If the palace trusted whoever it was, itwould have granted them admission. The closed doors meant thepalace didnotwant them here, which meant Lexi didn’teither.
“Stay here,” Cole said.
Lexi suspected he’d come to the sameconclusion as her as he started down the hall. She almost tried topull him back, but he was the king in this realm, and he couldn’tignore someone at the door simply because the palace didn’t grantthem entry.
Niall stepped closer to her while Brokkfollowed his brother down the hall. Brokk stopped a few feet awayfrom the door, and his hand fell to the hilt of his sword. Lexi’sheart thumped faster when Cole kept his sword sheathed.
But then, there were many immortals that thepalace didn’t openly welcome. If she wasn’t with Cole, it might notopen the doors for her either.
“I’ll get it, sire!” a young helot called ashe rushed out from one of the side rooms.
“That’s okay,” Cole assured him. “I’ll answerit.”
“But, milord—”
“Go back to whatever you were doing,” Colesaid brusquely.
The boy started to protest before closing hismouth and giving a crisp nod. He turned and scurried away.
Grasping one of the handles, Cole opened thedoor to reveal three men standing on the other side. Two of themgave a swift bow while the one in the middle remained standing.
Judging by their fairer hair coloring, theyweren’t dark fae. But they were most certainly the Lord’s men asthey wore his red and white colors.
CHAPTER 35
“King Colburn of the House of the Dark Fae?”the one in the middle inquired though he had to know who Cole was.Even if he’d never seen him before, Cole was known throughout therealms.
“Yes,” Cole replied.
“This is for you.”
The man held out a white envelope. The secondCole took it from him, the other two rose and clapped their heelstogether. None of them said anything else before the three of themturned and departed.
When Cole turned away from the door, it swungshut. He opened the envelope and removed the card inside as hewalked toward them. He was still a few feet away when his facedarkened, and the shadows on the walls twisted toward him.
His eyes were a vibrant silver when he liftedhis head to look at them. Lexi’s question died on her tongue.
Brokk didn’t have the same problem as heinquired, “What does it say?”
A muscle jumped in Cole’s cheek as hismuscles swelled like he was about to make the change into a wolf.Niall and Brokk edged away while Lexi strode toward him.
As she walked, she found her voice again.“What is it?”
Silver filled Cole’s eyes when they met hers.“The Lord has requested our presence at a ball. Next week. Tocelebrate our engagement.”
Some of the blood drained from Lexi’s face asshe looked from him to the invitation and back again. He’dsuspected someone from the Gloaming was feeding the Lordinformation, but…
“Everyone herejustfound out,” Lexisaid.
“They did,” Cole agreed.
“It’s too fast!”
“No, it’s not.”
Lexi gulped; there was definitely a traitorin the Gloaming, but who? Cole believed it was Becca, and he wasprobably right, but there were so many here they couldn’t trust.For all they knew, it was Becca and a dozen others too.
“Can I see it?” she asked.
