Two things he hadn’t looked in quite a while. This week, he’d been relentless in training the troops gathered in the prison realm.
They considered leaving all the fighters separated to avoid fights between the different immortals who didn’t like each other, like the witches and vampires. Eventually, they decided it would be best if they all learned to work together.
Things were going better than they anticipated with all the immortals working together. With the destruction of the realms, the Lord had solidified their hatred ofhim.
The witches now despised someone more than they did vampires. The warlocks, who were usually arrogant assholes, weren’t acting so high and mighty even though their realm remained untouched. The dwarves and imps bickered, but they weren’t at each other’s throats.
And the other immortals were willing to overlook their petty grievances and differences in favor of destroying the man who had ravaged their homes or kept them in fear. The Lord had unwittingly united them against a common enemy, and they were eager to destroy him.
They even overlooked their dislike of the couple dozen light fae who arrived with Elfie. The light fae didn’t train with them, but they did work with the witches to make healing potions and poultices they were stockpiling for use during the battle.
Varo stayed far away from his mother. But the other immortals accepted the presence of the light fae even though many were irate when they refused to choose a side during the Lord’s war.
Sahira’s mother joined with the witches. As far as Lexi knew, her aunt didn’t speak to the woman, and Lexi only caught sight of her a few times during their training sessions.
That was more than enough for her as she didnotlike the woman. No matter how much Sahira pretended her mother’s abandonment didn’t bother her, Lexi knew it did.
Talon had also joined them; he brought a small group of warlocks with him. He said he could have tried recruiting more but didn’t want to risk someone turning him in to the Lord.
They’d also decided to gather everyone together because they felt it was good for them to learn to trust Lexi and Cole. The members of their army had to know they could rely on them and count on them to be a part of this battle.
Kaylia and the witches had cast a spell over the prison so only a select few immortals could open a portal out of it or leave the building. Therefore, they all remained locked inside. It was claustrophobic, and many weren’t happy when they were told what to expect if they came here, but they agreed to it.
That was another sign of their trust in her and Cole and their hatred of the Lord. Of course, if one of their army turned on them—which was a pretty good possibility considering the Lord had to have at least one follower in their midst—they would lead the Lord straight back here.
Which meant they would have to abandon the prison if they lost. But they already had a new meeting place to gather if they had to leave their quest. Lexi hoped they never had to use it.
They’d debated using the harrow stone to make their army look bigger when they entered Dragonia, but it still wouldn’t let anyone other than Lexi touch it. Since they weren’t sure how much the spell would weaken her, they decided against it.
“Where are you going?” Cole asked.
“It’s time to work with the army,” she said.
She’d trained with her dad and Brokk this morning, but now it was time to join the others.
“Not today.” He lifted the basket draped over his arm. “I have different plans for us. I’ve also given everyone the rest of the day and night off. Tomorrow, we go to war. Tonight is for all of us to enjoy ourselves. And I’m going to enjoy it with you.”
Lexi started to protest his decision but decided against it. They should join the others and continue their training, but at this point, what difference did it make?
A few more hours of training wouldn’t make much difference in the grand scheme of things. They were all on edge and aware tonight’s sunset might be the last they ever saw. Why not enjoy what could be the final moments of their lives?
She walked over and took the arm he offered her. “Where are we going?”
“That is a surprise, my lovely wife-to-be.”
He opened a portal, and they left the prison behind.
CHAPTERSIXTY-ONE
Lexi smiledas they stepped out of the portal and into the large, grand room of the dark fae palace. She first met Cole in this room. At the time, he sat upon the dais with his father and Brokk.
He was a prince then, with no desire to have his father’s crown or throne, but the Lord thrust him into a position where he had no other choice but to claim a land that never wanted him to rule. Of course, he survived the trials and became king, but he wasn’t unscathed by them.
He now possessed more power than anyone she knew… and that was because ofherancestors.
The biggest worry she’d wrestled with all week raised its troublesome head again as she gazed around the empty room. Cole wasn’t the same man she first met here. He now harbored shadows hell-bent on death and destruction.
Those shadows would feast on the war and death sure to unfold tomorrow. Was there any way he could control the shadows and emerge from this war the same man she knew? Or would those insidiousthingsfinally succeed in destroying him?
