“I won’t be gone long,” Lexi said.
Sahira grasped Lexi’s hands and squeezed them. “If you think you’ll be gone for more than a few days, contact me. I’ll join you then.”
Lexi didn’t think she’d be gone for that long. Under normal conditions, she wouldn’t be in a rush to return, but these weren’t normal conditions. There was far too much that could go wrong here for her to stay away.
“I’ll contact you,” Lexi promised. “And Brokk will leave a crow here in case you have to contact us. If Malakai or the Lord’s men return, let me know right away.”
“Don’t worry about either of those things. I’ll take care of everything. Make sure you have your birth control,” Sahira said.
“Sahira,” she hissed, and Brokk chuckled.
Lexi’s face burned. Damn it, one of these days she would stop blushing so easily!
Sahira laughed. “Did you remember to pack it?”
“Yes,” Lexi muttered.
“Good.”
“I love you,” Lexi whispered as she embraced her aunt again.
“I love you too. Be careful.”
“You too.”
Lexi reluctantly released Sahira, lifted her bag of supplies from where she’d left it on the ground, and turned to Brokk.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
“Yes.”
A leaden weight settled in the pit of her stomach as she walked away from her aunt.She’ll be okay, and you’ll be home soon.
Lexi slipped her bag onto her back, grabbed the reins of her horse, and swung herself onto its back. Brokk climbed onto his mount and turned his horse in the direction of the closest Gloaming portal.
Brokk had assured her the horses would be safe in the Gloaming. Otherwise, she would have insisted on walking. She couldn’t wait to see Cole, but she wouldn’t risk the animals’ lives.
The ride to the portal only took twenty minutes, but it seemed to take forever. When she followed Brokk into the shifting darkness, the shadows enveloped her, and her heart raced with excitement and trepidation.
During the ride, she’d had far too much time to think. And thinking was not a good thing as it resulted in far too much anxiety. She had no idea what Cole endured during the trials, if they had changed him, or what would be expected of him once he became king.
She doubted the dark fae would be thrilled to know about her existence. She doubted they would embrace the idea of their half-breed king having a half-human mate. And she already knew Becca hated her.
It was another problem to heap onto her growing list of them.
When they emerged from the portal and into the Gloaming, some of Lexi’s tension eased when she spotted the palace in the distance. She had no idea what the future held for them, but Cole was in the palace, waiting for her, and knowing that eased all her other anxieties.
As they rode toward the colossal structure, she couldn’t stop herself from being awed by it. She suspected she could spend the rest of her life here and still be amazed every time she looked upon the sprawling spectacle with its peaked towers, dark façade, and spiked fence surrounding it.
As they drew closer, the dragon head drew her eyes. It was huge, and the monstrous beast had teeth that could squash a car. Still, she couldn’t stop a twinge of pity for it.
Once inside the palace gates, they dismounted. When a dark fae boy slipped from the shadows, she jumped a little, but Brokk didn’t react.
“Take the horses to the stables,” Brokk commanded the child. “And make sure they’re taken care of.”
“Yes, milord,” the boy murmured as he took the horses’ reins.
Lexi watched him lead the horses away before she shifted her attention to the palace doors. Despite her excitement to see Cole, apprehension built inside her.
