“I know.”
He slid from the saddle and, grasping her waist, lifted her from the horse. She slid down the length of him as he set her on the ground and held her close. Behind them, Brokk dismounted from his horse.
“Can I put him in the stable, Lexi?” he asked.
“Yes. There’s an extra stall in there.”
He led his stallion away, and Sahira closed the door.
“I should go,” Cole said.
She didn’t want to let him go, but she couldn’t stand here clinging to him. Reluctantly, she released him and stepped back.
He kissed her again before clasping her cheeks in his palms. “Stay close to Brokk. If Malakai comes anywhere near you, scream, and he’ll be by your side in an instant. He may only be half vampire, but he can transport, and he’ll fuck Malakai up.”
She managed a wan smile. “I know he will. Don’t worry aboutme; just worry aboutyou.”
“There’s no need to worry about me.”
“Maybe not, but I still will. Be safe.”
“Always.”
He kissed her again before releasing her, gathering the reins, and mounting his horse. He nudged the horse into a walk and would be out of view in no time.
And he might be riding out of her life forever.
When he was a hundred feet away, her voice finally broke free.
“Cole!” she shouted.
She started running after him before she realized she’d commanded her legs to move. He turned in his saddle and, when he saw her coming, dismounted. He took two steps toward her before she flung herself into arms. He embraced her against his chest.
She buried her face in his neck and drew the scent of him into her. Leaning back, she clasped his face between her palms and kissed him.
“I love you,” she whispered.
Shock registered on his face before a brilliant grin spread across his handsome features, and his eyes lit with happiness. She wriggled out of his arms and turned to run back to the manor before he could reply, but he caught her wrist and pulled her back into his arms.
“I love you too,” he said before kissing her again.
Chapter Eighteen
Cole studiedthe Victorian-style manor as Torigon trotted up to it. Lexi’s home showed signs of wear and tear in its chipped paint and sagging shutters. But the war and the lack of help she had to run it had taken its toll on the place. In contrast, this place remained pristine.
He didn’t think it was because Malakai was doing the work himself. No, that asshole wouldn’t know how to lift a hammer, never mind how to put a nail into wood. This place looked good because he had more money, power, and the ability to wield it more than Lexi did.
He’d told Brokk he was coming here, but not Lexi. She was anxious enough about the trials without adding this to it. However, he was not leaving for the trials without trying to find Malakai first.
If he was here, Cole would kill him, and Lexi would never have to worry about him again. He’d also feel a lot better about leaving her in the human realm if the vampire was dead.
He rode by the stables, but there were no animals in them. With their ability to transport, he didn’t know many vampires who consistently rode enough to own horses.
He was almost to the front door before he pulled Torigon to a stop and dismounted. Torigon’s ears twitched as he looked around before lowering his head to munch on the grass. Cole hoped he tore giant chunks out of the well-manicured lawn.
He studied the yard for a sign a vamp was near, but only the trilling birds and chattering squirrels disturbed the day. Certain Malakai wasn’t hiding somewhere nearby, Cole ascended the stairs to the farmers’ porch wrapping around the house.
If he was here, Malakai would see him coming, and he didn’t care. He pounded the solid oak door and listened as the hollow thuds echoed throughout the home. He waited a second before banging on the door again.
