Cole braced himself for Malakai’s attack; he wouldwelcome the chance to beat this asshole into a bloody pulp. Malakaibelieved that because he worked for the Lord, he could do whateverhe wanted. He was in for a rude awakening.
“I said,” Cole bit out, “backoff.”
Brokk shifted behind him, but Cole didn’tlook at his brother. Brokk wouldn’t interfere unless he believedCole might lose. There was no chance of that happening.
Malakai’s eyes turned red. “Are youinterfering in an investigation that the Lord of the Shadow Realmsordered me to undertake to findyourtreasonousbrother?”
Stepping closer, Cole used his superior sizeto force Malakai back. “I am interfering in nothing. I’m tellingyou that harassing the daughter of a man who died for our causewillnotbe tolerated.”
“I will inform the Lord of yourinsubordination.”
“Go ahead. You are alieutenantin hisarmy, and I am ageneral. You served undermein thewar, and we know which of us means more to him. We have helped totrack Orin, but his trail has grown cold. It’s time to moveon.”
“I’m sure the lycans hunting him with me willdisagree with you,” Malakai said.
“Perhaps, but you’ll have to hunt them downto ask them. They left.”
Malakai looked as if Cole had punched him inhis too handsome face. “No, they didn’t.”
“They’re gone,” Brokk said. “If I were abetting man, I’d say they’re probably already having a drinksomewhere.”
“They didn’t care if you reported themeither,” Cole said.
Red crept up Malakai’s neck as he searchedfor the lycans and found nothing. Cole didn’t know if he was moreembarrassed or incensed by this revelation, but he found Malakai’sdiscomfort amusing.
Cole waited for him to launch a punch, butinstead, the vamp turned toward Lexi and gave a small bow. “I willsee you soon.”
The shoulder beneath Cole’s hand vanished asMalakai teleported away. Cole’s hand fell to his side, and heturned to find a pale Lexi staring at the spot where Malakai hadstood.
Then, her eyes met his and she smiled.
CHAPTER 24
Lexi should politely thank him and make some excuseto retreat. She should be on pins and needles and terrified he’dsomehow catch a whiff of his brother, but instead, her heart racedwith excitement, and she felt almost giddy with happiness.
“It’s good to see you again today,” he said.“I wish it was under better circumstances.”
“Again today?” Sahira asked, and Lexi managedto stop herself from wincing.
“Yes.” She turned to her aunt. “I ran intoPrince Colburn at the marketplace earlier.”
Sahira lifted an elegant brow as she lookedbetween them. “I see.” Then her gaze settled on Cole. “And you’rehelping Malakai hunt down your brother?”
She didn’t bother to hide her disapprovalover this. No matter what he did, Sahira would have let them drawand quarter her before she ever turned on her brother.
“He is a traitor,” Brokk stated.
Somehow Lexi managed to keep herself fromwincing at the callous words. Traitor or not, asshole or not, Orinwas still their brother. But they seemed not to see it thatway.
She didn’t know what had caused suchindifference from them, or maybe she did; she had met Orin afterall. She couldn’t imagine what it had been like to live with himfor centuries. She wanted to kill him, and she’d only known him fora day.
However, despite the fact they’d probablyhand her over too if they knew the truth, her smile never wavered.Maybe she was better at this deception stuff than she realized. Itwas not a discovery she liked about herself.
“Would you like to come in for something toeat or drink?” she asked, and Sahira sniffed disdainfully.
The idea of having them in the manor, abovetheir brother, frightened Lexi, but she wasn’t ready to saygoodbye. Besides, etiquette required she didn’t send twoprincesaway without at least offering them somethingfirst.
Cole’s eyes flicked to her aunt beforereturning to her. “Thank you, but we should continue oursearch.”
