She’d been right; Sahira had told him aboutMalakai’s attack in the barn. He asked her a lot of questions abouther relationship with Cole, but when Kaylia and Varo joined them inthe room, he handed her a book.
“It’s been a while, but I’d like to hear youread to me,” he said.
“I’d like a story too,” Kaylia said.
She settled on the floor near the fireplace.She held a glass of wine, and her eyes were still bloodshot, butshe looked better than earlier.
Lexi looked at the book her father had handedher,The Wind in the Willows. It was one of herfavorites.
Lexi settled back in her chair as Sahirabreezed into the room. Her hair was still wet from her shower, andshe’d cinched her bathrobe at the waist. Orin had vanished into thetunnels hours ago; she had no idea where he’d gone, but she wasglad she didn’t have to deal with him tonight.
Varo went into the other room and returnedwith two chairs for him and Sahira. Opening the book, Lexi began toread as the clock in the other room ticked away the time.
She read for almost half an hour before thefront door opened. Brokk entered first, and Lexi held her breath asshe waited for him to close the door. She half expected him toreturn alone, but Cole stepped into the manor behind him.
Her breath rushed out. A part of her wasconvinced he wouldn’t return. That he’d feel too ashamed or dirtyor was beating himself up too much for something that wasn’t hisfault and stay away.
But this was one of the many things thatweren’t his fault, yet he blamed himself.
When his eyes met hers, the self-hatred andanguish in their beautiful blue depths tore her heart out andstomped all over it. She’d give anything to walk over, grab hiselbow, and steer him back out the door so they could walk aroundthe lake and talk, but she couldn’t go outside anymore.
She was trapped inside, and he was trapped inhis memories. Throwing her shoulders back, she stalked past Brokk,linked her arm through Cole’s, and walked with him toward thestairwell. At least, in her room, they’d have privacy from theothers.
They were almost to the stairs when Kayliastepped out of the library. “Cole.”
The two of them stiffened before turning toface her.
“What?” Cole demanded.
She wasn’t the least bit put off by hisbrusque tone. “We’re going to destroy the Lord. He won’t get awaywith this.”
“No, he won’t.”
“We need a plan.”
“The plan is to sleep tonight, and we’ll talkin the morning,” Lexi said.
Couldn’t the woman see he was exhausted?
“Do you know somewhere private, where no oneelse will see her, and where there is sunlight to expose her to?”Cole asked.
Kaylia tapped an elegant finger against thesmall cleft in her chin. “I know of an outer realm that will work.I often use it to meditate, and I’ve never seen anyone else there.It’s not like most of the other outer realms; it’s ratherpretty.”
“I’ll go with you tomorrow morning to checkit out,” Cole said.
CHAPTER 15
Lexi woke the next morning to discover Colestanding by her window. The sun’s rays streaming over his nakedframe illuminated chiseled muscles, broad shoulders, a taperedwaist, and powerful thighs.
She now knew that the black ciphers runningfrom Cole’s fingertips, up his arms, and across his shouldersbefore going down his back were the tip of the iceberg.
The black markings covered him from head totoe when he wasn’t keeping most of them hidden. With their sharpedges, the black, dark fae markings resembled flames and were asamazing and impressive as him.
When he turned to her and saw she was awake,he pulled the curtains over the window.
“You do realize you’re standing there,completely naked, for anyone to see,” she said.
“I don’t care who sees me,” he replied.
