At one time, he and Orin were extremely close. With only thirty-five years separating them, Orin was closest to him in age. They’d butted heads numerous times, but they worked it out by punching each other or laughing it off before going out to share drinks and prowl for women.
They would not get over their differences so easily this time.
Lexi edged away from Orin and closer to him, but she didn’t get too close. Cole studied Orin and Lexi as he tried to gauge their reaction to each other.
Sahira stared at Orin with an expression of utter confusion. She looked to Lexi and then to Cole; whatever she saw on his face made her eyes widen, and she stepped away.
“What’s going on here?” Sahira asked. “And who are you?”
“This is Cole’s brother, Orin,” Lexi said when no one else answered her.
Sahira gawked at her. “Whatdid you do?”
Lexi’s chin rose, and pride burned in her eyes when they met Cole’s. She stared at him as she answered her aunt. “The right thing.”
Her defiance caused his fingers to twitch. He wasn’t used to anyone being so openly defiant of him, and while he admired her for it, it also pissed him off.
“I was wondering when she would bring you here,” Orin said.
Lexi frowned at him. “Why did you think I’d bring him here?”
“You’ve got a rebellious side, Kitten, but you’re not one for secrets. It was only a matter of time before you spilled to big bro.”
“Don’tcall me that!”
The nickname caused the hair on Cole’s nape to rise. His muscles swelled as the lycan tried to assert its dominance. “If you knew I was coming, then why didn’t you run?”
“Because the Lord killed our father, and I knew you would seek revenge for that.”
“And you’re going to help me get it?”
“Yes.”
“Are you gathering forces to start another rebellion?” Cole demanded as he stepped toward his brother. For once, Orin had the sense to look a little wary as he edged away. “The Lord believes you are.That’swhy he killed Father.”
Orin’s eyes shifted to the shadows behind him. His Adam’s apple worked as he swallowed before speaking again. “The rebellion never ended just because the war did.”
“How many fighters do you have?”
“Not enough.”
“How. Many?” Cole bit out.
“A couple hundred at most, and that’s being generous.”
“Not enough,” Brokk murmured.
Nowhere near enough,Cole thought. Their father died for the rumors of a rebellion that could donothingto the Lord. He would change that.
“You look familiar,” Orin said as he prowled toward Sahira. “Do we know each other?”
“I’ve never seen you before,” Sahira said.
Orin stopped circling to stand in front of her as he rubbed his chin. “Are you sure we don’t know each other?”
Lexi’s brow furrowed as she watched them; Cole absorbed her reactions as he tried to ascertain if they were real or not.
The witch frowned when his brother grasped a strand of her mahogany-colored hair. She yanked it away and glared at Orin.
