“Many others will be too,” Amaris assuredher.
“I’d love to hear your ideas and would likenothing more than to have you make my dress,” Lexi said.
“That’s wonderful!” Amaris exclaimed. “I’m sohappy for you both! Congratulations!”
Amaris backed away before turning and rushingto rejoin the other helots. They huddled together and kept glancingat them as Amaris shared her news. Everyone in the Gloaming wouldsoon learn of their engagement.
“The dark fae don’t know about us?” Lexiasked.
He was afraid to see hurt on her face when helooked at her, but she just appeared confused.
“Brokk is the only one I told. If I informedanyone else here, it would be all over the Gloaming by tomorrow,and it will be. As soon as it was public knowledge, they wouldexpect to see you here again, and you weren’t ready for that. Now,you are.”
“I can be here whenever I’m needed.”
He didn’t tell her that he’d prefer if shespent more timeoutof the Gloaming; it would only upsether. But, for all its beauty and all the good within most of itsresidents, the Gloaming was also a dark place full of secrets andcruelty.
The dark fae thrived on the despair ofothers. They felt no regret over leaving mindless, sex-obsessed,shadow kissed immortals behind them. Neither did he.
This realm was not for Lexi, even if she wasto be its queen.
Before they arrived at the front doors, theyswung open, and a small gust of wind came through. The smell ofsmoke, burnt land, homes, and the dead greeted them.
To her credit, Lexi didn’t cringe or recoil.She kept her chin high and her shoulders back as they steppedoutside and stood at the top of the stairs.
When she’d asked to return with him, Lexi hadinsisted on being able to see the displaced dark fae and the landonce more. She wanted to help them rebuild, and he couldn’t denyher that.
The dark fae now residing within the baileyalready admired her for riding out to him during the rebellions. Ifshe helped them rebuild, too, they’d probably give her their heartsand loyalty.
And neither of those things was easy foranyone to win from a dark fae.
“The dragon head is gone,” Lexi said.
“Yes,” Cole replied. “I had it removed a fewweeks ago.”
“Why?”
“I’d made my point with it. All those in theGloaming know I’m the one who slayed the dragon and stopped therebellion. They’ll think twice before trying to attack me again. Ialso didn’t think you should have to keep seeing it.”
Lexi sighed as she leaned against his side.“Thank you.”
CHAPTER 33
Lexi spent most of the day talking with thedark fae and helping to build one of the new homes rising from theland. She’d told Cole that if she could keep her shield up whilesleeping, there wouldn’t be any problem doing it here, but she wasconstantly aware of it.
A part of her mind always remained on thenecessity to keep her shield intact. The reminder ran on anincessant, irritating loop in her head as she spoke with thedifferent dark fae, carried wood, hammered nails, and laughed atthe children darting through the construction site.
Their mothers chased after them, shooing themaway as they giggled and dashed in different directions. One of themothers threw a towel after them before they disappeared.
Lexi wiped the sweat from her forehead as thesun beat down at her, and closing her eyes, she worked her waythrough her shield again, making sure everything remainedintact.
“Are you okay?” Cole asked.
Opening her eyes, she smiled at him andhefted another piece of wood from the dwindling pile. “I’mgreat.”
“If you need a break—”
“Nope,” she interrupted. “I’m enjoyingthis.”
