A fire ignited in her palm. From what she’dseen earlier, the small flames hovering there could become a streamas lethal, but not nearly as large, as what the dragonsunleashed.
Closing her fingers around the fire, shesnuffed it out and lifted her eyes to Cole’s. He smiled as hestared at her hand before meeting her eyes.
“How did you figure out how to make it work?”he asked.
“Love.” Swinging her leg over his hips, shepulled herself on top of him and planted her hands on his chest asshe straddled him. “Love is the key to activating the fire.”
He settled his hands on her hips.“Interesting, but isn’t love the key to everything?”
“I like to think so. I want to see the manortomorrow.”
“It’s not safe, Lexi, and there’s probablynothing left to see.”
“Maybe so, but I still want to go.”
His fingers tightened on her hips as shewiggled back to glide along the length of his shaft.
“I have to see, and I’m assuming you plan toreturn to the Gloaming,” she said.
“I have to go. It’s my realm.”
“Then we’ll go together.”
“You know how much I enjoy doing thingstogether,” he groaned as she shifted her hips to take him into heronce more.
CHAPTER 74
Lexi held a dagger and had a set of throwingstars strapped to her side as she and Cole stepped out of theportal and into the day. They emerged into the trees that made upthe woods across from the manor. Cole had his sword in hand,prepared for whatever enemy might greet them.
But instead of something looking to killthem, they discovered the land was far quieter than normal. A fewsquirrels sat in the branches of the maples sweeping overhead, butthey didn’t run and play like they normally would. It was as ifthey were afraid movement could bring death, and they might beright.
The birds didn’t sing, and the lake betweenthem and the manor was perfectly still. Not even a small breezedisturbed its pristine surface.
Before leaving the prison realm, they hadn’ttold the others they were coming here or the Gloaming. Neither ofthem wanted to deal with the protests and arguments sure to followtheir decision.
And it was better if they came alone. Theywere far less noticeable if they moved in smaller numbers than ifeveryone came with them; she was sure they all would have insistedon coming.
So, instead, they dressed on the balcony,returned to her room for her shoes, and left from there. They hadtaken a chance on emerging into this forest; they couldn’t havebeen sure it was still standing, but the thick canopies of thetrees offered their protection.
Staring across the lake, tears blurred Lexi’svision as she took in the rubble of the only home she’d ever known.Smoke still drifted from the ashes, but the only thing stillstanding amid the pile of stone that once comprised her home, wasthe chimney. It rose like a phoenix from the pile of ash and debrissurrounding it, except, unlike the phoenix, there was no beautyhere.
Her beloved library, room, and all her thingswere nothing but rubble. Her favorite ratty old pink bathrobe thatshe’d worn bare over the years, all Sahira’s potions, their photos,and clothes were gone. Her favorite teddy bear from when she was ababy was no longer tucked safely inside her closet, where she oftensaid hi to it when she opened the doors.
So many memories took place in that home.Most of them were good, but some were sad, shocking, and fearhaunted a couple of them.
Through it all, the good far outweighed thebad. She’d dreamt of so many things while growing up here, traveledto many different worlds thanks to her books, imagination, andSahira’s stories.
She’d played on this shore and swung throughthe branches of the trees surrounding them. Lexi hadn’t known,until recently, that her birth parents were buried beneath thesemaples, but it had always been a favorite place of hers.
Across the lake and to her left was the giantweeping willow she loved so much. She’d spent hours playing beneathits branches as a child, hidden from the world, and dreaming ofpixies and dragons.
It was also where she discovered Orin andchose to save him. Her life had forever changed that day, and whilethere were plenty of times she’d prefer to choke him, she was gladshe’d saved him.
This manor was where she learned her fatherwas dead and later discovered he was alive. As she grew, she’denvisioned living here with her children and their papa andgreat-aunt Sahira. She’d pictured listening to them laugh as theyran around the lake.
When she fell in love with Cole, she’dknownthat they would never raise their children here, butthey would visit often. She would sit and read to them as herfather did with her so often over the years. And later, she wouldlisten as they read to her.
It had all been so vivid in her mind, and itstill was, but there was no home to bring those children toanymore.
