Cole couldn’t remember the last time it wasjust him and his brother in a room… or the last time they hadn’tbeen at each other’s throats. Instead, as Orin adjusted the chainsagain, Cole sensed his apprehension.
When Orin reached to fiddle with the chainsonce more, Cole seized his hands and moved them away. “Afraid oflosing me?”
Orin snorted. “I’m more afraid of losing ouronly chance at defeating that fucker.”
Cole laughed. “Deny it all you want, but youknow you’d miss me.”
Orin scowled as Cole glanced around Lexi’sempty room. She was getting dressed in Sahira’s room, and he hopedthings were going well for them.
“I’mnotsure about this,” headmitted. “But I don’t have a choice.”
Orin grunted, and his jaw muscle ticked inrhythm with his heart. “I know you don’t,” he finally admitted.
Orin ran his hands over Cole’s shoulders,smoothing out the material there, before smiling. “I guess that’sthe best we’re going to do. The unfortunate reality is you’renowhere near as handsome as me.”
“Only you think so,” Cole replied.
“I know so. That lycan blood ruined you.”
Cole chuckled as he slapped Orin on the backhard enough to stagger him forward. “Sorry,” he said. “Sometimeslycan blood forgets its strength.”
Orin glowered at him, but a knock on the doorsilenced his words before he could reply.
“Come in,” Cole beckoned.
The door opened, and Brokk poked his headinside. “How’s it going in here?”
“We’re all set,” Cole replied.
“I’ve tried my best,” Orin said as hesauntered toward the door, “but he’s still ugly.”
“You wish you looked this good,” Cole calledafter him.
Orin waved a hand dismissively back at himbefore walking out the door. He didn’t fool Cole; his brother wouldnever admit it, but he was nervous.
“Is Lexi ready?” Cole asked Brokk.
“Sahira said it would only be a few moreminutes.”
“Okay.”
Cole strode toward the door. He followedBrokk downstairs and into the library, where Del sat in a chairwith his elbows on his knees. He clasped his bent head between hishands as he tugged at his hair and tapped one foot.
Kaylia drummed her fingers against thefireplace mantle as she stared at the door. The nervous tic was thefirst time Cole had ever seen her reveal any kind of anxiety.
Though she remained distant with most ofthem, she liked Lexi. The two of them were half-drunk and laughingas they sat on the back porch when he returned to the manor lastnight.
He didn’t know who he was more surprised tofind in that condition; Kaylia, who was so rigid, or Lexi, whorelentlessly pushed herself every day. But he’d been happy to seethem having fun, especially Lexi, who leapt up to hug him, trippedover a chair, and nearly faceplanted.
Her laughter was pure music to his ears afterwatching his prisoners die. He embraced her and they kissed beforehe retreated to find Sahira, Del, and Brokk in the kitchen. Orinwas nowhere to be seen, but that wasn’t new.
“What’s going on out there?” he asked theothers.
“We don’t know, but we’re enjoying theirlaughter,” Del replied.
“They came back from the outer realm, grabbedsome rum, and went to the porch,” Brokk said.
“It’s probably not great for Lexi to getdrunk, but we didn’t have the heart to stop it,” Sahira said.
