Sahira tossed a handful of herbs into thelarge pot on the stove. “Noonelikes the dark fae,Colburn.”
He lifted an eyebrow at her pointed use ofhis full name. She was a brazen little witch.So that’s where westand.
“I could say the same about witches andvampires,Sahira.”
She scowled at him while she stirred thepot.
“I could say the same about lycan andhumans,” he continued.
“She deserves better than to be messed withby a man who is only looking for one thing. She’s better than that.She’s better thanyou.”
Again, maybe that was true, but it wasn’tgoing to stop him. He wanted Lexi, and he would have her. The onlyone who could prevent it from happening was Lexi. After last night,he didn’t see that happening.
He leaned closer to her. “And how do you knowwhat I’m looking for?”
“Because it’s what all dark fae are lookingfor. You have to feed, and you need victims to quell yourhunger.”
“I can assure you, Sahira, there are novictims in my past. They wereallwilling.”
“Did they all know what you are?”
He held her fiery gaze as she stoppedstirring the pot. His hand flexed on the countertop as his clawslengthened before retracting again. She wasn’t a threat to hissafety, but she was a threat if she tried to stand between him andLexi.
“You know that’s not the way immortals work,”he said. “Or at least it’s not the way we worked before the war.Humans were never supposed to know about our existence, but sinceyou’re so curious about my sex life, I can assure you that sincethey learned of us, they’ve always known whose bed they’ve climbedinto. For some, their curiosity has only increased their desire forimmortals and especially the dark fae.”
“Good for you,” she mutteredsarcastically.
A vein in Cole’s temple throbbed. “And haseveryone in your past always known what you are?”
“There’s a big difference between us; I don’tfeed on others.”
“We all do what is necessary to survive. Youare part vampire; you require blood.”
“I use blood bags.”
“Good for you.”
“And is it necessary for you to leave thebroken, twisted souls of the shadow kissed in your wake?”
“Anything I’ve ever done to anyone, they’veasked for. No,” he said as he leaned closer, “theybeggedmefor it.”
Waves of dislike emanated from her. He smiledin return.
“Where is Lexi?” he asked.
“She’s young, and she just lost her father.She deserves better than to have someone likeyouplayingwith her.”
“You have no idea what I’m like,” hesaid.
“Everyone knows what the dark fae arelike.”
“And what are the witches like? Or thevampires? You’re condemning the dark fae when all immortals havequestionable traits. A witch’s temper is legendary.”
Sahira pulled the wooden spoon from the potand slammed it on the counter. The flames beneath the pot rose asher temper flared. Lifting his hand, Cole moved it toward the fireand closed his fingers. The fire went out.
“You’re not the only one who can control theelements,” he reminded her though the dark fae were stronger andbetter at controlling the elements than the witches.
The fire surged back to life and wrappedaround the corners of the pot. “I am the only one who can cast ahex.”
