More bodies lay outside the gates, but no one tended them. It was far too late to save them.
Chapter Twenty-One
Cole descendedthe stairs so swiftly Lexi almost had to run to keep up. She scowled at him before composing her face into something more neutral. He was trying to project an aura of strength and confidence, but he would weaken himself further if he didn’t take it easy.
As they walked through the crowd of injured and displaced, they drew the attention of the fae helping with the wounded. They also attracted the attention of the ones huddled together, standing in doorways or in the middle of the courtyard with dazed expressions on their faces.
Etched onto all their dirt and blood-streaked faces was the trauma of losing their homes and land. Cole’s presence broke through their disbelief, and though it took a couple of seconds to register on some of their faces, none of them could hide their astonishment once they saw him.
They stopped helping the wounded, they stood taller in the doorways, and they turned to follow him as he walked through the bailey. They rested their hands against their chests, pulled their children closer, and a couple openly wept.
And then they started going to one knee. At first, the movement was slow as they were too stunned, but eventually, they all started going down. They bowed their heads and pressed a fist to their foreheads in acknowledgment of their king.
She was so amazed by what she saw that it took a few minutes to realize they were also staring at her with open curiosity and admiration. Shifting uncomfortably, she inched closer to Cole before focusing straight ahead.
Cole bent and whispered in her ear, “You risked your life to save their king. You’ve earned their respect, and that is not an easy thing to earn from a dark fae.”
Lexi gulped before she lifted her head to meet his twinkling, blue eyes. She didn’t know what to say or how to react, so she remained silent as Cole spoke with his people.
He stopped to rest his hand on some of their shoulders. Others, he commanded to rise and spoke with them as he tried to learn more about what was needed to help the injured heal faster.
He promised to get them the supplies they required and ordered Niall to find someone who would go to the market in the human realm to purchase healing potions from the witches.
“We will start rebuilding at once,” he promised a dark fae who had nowhere for his wife and children to live. “Until then, we have empty homes here in the bailey that you, and anyone else who needs them, can reside in.”
The man bowed his head and stepped away. He was replaced by more who demanded Cole’s time or simply sought to assure themselves he was alive.
Throughout it all, he remained strong and radiated an aura of confidence even as she felt his strength dwindling. He did nothing to reflect that growing weakness to them.
She didn’t think he was aware of it, but his fingers dug into her arm as they made their way through the last of the survivors. Most of them were on one knee as they approached, and all had their heads bowed.
When Lexi looked behind them, she saw the reverence on the faces of those who watched them after they passed.Finally,they finished greeting everyone and started toward the palace. Cole still maintained an air of strength, but sweat beaded his forehead, and his fingers had become painful against her flesh.
“I’d like to return to the palace,” she blurted. “I’m tired, and I’d like to rest.”
She was perfectly fine, but she wanted him back in bed.
“Of course,” Cole murmured. He turned to Niall. “Please accompany us inside.”
“Yes, mil—Cole.”
They strolled back to the palace, climbed the stairs, and returned inside. Lexi clenched her jaw and glanced nervously around. If anyone saw him getting weaker, they might think it was a good time to attack.
She still had the short sword on her, but it might not be enough to destroy an attacker. Niall’s eyes moved more constantly than hers; he would help keep Cole safe too.
Cole revealed no signs of weakness until they were back into the room and the door closed. Once Niall clicked the locks into place, he sank onto the chair she’d vacated earlier and, gripping the ends, took a deep breath.
Lexi knelt before him and started tugging at his tunic so she could examine his wounds. He tried to stop her, but she slapped his hands away.
“Don’t,” she commanded, and he relented to her.
She realized too late why he’d chosen the dark red cloak. The color hid the blood that had soaked through his tunic and into the cloak.
“You stupid, stubborn, foolish man,” she muttered as his blood coated her fingers.
“I’m fine, love,” he assured her as he clasped her hand. “It’s only a little blood.”
She pulled her hand away to scowl at him.
