The urge to crawl into bed and not move againfor a week hit her. “I’m so tired.”
“I know.” Taking her hand, he kissed herknuckles. “You’re going to take a break now and rest.”
“I can’t take a break. The Lord is going tocome back for us; we both know it.”
“Yes, but if you’re too tired to function,then you won’t do anyone any good.” Unfurling his legs, he rose ina movement so fluid and graceful it awed her. “Come on.”
When she slipped her hand into his, he pulledher to her feet. On legs that felt more than a little wooden, shefollowed him into the portal and emerged in the library.
At first, no one was around, but as they madetheir way into the hallway, Sahira poked her head out of thekitchen. Over her shoulder, Kaylia was stirring something on thestove as Varo chopped an onion. Her dad had gone with Orin andBrokk to the prison realm. They must not have returned yet.
“Congratulations,” Sahira said beforevanishing into the kitchen again.
Cole slid his arm around her waist and ledher upstairs to her bedroom. He sat her on the bed before goinginto her bathroom. Seconds later, the faucets turned on and waterpoured into the tub. When he returned a few minutes later, a plumeof steam followed him out the door.
With tender care, he undressed her beforeleading her into the bathroom and helping her into the tub. Thewarm, steamy water scented with lavender, eucalyptus, and chamomilefrom one of Sahira’s mixes felt like heaven as it engulfed her.
Though she’d forgiven her aunt and dad forkeeping her true identity a secret from her, being around one ofSahira’s mixtures still made her a little nervous. But right now,she didn’t care if this bath made her sprout horns; it felt tooamazing to leave.
Cole sat on the edge of the tub and picked upher loofah. With tender care, he worked his way over her body as hebathed her while massaging the knots from her tense muscles. By thetime he finished, she felt limp and boneless.
When the water started to cool, he helped herrise before enveloping her in a large, fluffy towel. Lexi ploddedinto the bedroom and crawled into bed. As soon as her head hit thepillow, she fell asleep.
CHAPTER 24
Once Lexi was asleep, Cole went downstairs tosee if Brokk had returned. Tonight, he would stay with her whilehis brother returned to the Gloaming.
When he entered the kitchen, he discoveredthey had returned from the prison. They sat around the island inthe kitchen, eating the roasted chicken set out before them.
“How is she?” Del inquired.
“Exhausted and sleeping, finally,” Cole said.He shifted his attention to Brokk. “I’m going to stay here tonight;you’ll have to return to the Gloaming without me.”
“Of course,” Brokk murmured.
“I think we still need to get our hands on adragon,” Orin said.
“You can’t be serious,” Kaylia stated.
“Oh, he’s dead serious,” Brokk replied.
“And he’s dumb enough to end up dead if hetries to capture a dragon,” Del said.
“Yet I managed to capture you, so I guessthat makesyoudumber than me,” Orin taunted.
Del’s chair scraped across the floor as herose.
“Enough,” Cole said as he stepped up to theisland and lifted a chicken wing from the plate. “One of thesedays, you two can beat the shit out of each other, and I won’t stopit, but today is not that day. We have too much happening for youtwo to be out of commission for any amount of time.”
They continued to glower at each other beforeOrin shifted his attention to Kaylia. “Yes, I am serious. She’ssucceeded in controlling her glow. Now, it’s time to see what elseshe can do, and the greatest asset the arach had was their abilityto work with the dragons.”
“As far as we know,” Sahira said.
“What do you mean?” Cole asked.
“I mean, we have no idea what Lexi’s capableof doing. Kaylia is helping her, but we may never be able to unlockall her potential. There’s a reason for that glow; we don’t knowwhat it is, but it’s important, or it wouldn’t exist. She might beable to work with the dragons, or she might not.”
“And that’s what we have to find out,” Orinsaid. “If we can take them away from the Lord, then that is a hugegame changer.Huge. That man wouldn’t have anything withoutthem.”
