“Isthe dragon still in the Gloaming?” her dad asked.
“No, it stayed on a mountain for a little bit before disappearing through a portal it created. I left some men behind in case it, or one of its brethren, returns to Underhill now that they’ve discovered a food supply there,” Cole said. “Niall is going to help them herd the wild horses somewhere safe before he takes Torigon and meets me back at the palace. If the dragons do return, there won’t be a food supply readily available to them next time.”
“What else happened while you were there?” Brokk focused on Lexi. “Why are you so covered up?”
With everything that happened after their return, Lexi had forgotten she was still wearing the thick cloak and hood over her hair. She went to pull it off before hesitating.
Her skin and everything else had gone back to normal once she was out of the sun, but she was still hesitant to remove the hood. What if she started glowing again?
Cole looked to Varo. “Have they filled you in on everything that’s happened?”
“Brokk filled me in on all of it.” Then his eyes flicked to Brokk, and his brow furrowed. “At least I think he has.”
“He doesn’t know everything,” Brokk said. “You said he could know, but there was one thing I kept from him.”
And Lexi knew what that one thing was…her. Or at least her true heritage.
“It’s up to the two of you to reveal it or not,” Brokk continued. “Though, I’m sure Orin will tell him eventually.”
“No, I wouldn’t,” Orin said, and Varo looked a little hurt. “Sorry,” Orin apologized. “But this is one secret that’s not mine to tell.”
“Fair enough,” Varo murmured.
Cole looked questioningly down at her. “Can I tell him?”
“Do you trust him?” she asked.
“To keep this secret and protect you, absolutely.”
Lexi bit her lip as she studied Varo. She trusted Cole completely, but she already felt too exposed and uncertain in this strange new world she was trying to navigate.
“You donothave to do anything you don’t want to do,” Cole reminded her.
“I know I’m a stranger to you, and all you know about me is that I stood against my father and Cole in the war, but I’m not a cruel man, and I do not break my vows. I promise that whatever you reveal here will go to my grave with me,” Varo said.
Lexi studied Varo. Despite his haggard appearance, she saw the resemblance to his brothers. She also saw the depth of caring and honesty that shimmered in his striking eyes.
He went against his father and some of his brothers in the war, but his love for his siblings, especially Cole, was evident. So was his obvious desire to do right by his brothers.
“I believe you,” she said.
When she went to pull back the hood, Cole clasped it and helped pull it back. Her body felt as if someone was jolting it with electricity and she resisted the impulse to run from the room.
Instead, she stood her ground as she undid the tie around her neck and took off the cloak. Her dad took it from her and draped it over his chair. She glanced down at her hands, but they remained normal.
Del rested one of his hands over hers and held it until she looked at him. “What happened?”
“Her arach powers are starting to show themselves,” Cole said.
Varo sucked in a breath. “Arach?”
“Yes.”
“But how?” Varo whispered.
“We’ll fill you in on everything later.”
“How are they showing themselves?” Sahira asked as she sank into one of the chairs. She set her untouched plate of cheese on the ground but sipped her tea.
