Skog lifted his ax off the ground and pointed its head at Orin. “I don’t like you.”
Orin chuckled. “You’re not the first and won’t be the last.”
Unwilling to deal with Orin’s shit with evenmoreimmortals, Cole ignored the interaction. One day, his brother would get his ass handed to him or wind up in trouble because of his reckless ways, and he would have to face the consequences. Today wasn’t that day, but it would come.
“It’s time to start alerting our army and preparing them for battle,” Cole said.
CHAPTERFIFTY-NINE
Lexi spentthe next week training, fighting, using her abilities more, and repeatedly opening portals to see how much they would drain her. Eventually, she built herself up enough to open four without much trouble. After that, exhaustion started weighing on her.
If all went well, she would only have to open three portals. One for her to enter Dragonia, another their army could go through to surprise and attack the Lord’s men, and a final one into the palace.
She wouldn’t dare try to do more than those three on the day of battle. If she did, it could drain her too much, and she couldnotbe weakened for what they were about to face. She would also require enough energy to open an escape portal if it became necessary.
But at least she was growing stronger; she felt her strength increasing with every passing day. It pulsed in her cells, tingled her fingertips, and raced through her body. It vibrated like a tuning fork within her until she wondered how strong she would become.
She was also getting better at healing, something only she and Cole knew about as he was the one she kept healing. At first, she was adamant against his idea of having them work alone on her healing.
She suggested using her powers on the injured witches, but he insisted she keep the ability hidden for as long as possible. As far as they could tell, Beatrix and the children hadn’t revealed her secret.
It was only a matter of time before it got out, but if they could keep it hidden from the Lord until the battle, it could help them. So, while her stomach churned, Cole would slice open his flesh.
In the beginning, she always had tears streaming down her face as she healed him, but eventually, her tears stopped slipping free. At first, her ability was slow to work, and it was difficult for her to draw it forward, but as the days passed, she became more adept at using it and was determined to master it.
They were going into a war; there would be no better time to have the ability to save someone’s life.
By the end, and against her protests, Cole cut himself more often and more deeply. And all the while, she got better and faster at healing them. Mainly because she couldn’t stand the sight of his blood or the pain he kept masked.
Unlike opening too many portals, using her healing ability didn’t drain her. Instead, it was like a balloon accepting air as it grew bigger until she felt it inside her even when she wasn’t using it.
Over the passing days, Cole sent countless crows to hunt down any dark fae who might join them in the war. He received enough replies that they had a small army of dark fae working with the other immortals who vowed to help them.
Elvin was one of the first dark fae to reply and the only member of the dark fae council to join them. He was helping with the training and keeping the dark fae in line. Cole said he was always respected in the Gloaming and his presence helped strengthen the conviction of the dark fae.
Lexi remained focused on her training, growing abilities, and what she had to do to help succeed in this war, but doubt and anxiety niggled at the back of her mind. They could do this; theywoulddo this, but not without sacrifice and not without huge losses on both sides.
She kept thinking about Gibborim and his eye as he peered at her. Remorse had tinged his voice… as well as conviction. This was not a war he wanted, but he would do what was necessary to ensure his queen survived.
The giants wouldn’t be the only ones fighting for the Lord who didn’t want to, but they wouldn’t change their course. As much as Lexi tried to hate them for it, she couldn’t blame them.
But that made what they were about to face worse. Not only would they lose many from their side, probably some of those she loved and cared for, but they’d be killing immortals who would have preferred not to be there.
Now, the day before they planned to go to war, Lexi finished dressing after taking a shower. She’d spent the morning training with Brokk and her father on fighting techniques. They’d used small swords, throwing stars, and daggers.
Normally, she would wait until later as she had more training, but it had been especially intense. She’d been soaked in sweat and smelled like hot garbage.
Such extensive training no longer exhausted her or left her muscles sore and rubbery. She’d become extremely talented with the weapons and wielded them without hesitation. The idea of killing made her stomach churn, but she would do what needed to be done.
But though she wasn’t tired from training, her shoulders slumped beneath the weight of what tomorrow would bring. Their entire plan hinged on her being able to draw the dragons away.
If she failed, they would have to call the whole thing off or go ahead with it anyway. If they did, then more would die.
She couldn’t fail.
CHAPTERSIXTY
She was aboutto leave the small, cell-like room she shared with Cole when the door opened and he strode inside. Like her, he was freshly showered. Tousled endearingly, his damp, black hair made him look younger and more approachable.
