She also knew what that meant. Everyone knewthe dark fae were lethal and cold. They also only had one use forsomeone of the opposite sex… to feed on the energy they emittedduring sex.
But Cole wasn’t entirely dark fae. When shefirst met him, all she’d seen of him was fae, but last night sheglimpsed far more lycan in him. And the lycan were known for theirundying loyalty to their mate. They also played the field alotuntil they found their mate.
And while Lexi didn’t think she was hismate—that wasnotwhat she wanted in her life at all—shedidn’t think he was like the other dark fae. Not entirely, atleast.
Would he break her heart if she wasn’tcareful? Absolutely.
But she didn’t plan on letting him get closeenough for that to happen. However, she wouldn’t mind if he got asclose as he did last night again.
You don’t want to become shadowkissed.
She shuddered at the possibility of becomingone of those mindless, sex-starved things the dark fae sometimesleft behind. No, she didnotwant to become one of them, butfor that to happen, she was pretty sure a lot more than what passedbetween them last night would have to occur, and she had no plansfor that.
She felt Sahira’s gaze as she slatheredbutter on her bread, but Lexi didn’t look at her aunt as she triedto act completely nonchalant.
“I’ll be in the library reading,” she said asshe lifted her mug and her plate.
“Hmm,” Sahira grunted.
Lexi strolled over to kiss her cheek. “Youworry too much.”
“I always worry about you.”
Lexi squeezed her shoulder before releasingher and strolling toward the door. “I love you too.”
CHAPTER 33
Following the scent of whatever was cooking, Coledescended a set of backstairs and entered a large, airy kitchen.With her back to him, Sahira stood at the island in the center. Herfingers flew as she chopped something with easy precision.
Though she remained focused on whatever shediced, the slight stiffening of her shoulders told him she wasaware he’d arrived. His feet didn’t make a sound as he strodeacross the kitchen toward her.
She didn’t turn to look at him as heapproached. “Can I get you something to eat, Colburn?”
He stopped at the countertop and, sniffingthe air, caught the faint hint of Lexi. She’d been hererecently.
“No,” he said. “And call me Cole. You helpedsave my brother’s life.”
Sahira didn’t look up at him while sheworked, but her jaw clenched a little.
“Where is Lexi?” he asked.
Her fingers stopped, and the thud of theknife ceased against the wooden board. Her head remained bowed fora second before she lifted it and met his gaze. Strands of hermahogany hair had slipped loose of her bun to frame her face. Heramber eyes narrowed on him.
“Stay away from her,” Sahira said.
Cole almost chuckled in amusement, but therewasn’t anything funny about this. Sahira played a large role inLexi’s life, and she didn’t like him. Because of that, she would doeverything she could to drive him away.
However, after the taste he got of Lexi lastnight, he wasn’t going anywhere. He rested his hand near thestainless steel cooktop with its black, iron burners.
“And why would I do that?” he asked.
“Because she deserves better.”
“Better than me?”
“Better than being messed with by a darkfae.”
Perhaps that was true, but he didn’t care.“You don’t like the dark fae.”
