This is awful. But Lexi didn’t expressher feelings; she imagined there were ears everywhere in thisrealm.
Finally, the crowd moved forward enough forthem to enter the main part of the room. Her eyes instantly settledon the golden dais at the far end of the room and the three thronesthere.
Strange carvings etched the gold dais; Lexihad no idea what those carvings represented, but she suspected theyrepresented something to the dark fae. Ten steps led to the top ofthe dais, which meant the king and his sons looked down on the roomfrom their lofty positions.
In the center of the stage, the dark fae kingsat higher than his sons and surveyed the room with an air ofcasual indifference. The crown perched on his head was larger thanthe ones his sons wore and possessed three of the black stones,while his sons’ crowns only had one stone each.
The king’s pointed ears poked out frombeneath his shoulder-length, black hair. He was handsome with hisblack eyes and high cheekbones, but the coldness surrounding himmade her pull at her dress again as a clammy sensation crept overher skin.
She didn’t know how he could appear soindifferent to so many immortals, but it wouldn’t surprise her ifhe yawned. That nonchalance spoke of his power as much as the blackciphers covering the fingers resting on the curved ends of histhrone.
Lexi gulped when she saw the two skullsbehind his shoulders. The skulls were black, but she had theunsettling feeling eyes once filled the empty sockets.
To the king’s left sat a handsome, slenderman with disheveled blond hair that almost covered the tips of hispointed ears. The blank expression on his face didn’t change as theShadow Realms’ members climbed the dais to greet him and hisfamily.
When she looked to the king’s right, shecouldn’t keep her jaw from dropping.
She’d heard stories about the king’s eldestson. She didn’t think there was anyone whohadn’theardabout him, including the humans who now knew immortals existed.
His ruthlessness was legendary. His abilityto kill was becoming mythological. The troubadours already sangabout his feats on the battlefield. The few songs she’d heard inthe marketplace told of his power, his size, and the way women fellat his feet.
Not only did the women swoon for him, but hisenemies cowered, and there were rumors some had killed themselvesrather than face his wrath.
Lexi was sure there was some truth to thesongs and just as sure there were many exaggerations too. However,looking at him now, she didn’t think any of it was anexaggeration.
Unlike most of the dark fae—who usually stuckto and bred with their kind—the king had spread out to otherimmortal species and produced nine children. His oldest son’smother was a lycan, and it showed in the man.
His shoulders were broad, and the thickmuscles bulging beneath his black tunic differentiated him from thelean builds of the dark fae. He looked like he could tear the headfrom a bull and bash his enemies to death with it.
Gold edged the sleeves, neckline, and hem ofhis formfitting black tunic. Beneath it, he wore a pair of blackpants. The tunic and pants were the standard garments for the darkfae, but somehow, he made the clothing stand out in a room full ofsimilar attire.
The vibrant, Persian blue color of his eyeswas evident across the vast distance separating them. Thosestriking eyes also differentiated him from the purebred, dark faeas they all had black eyes. However, he did possess the dark fae’sjet-black hair and pointed ears.
Cut short, his hair emphasized his tannedskin and the angles of his cheekbones. His square jaw had a short,black beard lining it. He was one of the most handsome men she’dever seen. And it was clear the troubadours weren’t lying aboutwomen falling at his feet as the ones who climbed the dais to greethim all preened and simpered while openly flirting with him.
She had no idea how they could flirt sobrazenly with him when he stared at them as if he didn’t see them,but each new woman who went to greet him smiled as she fawned overhim.
One brazen vampire rested her hand on his armas she leaned forward. Lexi was sure her low-cut dress left nothingto the imagination.
To be fair, they also flirted with the kingand younger son, but it wasn’t as overt with them. Or maybe sheimagined it.
Uncomfortable with the display, she shiftedher attention back to the stars but found her eyes irresistiblydrawn back to him. As they got closer and the crowd between themeased, she saw that his ciphers ran down his thick forearms to thetips of his fingers.
The black markings resembled flames withtheir sharp edges but managed to flow like water as they encircledhis wrists and hands. She supposed this mix of fire and water madesense as the dark fae could control the elements.
His short-sleeved tunic revealed more ciphersaround his biceps before they disappeared beneath the material.They reemerged at the collar of his shirt. Cole’s beard hid them,but the way the flames moved up his neck made her suspect the tipsof the ciphers licked at his chin.
Having that many ciphers was a clear sign ofhis power and it oozed from his pores while his steely gazesurveyed those who came before him with an air of disdain. Only thearrogant dark fae would throw this big of a party and seem annoyedby their guests.
As she and Sahira edged closer, Lexi found itincreasingly difficult to breathe, and she tugged at the collar ofher dress again. She didn’t belong here.
What she’d seen of the Gloaming wasbeautiful, but she was ready to go home, and she didnotwant to climb those steps to introduce herself to these powerful,cold men. She was uncomfortable with this entire show.
What am I doing here? Why did I agree tothis?
She yearned to be at home and in bed with abook. She’d give anything to be anywhere other than here. Lexiglanced at the door three hundred feet away and tried to figure outif she could make it out of here before Sahira stopped her.
However, escape wouldn’t be possible, atleast not without drawing a lot of attention to herself. She gulpedas she clasped her hands before her and squeezed them.
