The Lord’s white flag with the fire-breathing dragon on it flew from one of the mounts. The horses’ hooves dug into the earth as they kicked up dirt while circling Cole. He stood in the center of the riders as the horses pranced around him.
“King Colburn of the house of the dark fae?” the rider closest to Cole asked.
She recognized him as the lycan in charge when they came to search her manor. He hadn’t seemed like a bad man before, but his loyalty to the Lord made him treacherous.
Cole’s eyes met hers as she approached, but she couldn’t get too close with all the horses dancing around him. He held her gaze as he gave a subtle shake of his head, and she stopped walking.
“That’s me,” Cole said as his attention shifted back to the head lycan. “What’s the meaning of this?”
“The Lord wants to see you immediately,” the lycan replied.
“Tell him that I’ll join him soon,” Cole replied.
No!
The word screamed through Lexi’s head, but she bit her tongue to suppress it. Cole wasn’t one to be summoned anywhere, and the Lord wasnotsomeone to be disobeyed. He’d killed the last dark fae king, and he would kill Cole.
“My orders are to take you now,” the lycan said.
“I don’t care what your orders are,” Cole replied.
“Cole, don’t,” Lexi whispered.
When he smiled at her, the head lycan turned in his saddle to look at her. Some of his men followed suit; Lexi didn’t move as they all stared at her.
Ignoring the horses prancing around him, Cole strode toward her. He didn’t have to push his way through the beasts as the horses fell back to get out of his way.
His eyes were a brilliant silver, and the power he emanated crackled the air around him. The horses all knew a predator when they sensed one, and he was most certainly a predator. He stopped before her and clasped her hands.
“Go,” she whispered. “And do whatever the Lord wants. I need you to come back to me.”
“Nothing can keep me from you.”
She strained to keep her terror repressed. “Do whatever he says, please.”
A flash of black crossed his eyes. The effect was so startling and fast she assumed she’d imagined it, but it was almost as if a shadow passed across his eyes.
“I’ll be back as soon as possible,” he said. “I’m going to call forth a crow so you can send a letter to the Gloaming.”
“I’ll be fine; just take care of yourself.”
Cole kissed her forehead before claiming her mouth. When he released her, he stepped back and raised a hand. A crow flew down from one of the branches and landed on his shoulder.
Cole whispered something in its ear, and when he finished, it hopped over to her shoulder. It ruffled its feathers before settling its wings into place.
“Send the letter to Niall. Tell him that I have requested he come to the human realm to stay with you until I return,” Cole said.
“Who is Niall?” she asked.
“A friend. I trust him. Send the letter immediately.”
“I will,” she vowed.
He kissed her again before turning to face the Lord’s men. “Let’s go then,” he commanded as if this was his idea.
Some of the men exchanged agitated looks, but none of them dared to say anything. Cole agreed to go with them, but if he chose to make their lives difficult, he would succeed.
When Cole let out a low whistle, his horse lifted its head and its ears flicked toward him. It hesitated only a second before trotting over to him.
