And as soon as they were ready to take theLord on, another war would unfold. As much as she tried to deny it,there was one solid truth about the futures of everyone involved inthis…
Not all of them would survive.
“Every love story ends in heartbreak,” Kayliasaid. “It’s inevitable. Even immortals die.”
“So, you think it’s better not to love?”
“Absolutely not. I would gladly take thatshattering of my heart to experience the wondrous joy of love.”
“Have you ever been in love?”
Sorrow flared in Kaylia’s eyes before shelooked away. Lexi wished she could take the question back.
“I’m sorry, it’s none of my business,” sheblurted.
“No, it’s fine.” Kaylia gave a dismissivewave of her hand, but it couldn’t cover her sadness. “I was in loveonce with anamazingman. He was the best I’ve ever met, andI lost him.”
Lexi didn’t ask what happened to him. Theanguish in Kaylia’s eyes and voice, her retreat to the crone realm,and the fact she still considered her ex a good man all spoke ofdeath. No one called the guy who cheated on them and ran away withan incubus a good man.
“I’m sorry,” Lexi said.
Kaylia lifted one shoulder in a half-heartedshrug. “It was many years ago, but I still miss him every day. Hisname was Fabian.”
Lexi bit her lip against asking any morequestions and upsetting the woman she’d grown to consider a friend.However, Kaylia seemed to want to talk about him, and she couldn’tresist learning more about the woman who had mostly remained anenigma since arriving.
“Was he an immortal?” Lexi asked.
“Yes, he was a warlock,” Kaylia confirmed.“We met at a mutual friend’s Samhain party. It wasn’t love at firstsight, but we got along well, and over time, it grew into somethingmore. Something powerful and profound.”
Lexi was shocked by the tears in Kaylia’seyes before she blinked them away. Her heart ached for the womanand her loss.
“He was the love of my life,” Kayliamurmured.
“Did you marry him?” Lexi asked.
“We were engaged when he died.”
“Wh-what happened?”
Kaylia’s face hardened, and her tears driedas her eyes met Lexi’s. A simmering fury emanated from them.
“A vampire murdered him,” she stated.
“Oh.” Lexi’s hand flew to her throat asunderstanding dawned. All witches hated vampires; that was nosecret, but Kaylia’s antipathy toward them had always seemed moreintense than normal. And now she understood why. “I’m sosorry.”
Kaylia closed her eyes and lifted her face tothe sun. “It was many years ago.”
But it obviously still tormented her. Withoutthinking, Lexi crossed to Kaylia and hugged her. At first, thewitch didn’t respond, but then she relaxed against Lexi and huggedher back.
“You know what, I think you’re right,” Lexisaid. “It is time to call it a day. I’m not going to learn anythingearth-shattering by tomorrow. How about we head back and have acouple of drinks?”
Kaylia smiled as she stepped out of Lexi’sembrace. “That sounds fantastic.”
CHAPTER 43
“Are you sure about this?” Orin asked.
He adjusted the chains Cole wore so they fellacross the shoulders of his black fae tunic. The black belt, withits silver buckles, cinched the tunic at his waist. Black,formfitting pants and a black cloak completed the outfit.
