“I don’t like what I discovered down here, but we’re both going to get over it.”
Lexi bit her lip before closing her eyes and nodding.
“I’ll go with you to help ensure you get there safely,” Brokk offered.
“I don’t know how the crone is going to feel abouttwohalf vampires showing up in their land,” Sahira said.
“Can you send someone else?” Cole asked.
“No, that would guarantee my death the second the stone fell into my hands. The crone has to deem the holder worthy;shehas to give it to me.”
“So would it be better if Brokk stayed behind?”
Sahira studied Brokk before shaking her head. “She’s going to hate seeing me as it is; maybe if there’s two of us pleading our case, she’ll be more swayed toward our cause. Besides, it’smeshe’ll be judging. Since I’m the one who will use it,I’mthe one who has to be worthy of the stone.”
“Then I’ll go with you,” Brokk said.
“Okay,” Sahira agreed.
“Now,” Cole said and turned to Orin, “where is this army of rebels you’re building?”
“Some of them are down here,” Orin said.
“They’re not an army,” Lexi protested. “Half of them are human, and the rest are so beaten down they couldn’t fight off anyone right now.”
“This isn’t his army,” Cole said. “Or at least not all of it. He’s gathering some down here, but the others are elsewhere, aren’t they?”
“Yes,” Orin admitted. “How many do you have that will fight against him?”
“Nowhere near enough. I want to see the fighters you have here.”
“They’re not fighters,” Lexi insisted. “They’re refugees. They’re broken and lost and need time to heal.”
“I still want to see them.”
Lexi stared at him before her shoulders slumped a little, and she whispered, “This way.”
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Cole keptOrin beside him as they followed Lexi deeper into the earth. After a few minutes, a flickering light emerged from the gloom ahead of them. They stepped into a section closed off by a gate.
Lexi unlocked the gate and held it open for them to follow her through. A group of thirty or so refugees sat huddled together around a small, magical fire that created no smoke but threw off a lot of warmth.
They held their hands over the flame as they watched them with open curiosity and distrust. Dirt streaked their features, and the odor of unwashed bodies tinted the air but wasn’t overwhelming. One of the women cradled a baby against her chest as she retreated down the hall.
Boxes of food and water lined the walls. Blankets were spread across the floor and down the passageway; each of them created a small bed. Sleeping immortals occupied some of them.
“Andi!” a young boy exclaimed.
The child leapt to his feet and ran to throw his arms around her waist. Lexi’s face lit with joy as she embraced the boy.
“Hey, J, how’s it going?” she greeted.
“I’ve been pretty bored. Do you want to play checkers?”
“Maybe later. I brought some of my friends to meet you.” She kept her arms around the boy’s thin shoulders as she turned him to face Cole. “Jayden, this is Cole. Cole, this is Jayden.”
Cole extended his hand, and when the boy smiled at him, he saw the small fangs marking him as at least part vampire.
