Lexi’s mouth parted as she stared at where Orin stood, half in and half out of the shadows. “Youjailedmy father?” she demanded.
Orin shrugged. “The consequences of war aren’t pretty.”
Lexi’s hands fell away from the chains as rage clouded her face. “You imprisonedmyfatherand hid it fromme! Isavedyou. I brought you in here and took care of you. I’ve taken in refugees with you; I kept your secret andprotectedyou, and throughout it all, youknewmy father was alive andkeptit from me!”
Before Cole knew what she intended, she flew across the distance separating them from Orin. Del’s chains rattled as he lunged after his daughter, and Cole ran after her.
Before he could catch her, she kicked Orin in the shin. When his brother lifted his leg and grabbed it, she gave him an uppercut that caught him under his chin and snapped his head back. Standing on only one foot, the blow caused Orin to stagger into the wall.
When Lexi lunged for him again, Cole wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her away. Orin’s head came slowly back down, and he put his foot back on the ground. Malice shimmered in his eyes as he stared at Lexi, but when Cole turned her away and placed his body between them, some of the wrath eased from Orin’s face.
“Put me down!” Lexi commanded.
When Cole set her down, she tugged her tunic back into place as she glowered at Orin. If he stepped out of the way, Cole had no doubt Lexi would go after Orin again.
And as irate as she was, she might take him down. But he wasn’t going to take the chance Orin might hurt her in the process.
His brother rubbed the reddening spot under his chin as he looked from her to Del and back again. “I’m not the only one keeping secrets, Kitten.”
“Fuck you!” she spat.
She may have been too mad to catch Orin’s words and the direction of his gaze, but Cole did.
“What secrets?” Cole inquired as he stared between Del and Orin.
“I don’t know, brother. Your general will not share what he knows with me, but he said he would withyou. That’s the only reason he’s here.”
The hair on Cole’s nape rose as his attention shifted to Del. Lexi had made her way back to her father and was examining the manacles. She was still too emotional to really pay attention to the conversation.
“Take these off,” she commanded.
“Not until he talks,” Orin replied. “And thenI’lldecide if they come off.”
“They’re coming off,” Cole said.
He had no idea what secrets Del held, but he wouldn’t let his friend and Lexi’s father remain chained.
Orin didn’t move. “Not until he speaks.”
When Cole stepped toward him to beat his brother into submission, injuries or not, Del’s words stopped him.
“The chains are fine… for now.”
“Has he had you imprisoned this whole time?” Cole asked Del.
“I have,” Orin replied.
“How could you?” Lexi whispered.
Orin rolled his eyes. “It’s called the spoils of war, Kitten. I captured one of my brother’s most powerful generals and strategists. I wasn’t going to let him go to plan against me again. I’m not a fool.”
“But you are a dick.”
“Oh, relax, it’s not like I killed him. I found him injured on the battlefield and took him.”
When Lexi looked about to fly at him again, Cole rested his hand on her arm. Like a leaf in a hurricane, she trembled beneath his touch.
“Unchain him,” she commanded again.
