“And I won’t get too close to her,” Maverickpromised. “It’s better me than someone else in this room.”
Reluctantly, Cole eased his grip on Lexibefore finally releasing her. Her eyes held his as she tookMaverick’s hand. Cole’s jaw popped as his fangs and chinlengthened.
Cole reined the lycan in with momentouseffort, but the shadows churned inside him. They battered hisinsides like bats emerging from a cave. And if he let them, theywould take flight and sweep across the room.
But then, he would give away what he wasbecoming, put Lexi in jeopardy, and possibly be slaughtered beforehe caused any real damage. The shadows were malevolent, but he hadno idea how much destruction they could unleash.
It might not be enough to take down anyone inthis room, though he doubted that was true. However, he wasn’tgoing to test their capacity for destruction in a room full ofimmortals, the Lord’s guards, and dragons.
That would be a good way to get him and Lexikilled.
“Play!” the Lord shouted at the musicians.“Everybody dance!”
The music started again, but it was nowherenear as good as when they arrived. The musicians were doing theirbest, but they missed notes, played the wrong strains, and theirvoices cracked as they took turns singing.
Lexi held Cole’s gaze as she stood almost afoot away from Maverick with her hands in his uncle’s, but herattention shifted to his uncle when the music started. Dancersmoved and swayed all around him, but he couldn’t tear his eyes awayfrom Lexi.
Maverick said something, and she smiledbefore glancing uneasily at him. Cole wouldn’t attack his uncle;never before had he considered doing such a thing, but seeing herin the arms of another, even in the arms of a man he trusted, wasone of the worst things he’d ever endured.
Someone touched his arm, and he looked downto discover Becca standing beside him with a sly smile on her faceas she held her hand out to him. Cole glanced up at Lexi, whocouldn’t hide the flash of fury in her eyes.
When she looked from Becca to him, theunhappiness in her gaze was like a knife to his heart. She didn’twant to see him in the arms of his ex-lover and a woman Lexibelieved to be in love with him.
And she shouldn’t have to see it. Hate filledhim as he looked to the Lord again, who leaned forward on histhrone to watch them raptly.
If Becca was the one running back to the Lordand telling him everything, then the Lord must know how badly Beccawanted power andhim. Like Malakai, she was here to testCole’s restraint and the strength of his relationship withLexi.
Becca must mistakenly believe she was safehere because she was the Lord’s informant. Cole was not so foolishto think such a thing. The Lord might be using her for informationabout him and the Gloaming, but he would have no problem killingher tonight.
“Would you care to dance, my king?” Beccainquired.
“No.”
He looked away from her to follow Lexi andMaverick as they danced in a slow circle only a few feet away fromthem.
“Dance, Cole!” the Lord shouted across theroom.
Lexi lifted her chin, and her movementsbecame more wooden, but she gave no other sign that the Lord’swords bothered her.
Cole’s fingers dug into his palms, peelingback his skin and spilling his blood.
And now the games really begin.
Becca smirked as she held her hand out again,but there was no way in hell he was touching her.
Turning away, he searched for anotherimmortal without a partner. He spotted a small witch trying toblend into the wall.
Cole stalked toward her and held out hishand. The marks on his palm had healed, but he wiped his blood onhis pants before holding out his hand to her again.
“Would you like to dance?”
When her eyes darted around the room, heunderstood her nervousness of him. He barely recognized his voiceas he maintained a thin hold on his control.
His refusal of Becca was bound to annoy theLord, but he wasn’t going to give her one second of satisfaction bythinking she could force him into something.
The witch glanced nervously around, but he’dalerted the Lord she was there, and she couldn’t keep hiding. Sheprobably hated him for it; he didn’t care.
Reluctantly, she placed her trembling hand inhis. Cole led her across the floor until he was once again close toMaverick and Lexi.
