a hint of winter upon its breeze, the sun remained low in the sky. Plants were sprouting in the beds that spread out over the stepped terraces, and buds were forming on the trees. A bridge curved over a channel of water where lilies grew.

Lamia looked out over the scene. Though the flowers had yet to bloom, it was still beautiful. She could almost sense the garden coming to life beneath her very feet.

“Do you like it?” he asked, leading her over the bridge. He wore a dagger from his belt, fetching it as they exited the palace and insisting to Hezron that he himself would look after the Queen.

“It... It’s the most beautiful garden I’ve ever seen.” And that was true. Whilst it was yet to bloom, she could see it in her mind’s eye, and it was glorious. “It puts mine to shame...”

“Every garden has its own beauty,” he countered softly. “I feel it has yet to reach its potential. Come, this way.”

He eagerly led her across the bridge, the Felidaeons padding behind them, nipping at butterflies as they went. Following him, she found them in an area planted with trees, some of which towered high above them: redwoods, ash and spruce. He spoke of the trees as if they were old friends, recounting the occasions on which he’d planted them—anniversaries, births, and deaths. Lightning had struck one tree at some point during its lifetime. Whilst it still stood proud, its evergreen needles bright in the afternoon light, a large cleft tore it almost in two.

Having not picked up a shawl from the suite, Lamia was soon shivering from the cool air. Just as she was about to ask to return for a shawl, he shrugged off his jacket and placed it over her shoulders.

“I don’t feel the cold as you do,” he said, fingers lingering on her arms before catching her hand in his. “This way!”

He led her on through the trees and shrubbery. Rounding a rhododendron, they stumbled across a clearing with a small stone cottage in its centre. It was stout and strong, with a thatched roof, and hugged the boughs of a towering sequoia. Its trunk was at least as wide as four Felidaeons.

“It’s the old Gardener’s Cottage. It’s abandoned now. People rarely come this far into the gardens.”

“Really? How come?”

He gave her a smile that made her nerves quiver in anticipation. “It’s private.”

“We’re almost there,” he said, leading her round the back of the cottage. His excitement was almost palpable and highly contagious. She tingled in anticipation. “Unless you object, I should like to cover your eyes.”

Hesitating, she nodded, permitting him to come up behind her and cover her eyes with his hands. To feel him so close sent a thrill coursing through her, setting her on tenterhooks.

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