“You shouldn’t have left the palace.”
“I know.”
He hadn’t expected the acknowledgment on her part, and for a second, it knocked some of his anger away. He lifted his head to survey the battlefield full of dead men, horses, and craz. Blood, death, and fire consumed the land, and she shouldnotbe anywhere near any of it.
“We have to go!” she shouted to be heard over the fire.
She clasped his hand and draped his arm around her shoulders. Cole refused to let her see how much agony he was in or the weakness seeping through his body. He steadied his wobbly legs as she led him to the horse.
The animal’s head was held high; its ears flicked as it took in the noises around it. It looked ready to bolt from the spreading fire but held its ground.
She leaned him against the saddle as Niall burst through the smoke and raced up to them. Blood streaked his face, and ugly gashes marred his shoulder and left arm. Lexi pulled out another vial and prepared to throw it at him before Cole seized her arm.
“Not Niall,” he told her. “You can trust him.”
She frowned at him but put the vial away as Niall skidded to a halt beside them. His breath came in rapid pants; he was bloody and bruised but still quick and sure.
His eyes fell on the sword in Cole’s chest, and his eyebrows shot up before he met Cole’s gaze again. If there was ever a time to try to kill him, it was now when he was weakened and more focused on getting Lexi to safety, but Niall would not try to do it.
“Durin is dead,” Niall said.
“So are Nissa and Fiadh,” Cole said. “The rebellion's leaders have fallen, and the remaining traitors are running. When we’ve had time to regroup, send men to hunt down the rebels and destroy them.”
He would do it himself, but if they survived this field and made it back to the palace, he wouldn’t have much left in him for commands.
“It will be done,” Niall vowed before glancing at Lexi.
“Keep her alive,” Cole commanded.
“I will.”
“Get on the horse,” Cole said to Lexi.
“After you,” she said.
“Lexi,” he growled.
“If you’re sitting behind me, you could fall off. I should be behind you. I can avoid the sword.”
“And you’re going to be strong enough to stop me from falling?”
Lexi lifted her chin as she glared at him. “I made it this far, and I’ll do whatever it takes to get you safely back to the palace.”
The fire in her eyes eased his dread over having her standing on this field. Shewoulddo whatever it took to protect him, and she’d made it farther than many others. What amazed him most was she’d done it forhim.
He knew she loved him, but many immortals and mortals loved another and wouldn’t risk their lives for them. Not his Lexi, though; she was brave, selfless, and she loved him as deeply as he loved her.
He clasped her chin and gave it a small squeeze before gathering what little remnants of strength he still had to sheath his sword and grab her waist. With shaking arms, he lifted her off the ground and onto the horse.
She was still sputtering protests when he grasped the reins and pulled himself onto the horse behind her. It was the most awkward and uncomfortable way he’d ever settled onto a horse.
He almost released the lines and fell when he jarred the sword in his chest, but willpower and Niall grasping his foot to push him further up finally got him settled in the saddle. Stars erupted before his eyes as he hissed in a breath.
“Cole?” Lexi asked.
“I’m fine,” he grated out.
When he was sure he wouldn’t pass out, Cole lifted her a little and settled her on his lap the best he could before grasping the reins.
