“Yes, you do,” Orin said as he stopped andturned to face her. “They’re on the run.”
Lexi jerked her arm free of his grasp andgave him a seething look. “Andyou’rehelping to keep themalive?”
“Yes.”
She studied him, but she didn’t see anythingsmug in his gaze this time. No, all she saw was an earnestness thattempted her to punch him. He was an asshole, and she much preferredhim that way.
She was sick of being used and manipulated bythe dark fae, and even if Orin meant well, she’d told him never toreturn. He was using these people to manipulate her into doing whathe wanted her to do.
And she was scared she knew what it was.
“I suppose you’re helping them out of thekindness of your blackened heart?” she muttered sarcastically.
“You’re a lot more bitter than the last timeI saw you.”
“I’m sick of your shit.”
“Just mine or someone else’s too?”
She swore the top of her head was going toblow off as her blood pressure skyrocketed. It took everything shehad not to bash his brains in with the shovel. However, she wasnotin the mood to pick brains from her clothes.
“Leave, Orin, and don’t come back,” shesaid.
“They need a place to stay, or they’re goingto die. I’m running out of places to hide them, and the humans areslowing us down. Plus, I can’t take the mortals into any of theShadow Realms.”
“I can’t help you.”
“There were more of them yesterday. We losttwo; one was a child.”
“Leave, Orin.”
She hissed the words, but her gaze returnedto where the others huddled together while they warily eyed thetrees. The boy was gazing at her with his big blue eyes. When hismother wrapped her hand around his head and pressed it to herchest, he stuck his thumb in his mouth.
They were so broken and so helpless. Gettinginvolved with this was averybad idea, but how could shesay no to the children? How could she turn any of them away?
Because it could lead to your death, thedestruction of the manor, and possibly get Sahira killed.
Still, her heart ached for them, and herconviction to get rid of Orin wavered.
CHAPTER 59
“Why areyoutrying to help them?” she askeddistrustfully. “I know it’s not from the goodness of your deadenedheart.”
“Ouch,” Orin said and slapped his hands overhis heart. “You wound me, milady.”
Lexi shot him a look; he returned it with asmug grin.
“Don’t screw with me,” she warned.
“Seriously, who got your panties in such abunch? Was it my big brother, or did he get them off?”
A muscle twitched in her jaw, and red filledher vision. She adjusted her hold on the shovel as she prepared tobash him with it, but he threw up his hands and edged back.
“Easy, killer,” he murmured.
“I’m not in the mood, Orin.”
“Obviously, but I’m not here to fight. I’mhere to find help for these innocent souls.”
