“Besides, they would need a large group ofarachs to pull off such a thing, and most likely the name or namesof the arachs they planned to bar. There’s no way they would haveLexi’s name.”
“You can’t know that for sure,” Del said.“You have no idea how their magic worked.”
“True, but many spells are similar. It’s theway witches or warlocks or the arach used them and got them to workthat differs.”
“So, she should be able to open a portal,”Cole said.
“Yes,” Kaylia said.
“This is a bad idea,” Orin muttered.
“Idon’tlike this,” Del grumbledthrough his clenched teeth.
“Neither do I,” Cole said. “He has anulterior motive for this ball; I don’t doubt it. But we can getaway if it becomes necessary.”
“And you’ll be giving away our best secretand weapon against him if you do,” Orin said. “Once he learns ofher existence, he’s going to hunt her with everything he has. He’llalso know we’re coming for him. If he never learns about her, we’llbe far better off.”
“I know,” Cole growled. “Do you think I likethis? Do you think Iwantto take her in there?”
It wasn’t until Lexi rested a hand on his armthat he realized he was drawing the shadows toward him again. Hereleased them as he placed his hand over the tops of hers. Thewarmth of her fingers and the feel of her skin soothed him, butanger festered inside him.
He hated being backed into this corner, andlike any wolf who was, the lycan part of him strained to break freeso it could destroy the one who had cornered him. But the Lordwasn’t here. If Orin kept testing his patience, he might go for hisbrother instead.
CHAPTER 38
“You should run,” Orin said. “You’re takingour one hope against him and leading her straight into Dragonia.What if she reacts differently in that realm? What if she can’tcontrol her ability or her shield fails?”
“Then we get out of there as fast aspossible, and we go on the run,” Cole replied.
“It doesn’t matter what you say,” Lexi saidto Orin. “We’ve already discussed this. Iamgoing. I’m agrown woman; I’ll make my own decisions, and I’m not going to letone person die when there might be something I can do to stop itfrom happening.”
Her hunter green eyes burned withdetermination as she stared at Orin. “You’re the one who wants tocatch a dragon; now, you won’t have to catch one. I’ll go tothem.”
Her words were like a bucket of cold water asCole recoiled from them. “We’renotgoing because ofthat.”
“No, we’re not,” Lexi agreed. “But if wehappen to have an opportunity with a dragon, then we’re going totake it.”
“And how do you plan to have an opportunitywith a dragon?” Sahira asked incredulously.
“I have no idea,” Lexi admitted. “But itcould happen. Besides, it doesn’t matter; we have to go. You allknow that.”
“I know no such thing,” Del said.
Lexi leaned over the kitchen counter andrested her other hand on her father’s arm. “He’ll kill so many ifwe don’t go. He doesn’t tolerate disobedience.”
“Your life is more important than theirs,”Orin said.
“Is it?” Lexi asked.
“Yes,” Orin and Cole said at the sametime.
Lexi tipped her head back to meet his gaze.Her hand on his arm tightened.
“You’re the last arach, Lexi. That meanssomething,” Cole told her. “Don’t ever doubt it. And to me, yourlife meanseverything.”
“And to someone else, their loved one’s lifemeans everything too,” she whispered. “There are plenty of otherswho love their spouses, mates, and children more than anything. Weare no more special than them.”
“What you areismore special,” Orinstated.
