CHAPTER 55
Lexi smothered a squeak as a sound, unlikeanything she’d ever heard before, rumbled across the room. Atfirst, she thought one of the dragons had roused from its pretenseof slumber and was about to eat them.
Then she realized that though it sounded likethe noise was coming from all around her, it was really coming fromher right. A chill slid down Lexi’s back, and goose bumps broke outon her flesh as her head turned toward Cole.
When her eyes met his, she knew shit wasabout to hit the fan.
***
The second Malakai’s hand settled on Lexi’sass, Maverick sighed in resignation. He didn’t want Cole fightinghere; it could get everyone in the room killed, but he had toacknowledge what Malakai did was an insult no lycan could letgo.
Malakai was seeking a reaction from Cole, butthe one he was about to receive was one he never could have seencoming. Maverick’s hand slid away from Cole’s chest, and he fellinto step beside Cole as he stalked across the room towardthem.
The shadows twisted around him, and theirpower thrummed through his veins. They wanted blood, and so didhe.
Malakai’s laughter echoed across the room asthe Lord’s voice boomed out. “There will be no fighting here!”
Cole ignored the Lord as he commanded, “Lether go.”
Malakai laughed louder, and though the musicstopped, he spun Lexi away and started to draw her close again. Shejerked her hand out of his.
“No more,” she said.
“I will decide when there is to be no more!”the Lord shouted. “Resume dancing.”
“No,” Cole growled as Malakai reached forLexi.
She pulled her hand away again and steppedback as the shadows within Cole rippled and the ones on the walland floor slinked toward him. Startled cries filled the air as theshadows crept across the room toward Cole.
Some immortals danced away from the shadowsas they picked up speed, but others remained frozen in place. Hedidn’t know if the Lord was unaware of the change in the room, buthe seemed oblivious as he remained focused on Lexi.
And it was then Cole realized this entireevent was because ofher. The Lord wantedher. Hedidn’t need an excuse to take her from him, but it was much morefun to push them until they broke and to have witnesses here to seeit.
The Lord intended to take her, use heragainst him, and twist him until he broke. He wanted to hear Colebeg for her return to him, but he never would because he wouldneverget his hands on her.
“What is happening?” Maverick muttered as theshadows gathered like storm clouds around Cole.
He didn’t know if the others realized thechange in the room was because ofhimor if they believedthe Lord was doing this. If Malakai didn’t get away from her, theywould all learn the truth soon, and he didn’t care.
Cole held his hand out to Lexi. She starednervously at it before glancing at the Lord. Cole refused to lookat the madman on the throne; the only thing that mattered washer.
“Take my hand,” he commanded.
“Cole—” Maverick started to say but stoppedwhen Lexi stretched her hand toward his.
Before they touched, Malakai seized her armand pulled her back toward him.
“This is my dance,” he said to Cole. “If Iwere you, I’d learn my place, dog.”
And that was the final snapping point. With asnarl, Cole lurched for Malakai as the vamp slammed Lexi againsthis chest and clasped her throat. Cole came to an abrupt halt whenshe sucked in a startled gasp that broke off as Malakai’s handtightened.
No one else in the room moved, but thethunderous beats of their hearts pounded in his ears. Immortalswere not an easy bunch to frighten, but the shadows thrived on itas their terror crackled against his skin.
Malakai’s fingers dug into her throat, andthe Lord laughed. “Let them finish their dance, King Colburn.”
“You just brought yourself closer to death,”Cole told Malakai. “You’re still breathing now, but you’re alreadydead.”
For a second, the smug expression on his facefaltered, and then he started laughing.
