“Ouch,” Brokk muttered.
“Yeah, ouch. I wouldneverdo that.”
“You have to remember that we’re from completely different worlds. To the dark fae, that would be a normal thing to have happen. We’re not faithful to anyone who’s not our spouse, and we expect everyone else to be the same way, even if it’s not true. Plus, the lycan aren’t exactly known for being logical, and when it comes to you, the lycan is the more dominant part of him.”
“I know,” she murmured. “I’d still like to punch him.”
“Then do it.” When she shot him a dubious look, he chuckled. “He’s not going to punch you back.”
“True.” And it was extremely tempting.
She focused on Cole again as she tried to decide what to do.
“Go,” Brokk urged.
Taking a deep breath, Lexi steeled herself for the possible rejection to come before descending the stairs. She crossed the open expanse of lawn and stopped beside him. Memories flitted across her mind as she stared at the serene, glassy surface.
“My dad and I spent a lot of time out here. We’d read by the water, feed the ducks, and over there”—she pointed to a rowboat now covered in vines—“is the boat we’d take out to fish. As you can see, I didn’t use it much after the war started. And once he died….”
She turned away from the boat that was once a favorite place to spend time with her dad.
“Things changed,” she finished.
“They always do,” Cole said, but he still didn’t look at her.
“If you decide to turn Orin in to protect the Gloaming, I’ll understand, but I’ll fight you on the refugees. Iwilldo whatever I can to keep them safe.”
“Will you fight the Lord for them?”
She lifted her chin. “I will. When Orin turns me in—”
“He won’t do that.”
“What do you mean?”
“If I turned Orin over to the Lord, he wouldn’t turn you in too. He’s a bastard, but he doesn’t turn on his family.”
“He already turned against you and his father.”
“Not in the same way. He disagreed with my father and went against him, but he wouldn’t have tried to take over the Gloaming. I know it doesn’t make any sense, but there are lines Orin wouldn’t cross, and purposely taking down another member of his family by ratting them out to the Lord is one of those lines.”
“I’m not family.”
“He knows you’re important to me; that makes you family.”
“And you don’t think he’d turn us both in for knowing about where he’s been if you handed him over to the Lord?”
“No. He would understand I was doing what was necessary to save the dark fae in the Gloaming. He doesn’t have many standards, but he does have some.”
“I never had sex with Orin.”
“I know. I shouldn’t have accused you of that.”
Relief flooded her at his words, and she almost grasped his arm but stopped herself. Despite his words, a gulf remained between them.
“I wouldneverdo that. I’m not a dark fae; I’m notyou. I know I shocked you with my revelation, and I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, but I’m with you because I want to be and because you’re special to me. I had sex with you for the same reason. If things ended between us tomorrow, I wouldn’t jump right into someone else’s bed, and I certainly wouldn’t screw one of yourbrothers.”
“I never should have said it. I’m sorry.”
