Brokk had drilled that into her head, and she was already screwing up. Refusing to be distracted by Becca’s abilities again, she focused on the woman. The hatred oozing from the woman was so thick it crept like insidious, poisonous spiders over her skin.
“I’m going to make you pay,” Becca promised.
Lexi suspected she was more interested in making her pay for being with Cole than for punching her. When Becca’s hands rose at her side, the flames shot higher. Their heat warmed Lexi’s cheeks as a breeze flowed down the hall. The breeze went from gently blowing Lexi’s hair back to causing it to whip around her as her clothes plastered to her body.
Standing on her toes, Lexi prepared herself to attack, and as Becca was about to unleash her power, she released a front kick that would have caught Becca in the throat. However, the dark fae was too fast and dodged in time to avoid it.
When Becca recovered, a burst of fire shot at Lexi. Throwing up her arms, she lurched back in time to avoid being charbroiled.
Becca planted her feet and lifted her hands at her sides. Lexi prepared to charge and tackle her when all the doors in the hallway swung open. The blast of air they created caused the flames to waver and distracted Becca. She glanced warily at the doors as they shut before flying open and slamming closed once more.
The cacophony of their closing rebounded down the hallway. The following hush was somehow as unnerving as the simultaneous opening and closing of all the doors.
It was like a poltergeist haunted this place, but Lexi thought that was too easy an explanation for what was happening. It was impossible, but she swore rage vibrated the walls. And apparently the doors in this place opened inandout.
Is the palace alive in some strange, inexplicable way? Or if it’s not alive, is it aware?
It was completely insane and improbable, but she couldn’t shake the notion it might be true. Then Becca’s eyes returned to her, and her power swelled once more.
She was beginning to loathe this bitch, but she had to give Becca credit. She was brave, considering it seemed like the palace was trying to kill her or maybe both of them.
When the flames rose higher again, Lexi heard something that made her blood run cold.
Chapter Fifty-One
“If you unleash that fire,I’ll rip you to pieces and set each of those pieces ablaze,” Cole growled.
When Lexi’s gaze darted around the hall and Becca froze before turning to search for him, he realized he’d drawn the shadows around him without any plan to do so. As he stepped forward, he released the shadows, and they returned to where they belonged.
Lexi gasped, and Becca stumbled away when he appeared only a few feet away from her. He made sure Lexi was uninjured before focusing on Becca’s blood-streaked face.
“I’d suggest you get out of here,” Cole snarled.
Becca nearly collided with Lexi as she reeled backward.
“Don’t touch her!” Cole commanded.
Becca came to an abrupt stop and slunk to the side before regaining her composure and throwing her shoulders back. She wiped away the blood trickling from her nose and flung the drops onto the floor. Somehow, she managed to look dignified while doing it.
“I caught your whore going through the rooms,” Becca said.
“Watch. What. You. Say,” Cole bit out. “Iwon’thave you talking about her like that.”
Becca seemed not to hear him as she continued like he hadn’t spoken. “She was in the moon room.”
“I granted her permission to explore.”
“Outsiders shouldnothave free access to our world and our secrets.”
“This palace is perfectly capable of guarding its secrets, and it ismyhome, not yours. Now, get out of here before I throw you in the dungeon.”
She gaped at him like he’d sprouted feathers and started quacking like a duck. “You wouldn’t dare. I am a member of the council.”
“Tell me again that I wouldn’t dare.”
A vein throbbed in Becca’s temple, but she didn’t speak.
“Do not return to the palace until I permit you to do so. If I catch you in here again, I’ll put you in the dungeon. And if I catch you threateningheragain, I’ll kill you,” Cole stated.
