“Don’t do this, Cole,”Orin said. “We’ll find another way.”
Cole lifted his gaze from Lexi’s pale, stricken face to meet his brother’s troubled eyes. It was rare when Orin showed any care for someone beyond himself, but concern etched his features.
“We’ll find another way,” Orin said again.
“There is no other way, and we all know it,” Cole said. “If we can’t draw the dragons away, then we have no chance of winning between the dragons and the giants.”
“And if you become something worse than the Lord, something none of us can destroy, what then?”
“There is one who will always have the power to destroy me,” Cole said. “Shadows can’t thrive in the light.”
Lexi paled further as her lower lip troubled. “Don’tput that on me.”
Cole claimed her hand and squeezed it in both of his. “I’m not putting it on you, but it is the truth. The arachs wouldn’t have created a magic they didn’t have a way of destroying.”
“I don’t know what that is.”
“You will. However, you don’t have to worry about it. Because no matter what happens, I’llneverbe so far gone I would attack you or the realms.”
“Remember what the prophecy said about the last light falling and the Shadow Reaver destroying us all? If you do this, you’ll be making yourself strong enough for the prophecy to come true. And if I’m dead, I can’t stop you.”
“I became the Shadow Reaver to ensure youneverfall, Lexi. I will make sure of that, so fuck the prophecy.”
Too much of this prophecy was coming true for him to blow it off completely, but he didn’t have a choice.
The Lord had made Lexi ineffective with the dragons. And if he drew the shadows into himself to make her stronger, it would be the end of him; the Lord was counting on him not to let that happen.
And if it did, Cole bet the Lord believed Lexi wasn’t strong enough to go on without him. It proved the Lord was a bigger idiot than Cole already thought. He would pay for that with his life because she would see this through, sit on the throne,andrule.
“This is the only way, Lexi,” he said.
“Don’t you think he would have planned for you to do this?” she asked.
“I’m sure he assumes I’ll be too selfish to do this, and if I do, you’re too weak to see it through. But he’sverywrong on both accounts.”
“What if this kills you instantly?”
“It won’t. Of that, I’m certain. The shadows are me, and I am them now; we are one. We have been since I welcomed them into me at the end of the trials. I may not have known what it meant at the time, but I do now. The shadows are engrained in me. They won’t destroy me.”
“But they could take you over and make you into someone completely different.”
It wasn’t a question, so he didn’t bother to reply.
“You can’t do this,” she whispered. “I can’t rule the realms without you. I can’t goonwithout you.”
He smiled as he released her hand and cupped her cheeks with his palms. He caressed her silken skin with his thumbs while memorizing every exquisite detail of her.
He forgot about everyone around them as he lost himself to her. She was his, she always would be, but he would have to set her free if this went wrong.
“Yes, you can. You were born to rule here and not because of your bloodline but because of who you arehere.” He pressed his hand over her heart. “You’re kind and generous, but you’re also tough and will do whatever’s necessary to keep the realms in line.
“The power won’t corrupt you, and the immortals won’t push you around. You’re going to be a fantastic queen, Lexi, whether I’m there or not.Neverdoubt that. And no matter what happens, I’ll always be with you and watching over you. Even if I’m not physically at your side, I’ll walk beside you forever, Lexi. We’re a part of each other and always will be.”
The tears in her eyes tore at his heart, and he almost agreed to walk away to avoid putting her through this anguish, but he’d condemn her to a life of fear and sadness if he did. They could only run for so long. Eventually, the Lord would find them.
And they had to fight. They had to try to put this wrong to right; they’d only hate themselves if they ran now.
“Cole—”
