“Fine.” Cole dipped a hand into his pocket,pulled something out, and tossed it to her dad. “You deserve thisfar more than its previous owner.”
When her dad caught it, the lanterns in theroom glinted off the sun medallion the Lord had given Malakai. Hisblood still stained the red amulet and golden chain that allowedthe vampire to walk outside during the day.
“How?” her dad asked as he slid it over hishead.
“Malakai is no longer an issue,” Colereplied.
Her dad smiled as the amulet settled intoplace against his chest. His smile vanished when the scent of smokewafted into the room.
“They’re going to burn it down,” Kayliasaid.
Sorrow clogged Lexi’s throat, but shecouldn’t give in to it. Later, she could grieve the loss of herhome, but survival came first.
“I’m assuming you have to get to the Lunarrealm,” Cole said to his uncle.
“I evacuated my pack before going to theball, or most of them anyway,” Maverick said. “Some remained behindto give the impression my pack was still there. As soon as they seethe Lord’s men or a dragon, they’ll evacuate too.
“If he attacks the other packs, then so beit; there’s nothing I can do for them. I’ll meet up with my packlater. Until then, I’m staying with her.” Maverick thrust a fingerat Lexi. “After seeing what she is, she’s going to need all theprotection she can get.”
“Good,” Cole said. “What about you?” he askedKaylia.
“The Lord still has no idea I’m involved withyou. As long as he doesn’t see me with you, the crones and witcheswill remain safe. For now, I’m staying with Lexi too.”
“Thank you.”
Kaylia nodded, and Cole strode over to claspLexi’s cheeks; he tenderly kissed her forehead and lips.
“I’ll come with you,” she said as she graspedhis wrists.
“No. I need you somewhere safe, and I have tosave as many of the dark fae as possible. Hopefully, Niall hasalready started to evacuate them.”
She was desperate to stay with him, but hewould only fight her on it, and the longer he remained here, themore innocents in the Gloaming would die. Releasing his wrists, shestepped back and blinked away her tears.
“Go,” she whispered. “But you better comeback to me.”
“Always.”
Then, he opened a portal, and she watched ashe and Brokk vanished.
CHAPTER 63
“Let’s go!” Orin shouted as her dad opened aportal.
Another roar quaked the house as the scent ofsmoke grew stronger.
Had the Lord’s soldiers already set the manoron fire? Or had the dragons set fire to it?
But that wasn’t right. If the dragons hadunleashed their fury on the manor, it wouldn’t be standinganymore.
“Let’s go!” Orin shouted again.
She started toward the portal but stoppedwhen she recalled, “The harrow stone!”
“Forget it!” her father yelled as a window inanother room shattered.
But she couldn’t forget it. That stone waspowerful, and it belonged toher. She couldn’t leave ithere, where it could fall into the wrong hands.
And if the Lord somehow learned theypossessed the stone, they would know of Kaylia’s involvement. Hewould also probably realize the bodies Cole had given him weren’tOrin and Varo. Other than her dad, that was the last secret weaponthey had.
