A ripple ran across Cole’s skin as his thick,corded muscles tensed. She couldn’t tell if it was tension, power,or something more vibrating through him.
“This is a battle, Cole. It’s going to be along battle, and not only will it require a plan, but it will alsorequire help,” her father said. “And the first step in our plan hasto be teaching Lexi how to use and conceal her abilities—”
“Conceal?” Kaylia interrupted.
“Oh yeah, she’s going to be a great help whenshe’s not even aware of what Kitten can do,” Orin drawled.
Lexi gave him the finger. Kaylia may notexactly know Lexi’s abilities, but he was well aware of how muchshehatedwhen he called her Kitten. He brushed some of theblack hair out of his black eyes and smirked at her.
“You’re not helping,” Brokk told him.
Orin rolled his eyes, but his smile neverfaltered as he waved a hand at Kaylia. “And neither is she.”
“We need a plan,” her dad said. “Kaylia isthe start of one.”
“I don’t plan with vampires,” Kayliaretorted.
Lexi’s eyes narrowed on the woman. Untilrecently, she believed she was half vampire like Sahira and Brokk,and her father wasfullvampire.
“Then you can’t help us,” Lexi said, hervoice colder than she’d anticipated. “I told you, these are myfriends and family. I don’t know what your issue with vampires is,and I don’t care, but you will treat everyone here withrespect.”
“That settles it then,” Orin said. “When dowe kill her?”
CHAPTER 5
Kaylia ignored him as she kept her eyeslocked on Lexi. “I have always found that you cannot trust avampire.”
“Maybe not all of them, but the ones here,you can,” Lexi said. “In every immortal species, there is good andbad, but my dad, Brokk, and Sahira are some of the most trustworthyimmortals I know. If you have a problem with them, then you can’thelp us.”
When Kaylia took a deep breath, the musclesin her neck flexed. It seemed she was trying to figure out what tosay and how to proceed.
“Without my help, you might not be able tostop the Lord,” she finally said.
“That may be true, but you’re going to haveto trust those who mean the most to me,” Lexi told her. “We’reputting faith in you that you can help without betraying us. Youneed to put some faith in the fact thatnoone here wouldever hurt me.”
She didn’t think Kaylia had to know aboutOrin keeping her father locked up and the truth of it hidden untilrecently. As much as he pissed her off, she still trusted him. Hewouldn’t do anything to betray Cole.
“Fine,” Kaylia grated through her teeth.“I’ll work with the vampires to helpyou.”
It was what Lexi had hoped for, but shewasn’t sure this was such a good idea. She had a feeling Kayliacould be abighelp and extremely useful. If they didn’tagree to work together, then Cole and Orin would most likely killher. However, Lexi didn’t know if she could get past her hatred ofvampires enough for there not to be future issues.
Unfortunately, she didn’t have much choice.She’d prefer if Kaylia didn’t die, and she especially didn’t want awar with the witches and crones. She obviously needed any help shecould get to master her abilities.
“I’m not looking for charity from you,” Lexitold her. “This is mylifewe’re talking about, and rightnow, you’re not helping to make it any better.”
“I can assure you, that is not my intention,”Kaylia said. She lifted her palm before her and whispered a fewwords.
As she spoke, Cole stepped protectively infront of Lexi, and black shadows slithered across the floor towardthe crone.
“Don’t,” Cole cautioned.
Lexi gawked at the shadows as they slid downthe walls toward Cole. A chill crept up her spine and over herskin. No one had answered her question about the Shadow Reaver, butit had to be Cole they were talking about. But what did itmean?
“Cole,” she whispered.
The shadows stopped moving to hover near thetwo of them and Kaylia. The crone lifted her head and opened herhand to reveal a small blue flame that hovered in the air beforeher. With a wave of her finger, the fire moved up before going downagain.
The flame shifted into a small bird that roseinto the air before transforming into a dragon. A blast of orangefire erupted from the dragon’s mouth before its mouth closed.Bringing her hands together, Kaylia smothered the flame.
