“I’ll go too,” Varo said. “I’d like to feel useful again; helping to find survivors would allow me to do so.”
Cole wanted to argue with them, but it didn’t matter anymore. This woman had also seen Orin and Varo; if she decided to let everyone know his brothers were alive, it would spread like wildfire.
Besides, now that the Gloaming was devastated, it didn’t matter if the Lord knew about Orin and Varo. Yes, they were strong fighters, but he’d kept them hidden before to save the Gloaming. There was no chance of that now.
The knowledge they were still alive wouldreallypiss off the Lord once he learned Cole had tricked him into thinking his brothers were dead. But it didn’t give them an advantage anymore.
Still, he preferred to keep the truth about them and Del a secret. They were still powerful weapons against the Lord.
“Okay, go under a glamour, but the truth is bound to get out soon,” he said.
They all looked toward the woman who held the girls closer. “None of us will say a word about anything we learned while here. We’re all alive because of all of you, and our gratitude will not be repaid with betrayal.”
Cole glanced at the children as they huddled against the woman. He could take her daughter away and keep her locked up as leverage against the woman, but Lexi would fight him on it, and so would Varo and Sahira.
He opened his mouth to suggest Morgan stay behind when the woman spoke. “I’ll take you to the witches and come right back if that makes you feel better,” she said. “I’ll let them know I brought you there and that you’re safe, so they don’t panic and do something foolish before returning.”
“The other two children will talk,” he said. He’d already forgotten their names.
The woman hugged them before looking at Lexi. “You don’t need me to open the portal now that you know the way. The two of you can go alone. There’s a chance they’ll be more hostile that way, but I think they’ll be okay after a bit, and this way, you’ll know you have nothing to fear from us.”
“I can handle some hostile witches,” Cole said.
The woman blanched a little, but she gave a small nod when she looked at her daughter.
“Open the portal,” Cole told the witch.
Stepping back, she released one of the girls and waved her hand in front of her. A portal opened a few feet away.
“When you go, could you ask about their older sister, Melisandra?” the woman inquired. “They need their family.”
Lexi clasped the woman’s hand in both of hers. “We will.”
“Thank you,” the woman said.
“What is your name?”
The woman’s blue eyes twinkled as she smiled at Lexi. “I am Beatrix.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you too, milady. I hope to one day call you ‘your highness.’”
Lexi blinked at her before squeezing her hands and releasing them. Cole settled his hand possessively against Lexi’s waist as he turned to the woman.
“We’ll let you know if we find out anything about Melisandra,” he told her. “You won’t be forced to stay here for long.”
“I’ve not been forced, milord,” Beatrix replied. “I volunteered for this, and I’m more than happy to do so. Be safe on your journey.”
Beatrix stepped back and gathered the children close again. Cole shifted his attention to Niall. “Make sure they’re taken care of.”
“Of course. Should I join you afterward?”
Cole shook his head. He wanted to trust the woman but didn’t. They couldn’t risk her opening a portal out of this realm and compromising what few secrets they had left.
“I think it’s best if you stay,” Cole said.
When Niall glanced at Beatrix, Cole saw his guard understood he was to keep a close eye on the woman.
