Hewouldhate himself and never recover from it, but neither would she. They’d both be broken and battered by it and their helplessness, and all because this sick bastard was determined to destroy everything good in the world.
“If Varo and Orin aren’t here by the end of the month, I’m coming for her,” the Lord said. “So, you had better start hunting. And if you try to hide her from me, I’ll level the Gloaming and more of the human realm in search of her. So, the two of you will have to decide between havingherblood on your hands ormillionsof others’ blood on them.”
Lexi would never let that happen. She couldn’t imagine much worse than being passed around to countless others by this monster, but the lives of thousands staining her soul was one of them.
“What about me?” Malakai asked plaintively.
“You’ll have to wait to see if you get a turn at her or find someone else. Do you believe she is your consort?” When Malakai didn’t reply, the Lord turned to face him. “Do you?”
“I don’t care if she is; shewillbe my bride.”
“Not if I say no, and I am saying no… for now.”
Malakai’s gaze swung to her, and red flashed through his eyes. Lexi glared back at him.
“Colburn, take your mate and get out of my hall,” the Lord said and waved dismissively at them.
Cole pulled Lexi’s hand from his arm and kept hold of it. “Let’s go,” he said.
Before they could go anywhere, one of the dragons swung its wings forward. Their vast size blocked out the room as the lethal points at the bottom of those wings hit the floor on either side of Cole. He didn’t acknowledge them.
Lexi glanced up at the creature as it rose over them, but she’d rather face its wrath than the Lord’s. Then the dragon lowered its head to peer intently at her.
Chapter Sixty-Six
Cole staredthe creature down as he pulled Lexi into his arms. He locked her against his chest as the dragon’s head swung back and forth while it studied them.
“How sweet,” the Lord murmured. “And disgusting. Get out of my hall, but remember, I know where she is, and I’ll find her if you don’t bring me your brothers.”
Cole glanced over at where Malakai remained sulking by the stairs. The Lord must have seen something on his face as he sat a little straighter on his throne.
“The two of you are to stay away from each other,” the Lord said. “If something happens to one of you, I will not be pleased, and I donotlike being displeased. Do you understand me, Colburn?”
“Yes.”
But, to him, Malakai was a dead man walking.
He cradled Lexi’s head against his chest and led her beneath one of the dragon’s wings as they made their way toward the doors at the end of the hall. All the dragons were awake now, and their heads turned to watch them.
The last, and the biggest dragon he’d ever seen, rose onto its hind feet as they neared. It unfurled its wings, and its bellow shook the walls before it launched itself off the ground and soared toward the open ceiling.
The flap of its wings blew their hair back and plastered their clothes to them. Lexi trembled as she pressed closer to him.
Cole opened one of the doors and led her into the hallway beyond. They passed statues of golden dragons and the ill-fated arach who stood beside some of them.
He guided her out of the palace and down the front steps. As they strode down the walkway, he let out a loud whistle. A minute later, Torigon trotted into view. The magnificent animal’s black coat shone in the moonlight as it trotted forward and fell in behind them.
As they left the palace gates behind, the monstrous dragon flew over the top of them. It glided so low that the fine lines etching its belly were visible.
His bones and joints cracked and popped as the lycan strained to break free in response to the dragon’s clear threat to his mate.
* * *
When Cole usedhis powers to open a portal, Lexi wasn’t concerned about it weakening him. Instead, she considered it better that he released some of his power.
However, the opening of the portal didn’t ease the thrum of his power beating against her. The thump of it sounded like a helicopter’s rotors churning through the air.
His body swelled, changed, and contorted before returning to normal. She winced at the noises his joints and bones made.Snap.Pop. Snap.Crack.
