Nowas on the tip of his tongue, but part of regaining control of the Gloaming was dealing with them.
“Yes,” Cole replied.
Becca’s eyes flicked to Lexi. “Alone,” she said pointedly.
“My future queen will hear what you have to say,” he stated.
A flicker of annoyance crossed all their faces, but it was Lexi who spoke. “I’d like to go to the moon room,” she said.
His chest constricted at the idea of allowing her to wander around the palace without him. It had been a couple of days since she last drank her potion; who knew what was going to happen and when it would start.
But then his attention shifted to what remained of the council. Unfortunately, he had to deal with them, and it would be better if it didn’t start with all of them fighting. And Lexi would be much happier in the moon room than listening to the council bitch.
“I’ll stay with her and keep her safe,” Niall offered.
Niall would keep her safe, but that potion was wearing off.
“I’ll be fine,” Lexi assured him.
“I won’t be long,” he grated through his teeth. “And it’s best if you stay in that room.”
“I will,” she promised.
When she started to walk away, he caught her and, clasping her elbow, drew her a few steps away. Casting his voice low, he bent his head to whisper in her ear. “If you feel anything different, tell Niall to bring you back to me immediately.”
She rested her hand over his. “I’ll be fine.”
He reluctantly released her and looked to Niall.
“I’ll defend her with my life,” Niall vowed.
“I have no doubt,” Cole said.
While the council stalked into the main hall, Cole watched as Lexi strolled away with Niall close at her side. His guard and friend had his hand resting on the hilt of his sword as they walked.
He almost went after her, then realized that if she was determined to embrace what she was, this was the first ofmanytimes where he would have to let her do something he’d prefer she didn’t.
She was right; if she was going to be his queen and fight in this war, then he couldn’t keep her sheltered.
Fighting the lycan that wanted to track its mate, he followed the council into the main hall. He shut the door behind them; no one else would overhear this conversation.
Chapter Forty-Three
By the timehe finished with the council, they weren’t happy, but they had accepted that Brokk would claim a seat at the table. They were still infuriated about his choices, but they wouldn’t try to start another rebellion.
They weren’t foolish enough to do that after Aelfdane’s siblings and Durin failed to take the throne from him. No one else on the council could rally the same number of troops as those two families, and after what they’d witnessed, they didn’t have the balls to rise against him.
If they had joined with Durin, Fiadh, and Nissa, they might have stood a chance against him, but it was too late for that. He didn’t know if they’d been too cowardly to join with them, biding their time, or were actually loyal tohim. And he’d probably never know.
In the distance, the clock chimed, and he realized this meeting was taking longer than he would have liked.
“I think that’s enough for now,” Cole said. “I must check on my people again.”
And my mate.
They weren’t at all thrilled about being dismissed, but he didn’t care. Becca, Elvin, Alston, and Finn were all that remained of the council. They were hesitant to leave, but once he rose, they all did too.
As they filed toward the door, Elvin hung back and turned toward Cole as he followed them to the door Alston opened before exiting. Becca, who was just ahead, cast a suspicious glance back at them.
