Because of his dark fae nature, she probably believed he’d abandoned her; she had every right to think that, but he would make sure she learned the truth soon. And he had to see her before he started the trials.
He had no idea how much time the trials would take, and he would never get through them if he were concerned about her. There was alsonoway he would let her keep thinking he’d used and abandoned her.
“Why didn’t you tell me she was your mate?” Brokk demanded.
“I wasn’t ready.”
Brokk didn’t speak again as Cole continued toward his rooms. He hated the silence that descended because it allowed the memories to bubble forth. His father had taken great pride in walking these halls and ruling over this land.
With every corner Cole turned, he expected to find his father gliding toward him. A smile would brighten his face the second he saw Cole; then his arms would open for a quick embrace.
Tove, king of the dark fae, was a ruler who did not tolerate disobedience. To his sons, he was a man who loved them deeply, and they loved him in return.
Cole fingered the wedding rings his father gave him before everything went to shit. The rings once belonged to his father and mother, and he hoped one day, Lexi would wear his mother’s.
But that was an obstacle for a later time. Now, Cole had to make sure she was safe before returning here to endure the trials and take control of the Gloaming.
He sneered at the reminder.
He’d never believed anything could happen to his father. His dad ruled these lands for over seven hundred years. He was the longest-reigning dark fae king, and in a moment… one lightning-fast moment, he was dead.
Cole shuddered as some of his grief crept back in, but he shoved it aside. He had no time to mourn.
He had trials to survive, a throne to ascend, and hell to unleash.
Chapter Three
Lexi finished hangingthe last feed tub over the horse’s door and turned. When she saw the man standing behind her, she gasped and stumbled back until she crashed into the stall door. She never heard him enter the barn or realized he was standing a foot away from her.
How long had he been watching her?
She opened her mouth to demand answers, but he wouldn’t give them. Instead, she clamped it shut and lifted her chin. Her eyes narrowed when he leaned against the wall far too close to her.
Anger and revulsion warred inside her as she glowered at him. There were few people in this world she disliked, and this arrogant prick was one of them.
When he smiled at her, his smug attitude set her teeth on edge. Howdarehe waltz in here as if he belonged in her life and onherproperty?
Normally the familiar, much-loved scents of hay and horse made her worst days better. The soothing sounds of the horses eating their breakfast was typically a balm to her soul, but nothing could calm her now.
To make matters worse, with as quiet as he’d been, he could have caught her entering or leaving the tunnels below. And if he learned of the refugees, they would all die.
Then she realized she’d never heard him enter the barn because he’d teleported in. She could never enter the tunnels from the barn again.
Entering them through the house meant Sahira had a better chance of catching her, but she’d take her chances with her aunt over Malakai. She wouldnotrisk the lives of the refugees.
“Hello, Elexiandra,” he practically purred.
Though outwardly she remained unmoving, everything inside her recoiled when his brown eyes leisurely perused her. He’d never seen her naked, and heneverwould, but she felt like those eyes stripped her bare.
She resisted the impulse to cover herself with her hands, but she wouldnotgive him the satisfaction of knowing he unnerved her. Instead, she stared disdainfully back at him as his eyes met hers again.
“Malakai,” she said.
Her crisp tone didn’t faze him as his smile revealed his straight, white teeth and fangs. As a half vampire, she had a set of fangs too. However, his were elongated like he was about to feed.
And she wouldneverbe the thing he fed on.
“How are you doing?” he asked. “I feel like we haven’t seen each other in a while.”
