Cole dropped the sword on his back to the ground and slung his father’s sword over his shoulder. He would go into battle wielding his father’s weapon.
When he lifted his head, he discovered Lexi watching him with dread. Her sun-kissed skin was much paler than normal, and her full lower lip quivered before she stiffened it.
Bending, he clasped her cheeks in his palms. “I must go. Don’t leave this palace.”
“Go? What about battle armor?”
“I don’t wear any.”
“Youcan’tgo out there without armor.”
“I never wear armor into a battle. It’s too constraining, and I can’t move as fast in it.”
“Cole—”
“I’ve never worn it before, Lexi. I’m not about to start now. I have to go.”
She looked about to argue more but closed her eyes and nodded. “Please, be careful.”
“Always.”
He kissed her forehead, her nose, and finally her lips before releasing her and walking away. As he crossed the room, the floor over the hidden cache slid back into place with a familiar click.
He didn’t look back as he opened the door and left the room.
Chapter Two
Lexi staredafter Cole as he left the room. She didn’t move until she heard the front door open and close. She was afraid if she moved before then, she would sprint after him and beg him not to go.
He’s not wearing battle armor.
It didn’t matter if he never wore it or not and had survived the war. He was going out there more exposed than most of the others on that field.Allof him would be open and susceptible to an attack.
How could he not wear battle armor?
Lexi tried to rein in her terror before it got out of control. It was too late to stop him. He was already going out there, already charging out there to fight an enemy that shouldneverhave been an enemy.
What were these dark fae thinking to rise against him? Didn’t they have enough troubles with the Lord and the war that just ended without having to createmore? She would never understand some immortals or mortals.
Once the front door closed, she sprinted across the room. She stopped in front of the weapons that first caught her attention when the lights came on. Lexi examined them before removing a small sword and the leather belt hanging with it.
The sword was small enough she’d be able to wield it without tiring for a little while. It wasn’t too heavy and would do some serious damage to anyone who tried to harm her.
Ignoring the sting of the healing burn on her palm from Orin, she slid the belt around her waist and buckled it before sheathing the sword. Lexi had no intention of leaving this palace. She wouldn’t become a distraction to Cole, and despite all the training Brokk had been putting her through, she wouldn’t last on that battlefield, but she wouldn’t remain weaponless either.
Searching the walls, she discovered throwing stars hanging fifteen feet away. She smiled as her fingers itched for them. Unlike the sword that she had little practice with, she was good with throwing stars, and they wouldn’t tire her out as fast as using a blade she’d never wielded before.
She ran over to the stars and started to reach for them. She froze when she saw the intricate designs marking the thick metal. The sword she’d selected was not welded from fae metal, but the stars were.
However, she wasn’t fae. It wasn’t against the rules forherto use fae metal against them. Of course, it probably wasn’t the best idea for her to use fae metal against the fae she might one day rule over, but it had been a worse idea for them to rise against Cole.
And she would make them pay for that if it became necessary.
She removed a brown satchel from a hook next to the stars and tied it to the other side of her waist. When she was sure it was secure and wouldn’t interfere with the sword, she shoved the stars inside.
* * *
Gathered by the gates,the hundred or so soldiers of the king’s army stood as they waited for Cole to arrive. Their horses pranced as the torches drew nearer and the noise of the approaching army, and those fleeing it, increased.
