She was sure he did in that rotten mind ofhis, but she knew the truth. They’d never been friends. They neverplayed together or talked or laughed. He’d been the neighbor’s son,the one she always tried to avoid.
“This isnotgoing to happen,” Colevowed from beside her.
She’d known he arrived before he spoke. Thewrath emanating from him reverberated against her skin and sentprickles of unease throughout her body.
He’d been maintaining his calm, but thismight be what pushed him over the edge.
No, she realized when she saw the vibrantsilver of his eyes, there was nomight. Thiswouldunravel him.
Then, she noticed the shadows on the wallscreeping closer. The moonlight and the torches on the walls createdplenty of shadows within the room. And now those shadows hovered inthe corners, hid beneath the occupants’ feet, and danced across theceiling.
She had to keep him from calling on thoseshadows while they were here. They had two secrets on their sidethat could save them, and she hated giving up either of them, buther secret would get them out of this place if this becameugly.
If she had to reveal herself, then so be it,but Cole could get away from this place with his secret stillintact.
Malakai smirked at Cole. “I hate to disagree,but itisgoing to happen. The Lord commanded it.”
“Let them dance, King Colburn,” the Lordcalled out in a singsong voice.
Cole’s gaze remained on Malakai as he repliedto the Lord’s command. “I understand, my Lord, but my fiancée doesnot wish to dance with this man.”
“I don’t care what your fiancée wants,” theLord said. “She’s a mere woman, and a half human at that. Heropinion doesn’t matter here, and frankly, neither doesyours.”
A collective murmur ran through the crowd assome immortals started edging away from them. Lexi didn’t blamethem. They’d be a whole lot smarter if they all fled this room, butthat might trigger the dragons.
“Allow them to dance, or I’ll put her in mydungeon, and you will have toearnher back.”
When Cole’s head rose and gasps soundedaround the room, Lexi’s hand shot out and seized his arm. She couldonly imagine all the horrible things Cole would have to do toearnher back, and she couldn’t think about what conditionshe’d emerge in by the time this freak finished with her.
With her heart hammering in her ears, Lexibecame aware the music had stopped, and everyone was waiting to seeif the dark fae king would bend or break.
Lexi couldn’t let him break. Her fingers duginto Cole’s arm as she silently pleaded for him to look at her.Finally, his eyes met hers. She tried to convey her desperation asshe stared at him.
“It’s okay,” she said. “It’s only one dance.It’s okay.”
It was far from okay, but she’d spend therest of the night dancing with Malakai, and all of tomorrowshowering, if it got them through this.
Maverick stepped closer and rested his handon Cole’s shoulder. “Let them dance, nephew.”
“You don’t know what he did to her,” Colesaid.
A small line formed between Maverick’s browsas his eyes briefly met Lexi’s. She gave a small nod. She hoped itconveyed to him that she would do this no matterwhatMalakai had done, or did do, to her.
“No, I don’t, but she’s fine with a dance,”Maverick replied. “And we’re all here right now; he can’t doanything to her.”
Lexi wished that were true, but she had a badfeeling it wasn’t.
“His touching her is going to hurt her,” Coleretorted. “She shouldneverhave to experience his hands onher again.”
Maverick winced as if he felt Cole’s torment,and maybe he did; the lycans were part beast after all, and beastssensed things that no others could.
“He can’t hurt me anymore,” Lexi said. “Histouch means nothing becauseheis nothing to me.”
Until she said it, she hadn’t realized it wastrue. When Malakai first approached her, the idea of touching him,dancing with him, or being anywhere near him almost made her runscreaming. But now, she realized how little and insignificant hewas.
She turned back to Malakai and, lifting herchin, met his eyes. “He’s a nobody who clawed his way into being akept pet by destroying others.”
Rage burned in Malakai’s eyes as she smiledand continued speaking. “He’s a coward, and the only damage he caninflict is on those weaker than him.” She met Cole’s eyes again.“But I’m not weaker than him, and I never was.”
