But nothing would stop Cole. He’d been deniedthis moment for too long, and now that it was finally here, hewould ensure Malakai’s death. And the magic of Dragonia assuredthat the vampire wouldn’t be able to teleport away from him thistime.
The shadows continued to rip and pull atMalakai as Cole battered him. They tore away an arm and a leg asMalakai’s screams became muffled by the blood pooling in hismouth.
Not only did the power of the shadows swarminside Cole, but so did something malicious and cruel. It wassomething far more brutal than anything he’d ever experiencedbefore, but he thrived on it.
Malakai’s teeth gave way, as did his jaw,beneath the onslaught of Cole’s punches. He hammered the vampirelong after the screaming stopped. He beat him until nothingremained but a broken pile of shattered bone and bloody fragmentsthat would never again walk this earth or touchhismate.
Like some kind of morbid jigsaw puzzle,Malakai’s extremities littered the ground around him as Cole liftedhis gaze to focus on the man sitting on the throne across the roomfrom him. The blood dripping from his hair and onto the marblefloor was the only sound in the room.
The Lord had stopped looking amused, annoyed,or gloating. If the Lord stood up to run, Cole wouldn’t have beensurprised to discover he’d shit himself as the shadows continued toweave through the air around Cole.
Despite satisfying some of their bloodlust,the shadows craved more as they waited to kill again. Malakai’sbrutal death hadn’t quenched their thirst for blood. Instead, itteased it with the possibilities of what they could do, and theywere thirsty forsomuchmore.
And so was Cole. He was more than happy tolet them continue their murderous spree as he smiled at theLord.
“Kill him!” the Lord bellowed and thrust afinger at Cole. “KILL HIM!”
CHAPTER 58
Too stunned by what they’d just witnessed,the guards remained unmoving as the Lord’s command filled the room.Noneof the immortals had moved since Cole unleashed theshadows with ruthless brutality that left Lexi speechless.
Staring at the torn and battered remains ofMalakai, Lexi pressed a hand against her mouth to keep the bile inher throat suppressed. ShehatedMalakai; many times, shewould have beaten him to death herself, but this….
Well, she had no idea whatthiswas.The shadows had helped Coletearhimapart.Pieces of him littered the once pristine floor; she was sure thebloodstain would never come out, and his head…
Well, there was no head anymore. It wasnothing more than mush and gore. And some of it was dripping offCole. It soaked his clothes and slid down his face and hair, but heseemed oblivious to it.
Like leaves skittering across the ground on acool, fall day, the shadows danced around him. The shadows had noeyes, but she felt them watching everyone in this room.
Including her.
Beside her, Maverick remained as still asstone. The arm he’d put in front of her when she tried to get backto Cole remained there, but she could probably push it away withoutany resistance.
“Cole,” she whispered in a voice barely morethan a croak.
Even though she’d shown the first sign oflife, no one else moved. She didn’t know if it was the terror ofCole, the Lord, or shock that still held them immobile, but theydidn’t run as they probably should.
Lexi clasped her hands in front of her as hereyes bored into Cole’s back. She needed to see his eyes and knowthat he was still there because she greatly feared something elsehad taken his place.
Had the shadows, that became a part of himduring the trials, taken over? Was he now a pod person like in oneof those old sci-fi movies she sometimes watched with her dad?
Then, she realized it didn’t matter. Theshadows could try to take him from her, but she would never allowit. He washerCole, and she would always love him. Shewouldn’t let the darkness destroy him.
Besides, Cole was too strong and good foranything to take him over. He wouldnotallow it tohappen.
But even as she tried to reassure herself ofthis, she couldn’t deny the horror of what they’d all witnessed,and he still hadn’t looked at her.
“Are you okay?” Maverick demanded.
A few immortals winced at the harsh tone ofhis voice. He’d spoken normally, but the volume was too loud inthis room of unnatural silence.
It took Lexi a few seconds to realize he wastalking toher. She blinked as she tipped her head back tolook at him. His silver eyes were full of concern as he lowered hisarm to reach for her, but when a low, unnatural hiss filled theroom, his hand fell away.
Lexi was startled to realize theshadowshad made that sound. How could shadows makenoise?
Then she realized it was pointless toquestion such things when they’d just drawn and quartered Malakai.This was the Shadow Realms; anything and everything could happenhere.
“KILL HIM!” the Lord bellowed again, and thistime, his command snapped others into motion.
