“Thank you, Kaylia,” Sahira breathed.
“We’ll use the portal you came through.”
“I closed it when we arrived,” Sahira said.
Cole wouldn’t let Sahira leave it open and take the chance someone might go through it and discover Lexi.
“I’ll open one to return,” Brokk offered.
“Fine,” Kaylia replied.
“You’re not able to open one into the manor,” Sahira said. “I’ve only granted Cole permission, and I’m not strong enough to open another portal right now.”
Brokk didn’t look offended by this. “Understandable.”
“I will do it,” Cole growled.
He reined in the shadows seeking to strike out and drew them closer to him. They encased his arms, wrapped around his chest, and gripped his legs, but they didn’t make moving difficult as he opened another portal a few feet away.
The shadows’ steady, constant presence lent him power as they slid beneath his skin and out across the ground. When they spread, the crones closest to them backed away. They gazed at him from wide eyes and pale faces that would have bothered him before, but it sparked no emotion in him now.
He’d intended to come here today to offer them thanks for the stone, butthatwasn’t going to happen. Their fear had gotten Kaylia to agree to leave with them; that was all he cared about now.
Cole didn’t take his gaze off Kaylia’s back as she walked with her head held high toward the portal. He didn’t trust her not to change her mind and try to make a run for it, but she remained calm and docile as she entered it.
Cole glanced back to make sure no one followed them. No one so much as breathed as he stepped into the portal.
When they returned to the library, he turned and closed the portal immediately after leaving it. The fireplace came back into view. Cole studied it for a minute as he took a deep breath and tried to prepare himself for the possibility Lexi was dead.
There was no way to prepare for it. He simply had to face what was to come.
On the journey through the portal, he’d relinquished most of the shadows, sending them back to where they belonged. He could draw more in if it became necessary to scare Kaylia into helping them.
And if Lexi were dead, he wouldn’t need the shadows to help him destroy the crone. The witches and crones would declare war on him if he killed her, but he didn’t care.
And if Lexi was still alive, then he had to get this woman to her now.
“This way,” he commanded.
He strode across the room and into the hall. The few shadows he’d kept with him stayed by his side while he walked.
Lexi remained where Sahira had left her on the floor. Varo and Del sat beside her; their hands were close to hers but not touching. Orin stood near the front door, leaning against the wall with his arms folded over his chest. He stood away from the wall when Cole strode into the hallway.
“Co-Cole?” Del asked incredulously.
“We brought help,” Cole said. “Is she still alive?”
Even he heard the raw anguish in his voice, but at least it washisvoice again and not whatever came out of him in the crones’ realm. If they managed to get through this, he would have to figure out what was going on with him and the shadows. But that could, andwould, wait.
“Yes,” Varo answered.
“Move away from her,” Cole commanded.
Cole turned toward Kaylia as she glided out of the library and across the hall toward them. Her head tilted to the side while she studied Lexi before kneeling beside her. She went to lift the harrow stone, but the second her fingers touched it, she squeaked and ripped her hand away.
Smoke coiled up from the burns at the ends of her fingers. The incredulous expression on her face soon turned to anger.
Chapter Seventy-Two
