“Because the last time we had sex, what you fed me was alotstronger. Our connection has always been deeper and more powerful; this was more so.”
She considered this before replying. “I never wanted to be the queen of the dark fae, but I would be for you.”
“I know.”
“Orin thinks I can help take the throne from the Lord.”
“You’re only going to do whatyouwant to do.”
“The Lord is a monster.”
“He is.”
“He won’t be happy until he destroys everything, including us,” she said.
“Especiallyyou, if he ever learns the truth.”
“And right now,you’reone of his favorite targets.”
Cole’s arms squeezed briefly around her before relaxing a little.
“We have to fight him,” she murmured. “I can’t return to taking the potion.”
* * *
A partof him had hoped she would refuse to do this. That she would keep her powers trapped until they figured out a way to destroy the Lord, but he’d always known this was the choice she’d make.
She’d never expected this, but she never backed down.
“If that’s what you feel is best,” he said.
When she tilted her head to look up at him, her green eyes shone with fear. “You don’t?”
“All I want is to keep you safe and to make sure you’re not feeling pressured into this. This is your decision to make, and Orin can fuck off if he doesn’t like your choice.”
He studied the stubborn set of her delicate profile as she turned back to the lake. “I have no idea how to get the dragons away from the Lord.”
A hand clenched around his heart at the idea of her going anywhere near those beasts again. They’d taken his father from him; he couldnotlose her to them.
But he wouldn’t stand in her way, no matter how badly he wanted to. Whatever choice she made in this, it washerdestiny, and he would make sure she stayed alive to fulfill it.
“Let’s worry about that after we discover what your powers are like without the potion,” he said. “And after you have more training.”
“What about the rebellion?”
“I have to return to make sure it’s ended and the Gloaming is free of the remaining rebels.”
“I can help with that now. I’m not as useless as—”
“You wereneveruseless, Lexi. Don’t ever think that.”
She took a deep breath before continuing. “But I’ll be able to fight better now, and I’ll eventually have abilities. I can help instead of staying in the palace.”
“It will probably take some time for your powers to emerge fully and evenmoretime for you to learn how to use them. Besides, we need to keep the Lord from learning about you until you have better control over them and we learn what you can do. You cannot ride into battle right now.”
And hewouldput his foot down on that. “If this is to be your path, then so be it, but you are going to take it slow because your path will not end in death, Lexi. Iwillmake sure of that. You can return to the Gloaming with me and stay with me while your powers remain mostly suppressed. Once they start to emerge more, we will have to return here.”
She removed her hands from around his waist and threw them around his neck. Despite the fact he would much prefer to keep her locked away, and the lycan part of him protested allowing her to do this, he lifted her off the ground and crushed her against him.
