“I’ve given youtoomany chances. You won’t get another.”
When Cole turned to her, he clasped her injured hand. Blood still oozed from the wound she’d forgotten about until now.
“She needs medical attention,” he said to Sahira.
“My potions are at the prison.”
“It’s fine,” Lexi said.
She tried to tug her hand free, but the tender caress of his thumb stopped her. Some of his rage finally dissipated as he lifted his silver eyes to hers. He was so tall, so broad and powerful, that any sign of vulnerability from him was shocking.
That vulnerability was there now as love filled his eyes while he stroked her skin. She doubted the others saw it, but she saw his need for her to understand in his eyes. She understood that he loved her, would always protect her, and destroy anyone who hurt her.
But his control was slipping as it became increasingly difficult to control the shadows. Resting her other hand over his, she squeezed it between her palms. No matter what happened, she would stand by his side.
A small smile curved the edge of his full lips before it fell away, and he leaned forward to kiss her forehead. He loved her, and she loved him. They would have to deal with all the other shit as it came. That was all they could do.
“I see why the shadows chose you,” Alina murmured. The sun glinted in Alina’s eyes as she examined Cole. “You are worthy.”
Cole and Lexi both turned to glower at her. She should be nicer; Alina was their link to answers, and she’d already given them some, but Lexi was so tired of half-truths, secrets, always being in the dark, not knowing what she could do, and shadows.
She was over itall.
“Why do you say that?” she demanded.
“He will do whatever is necessary to keep you safe, even destroying someone he loves,” Alina replied.
Lexi was about to argue, but since she was tired of half-truths, she wouldn’t utter a lie. It would ruin him, but Cole would destroy anyone he deemed a threat to her… no matter who it was. No one here doubted it.
Unable to deal with the dragon right now, she turned to Cole and cradled his cheek with her hand as she smiled at him. Shadows continued to swirl around them, but they weren’t as much of a barrier between them and Alina as they were before.
“I’m fine, and she’s not going to hurt us,” she assured him. “Let the shadows go.”
Because the longer he kept them close to him, the more they corrupted him. They slipped away a little, but he didn’t release them completely.
With a sigh of resignation, she turned back to Alina. “So, how do we defeat the Lord?”
“With an army.”
“And you’ll fight beside us?” Orin’s voice was still hoarser than normal, but he stood proudly behind them.
“We cannot,” Alina replied.
“Why not?”
“Whoever controls the throne controls the dragons. We are forbidden from harming the arach and Shadow Reaver, but we must obey the commands of our ruler. We will kill the rest of you, and we cannot fight against the Lord.”
“Then what good are you to us?”
“Orin!” Lexi shot him a look over her shoulder. The man had no idea when toshut up.“Enough.”
When Maverick rested a hand on Orin’s shoulder, the dark fae shrugged it off.
“I caught a dragon because I believed we had hope of them helping us, or doing something for us, or against him, but we still havenothing,” Orin snarled.
“I would not obey you anyway.” Alina sounded affronted by the possibility he thought she might.
“I don’t want you to obeyme.” Orin pointed a finger at Lexi. “I want you to obeyher!”
