“Malakai!” Cole called before he could rideaway. The arrogant prick turned in the saddle to look at him. “Youknow you’re already dead, right?”
Malakai spun his horse back to face him.
“You’re walking, talking, and breathing, butyou’re already dead,” Cole told him. “Because it’s only a matter oftime before I kill you.”
Malakai laughed again, but he didn’t foolCole; Malakai knew the truth. If he hadn’t already pissed himself,Cole would bet he was about to.
Turning his horse again, Malakai nudged it inthe side, and the animal took off. The Lord’s guards fell in aroundhim. Their horse’s hooves trampled the bodies of the pixieslittering the ground as they rode away.
Cole stared after them until they vanished.The Lord had told him to stay away from Malakai, but as soon as hegot his chance, the vampire would die.
CHAPTER 12
“What is it?” Lexi whispered from behindhim.
“Stay here,” he said instead of answeringher. “And keep away from the doorway and sun. They’re gone, and Idon’t sense or smell anyone nearby, but someone could be watchingus from the woods across the way.”
“What’s going on?” another voiceinterjected.
Cole glanced back to see that Kaylia andBrokk had returned. Kaylia held a satchel in her hand as she stoodin the doorway of the library. Brokk passed Lexi as he walkedtoward him.
“What happened?” his brother asked.
“The Lord has given me a present,” Colereplied. “And it would be best if you all stayed inside while Itake care of it.”
Brokk stopped behind Cole and stared out thedoor. He saw when his brother realized what lay scattered acrossthe lawn as his eyes widened and his mouth parted.
“Why?” Brokk asked.
“What’s out there?” Lexi demanded.
Kaylia strode out of the library doorwaywhile Varo, Orin, and Del joined Lexi in the hall. Cole half closedthe door as Kaylia approached. Tears shimmered in Sahira’s eyes asshe stared at Cole with a look of betrayal and confusion.
“Why did the Lord do this?Whydid hecall it a gift foryou?” Sahira asked in a high-pitched,barely controlled voice.
“Because he’s a sick fuck,” Cole replied.
“Butwhydid he do it foryou?”
Cole was glad he’d told Lexi about whathappened in the Lord’s private solar, the pixies hung and torturedthere, and the one he killed to stop her suffering. He’d knownthere would be consequences if the Lord ever discovered what hedid, but he’d assumed he was alone.
Hehad beenalone, but the Lord stillknew what he’d done.How?
Cole didn’t have an answer for that, but hecertainly hadn’t expected the sickfuckto do something likethisas payback.
“Stay inside,” Cole snarled at them.
He opened the door and ran down the frontsteps toward the field of pixies. He had no idea how to clean thisup, but it had to be done.
Brokk’s footsteps followed him down thestairs, but when softer footfalls came next, he glanced back asSahira and Kaylia stopped at the bottom of the steps.
“Go back inside,” Cole commanded.
Tears slid down Kaylia’s cheeks as she bentto pick up one of the tiny, broken bodies. A small sob escapedwhile she stroked the pixie’s silken wings. Then, she lifted herhead and pinned Cole with a deadly stare.
“Whydid he do this for you?” shedemanded.
Though she looked ready to attack, Coleturned his back on her. He wasn’t in the mood to argue with thecrone. And if they started fighting, he might take his rage at theLord out on her.
