And that was the only reason she hadn’t told him to fuck off when he accused her of cheating on him. If he continued not to believe her, she’d tell him exactly where to go and how to get there.
She loved him, but she wouldn’t put up with that.
When Cole banged on the door again, it rattled in its frame. A muffled shout came from the other side, and a few seconds later, the door swung open to reveal Brokk. His pants hung low on his hips, and his blond hair stuck up around his handsome face as he glowered at Cole.
“Do you know what time it is?” he demanded.
“Get dressed and meet me outside in five minutes. We’re leaving,” Cole said.
The sleepy look left Brokk’s face, and his shoulders went back as he glanced between them. “What is it?”
“Not now. Meet me in five minutes.”
Cole didn’t wait to hear Brokk’s reply before he turned and stormed away. Lexi glanced at Brokk, who stared after Cole in confusion. Once Brokk learned the truth, he’d be pissed at her too. She was also going to have to face Sahira’s wrath.
This was not going to be a good day.
* * *
“What crawled up his ass?”Brokk asked as he nodded toward Cole, who rode his black stallion fifty feet ahead of them.
Cole’s shoulders were back and his head high. On his back, he wore the fae sword he’d retrieved from a weapon room almost the size of her manor. The metal handle of the sword glinted in the sun spilling down on it.
Lexi shifted on her horse as she tried to think of how to answer him. It hadn’t helped Cole’s mood when she insisted on bringing her horses back with them. He hadn’t wanted to wait while they were saddled and brought to them, but she wouldn’t leave them behind. He might decide she wasn’t welcome in the Gloaming, and these horses were her friends.
“I did something I shouldn’t have,” she said. “No, that’s not true,” she corrected. “Ishouldhave done it. I don’t regret it, but I should have told him about it sooner.”
“Can I ask what that something is?”
“You’re about to find out,” Lexi said as her manor came into view.
Brokk didn’t question her further as they rode around the lake and toward her home. Normally, the sight of her manor brought a rush of joy. This was her home; it was where she grew up surrounded by love and laughter, but now it seemed ominous and menacing.
What was Cole going to do when he saw Orin? What was Orin going to do when he saw Cole? She glanced at Brokk and bit her lip. He was far more easygoing than either of his older brothers, but how was he going to react to this revelation?
And then there was Sahira. She didn’t want to see the hurt on her aunt’s face, but there was no avoiding it.
Cole dismounted, removed his horse’s bridle, dropped it on the ground, and left the animal standing where it was before striding up the steps to the front door. The animal didn’t wear a saddle. When Lexi and Brokk rode their horses toward the barn, George hurried out.
When Lexi dismounted, he took her reins. “Do you want me to take them inside?” he asked.
“Yes, please,” she said. “Thank you, George.”
“My pleasure, miss.”
When she turned back to the manor, Cole remained standing by the front door, and his horse was happily munching grass. She suspected it wouldn’t go anywhere without him.
Lexi jogged up the stairs, and when she approached him, he turned away to make sure she didn’t accidentally touch him. The subtle rejection stung.
“What is going on?” Brokk muttered from behind her as she opened the door and entered the shadowed hallway.
“Where is he?” Cole demanded.
“I should get Sahira; she should know about this too,” Lexi said as Brokk closed the door behind them.
“She doesn’t already know?” Cole asked.
“Nobody else knows.”
