Lexi stepped away as he opened a portal and led his horse through. A startled stable boy jumped back when Cole emerged with Torigon, but he rushed forward to take the horse from him.
“Take good care of him,” Cole commanded.
“Of course, milord,” the boy murmured before bowing and hurrying away.
Cole returned to find Lexi staring out the window overlooking the courtyard. She turned to him and smiled when he emerged.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
She walked over and hooked her arm through his extended one. “I am.”
Together, they made their way to the door. He slid the locks free and opened the door to reveal Niall standing on the other side. His guard turned to look at him over his shoulder.
“You didn’t have to keep watch,” Cole said.
“Yes, I did,” Niall replied. “How are you feeling?”
“Much better,” Cole said. “Have there been any changes?”
“Most of the rebels have been hunted down and killed, but some fled the realm. Those who have been caught are locked in the dungeon.”
“They’ll stay there for now.” Only the king could open a portal into the palace so they wouldn’t be opening a portal out of the dungeon.
“I didn’t know if you wanted the king’s guard to follow the ones who are still on the run.”
“No,” Cole said. “Do we know who they are?”
“Yes. Some of their allies”—Niall spit the word out—“have given them up.”
“Then we will send men after them once things here have settled and we’ve rebuilt more homes. We’ll put out the word that they have a bounty on their heads. More than likely, someone will turn them in. If not, we’ll send men after them then, but the dark fae of this realm are more important right now, and we need all the help we can get to rebuild.”
“I agree,” Niall said. “We’ve brought more displaced fae into the courtyard and have secured them homes. A few craz returned for some carrion, but they were chased away or destroyed.”
“Good,” Cole said.
He hated that he would have to leave here again so soon, but someone was going to have to take the duplicate bodies of Varo and Orin to the Lord. He also had to get Lexi out of the Gloaming before her powers started to emerge fully.
They had no way of knowing what would happen when they did, and no one here could learn what she was. Someone had already gone back and reported her existence and that she was his mate to the Lord; if they noticed anything odd about her, they would turn her in, and he could not have that.
The three of them descended to the first floor together. They were approaching the main doors when they swung open and what remained of the council strode inside. He’d known he would have to deal with them soon, but he was not in the mood for them right now.
However, he was going to have to speak with them.
“You are alive.” Finn couldn’t keep his disappointment hidden.
Cole didn’t bother to reply. “What do you want?”
“What do we want?” Becca asked incredulously. “The Gloaming is in complete disarray and—”
“And I am taking care of it.”
Cole’s eyes narrowed on Becca as she swung her glare from him to Lexi and back again. If he had to put money on it, she’s the one he would bet told the Lord about Lexi being his mate. And if he discovered that it was, council member or not, he would make Becca pay for it.
“May we speak with you, milord?” Elvin inquired.
No was on the tip of his tongue, but part of regaining control of the Gloaming was dealing with them.
“Yes,” Cole replied.
Becca’s eyes flicked to Lexi. “Alone,” she said pointedly.
“My future queen will hear what you have to say,” he stated.
A flicker of annoyance crossed all their faces, but it was Lexi who spoke. “I’d like to go to the moon room,” she said.
His chest constricted at the idea of allowing her to wander around the palace without him. It had been a couple of days since she last drank her potion; who knew what was going to happen and when it would start.
But then his attention shifted to what remained of the council. Unfortunately, he had to deal with them, and it would be better if it didn’t start with all of them fighting. And Lexi would be much happier in the moon room than listening to the council bitch.
“I’ll stay with her and keep her safe,” Niall offered.
Niall would keep her safe, but that potion was wearing off.
“I’ll be fine,” Lexi assured him.
“I won’t be long,” he grated through his teeth. “And it’s best if you stay in that room.”
“I will,” she promised.
When she started to walk away, he caught her and, clasping her elbow, drew her a few steps away. Casting his voice low, he bent his head to whisper in her ear. “If you feel anything different, tell Niall to bring you back to me immediately.”
She rested her hand over his. “I’ll be fine.”
He reluctantly released her and looked to Niall.
“I’ll defend her with my life,” Niall vowed.
“I have no doubt,” Cole said.
While the council stalked into the main hall, Cole watched as Lexi strolled away with Niall close at her side. His guard and friend had his hand resting on the hilt of his sword as they walked.
He almost went after her, then realized that if she was determined to embrace what she was, this was the first of many times where he would have to let her do something he’d prefer she didn’t.
She was right; if she was going to be his queen and fight in this war, then he couldn’t keep her sheltered.
Fighting the lycan that wanted to track its mate, he followed the council into the main hall. He shut the door behind them; no one else would overhear this conversation.
Chapter Forty-Three
By the time he finished with the council, they weren’t happy, but they had accepted that Brokk would claim a seat at the table. They were still infuriated about his choices, but they wouldn’t try to start another rebellion.
They weren’t foolish enough to do that after Aelfdane’s siblings and Durin failed to take the throne from him. No one else on the council could rally the same number of troops as those two families, and after what they’d witnessed, they didn’t have the balls to rise against him.
If they had joined with Durin, Fiadh, and Nissa, they might have stood a chance against him, but it was too late for that. He didn’t know if they’d been too cowardly to join with them, biding their time, or were actually loyal to him. And he’d probably never know.
In the distance, the clock chimed, and he realized this meeting was taking longer than he would have liked.
“I think that’s enough for now,” Cole said. “I must check on my people again.”
And my mate.
They weren’t at all thrilled about being dismissed, but he didn’t care. Becca, Elvin, Alston, and Finn were all that remained of the council. They were hesitant to leave, but once he rose, they all did too.
As they filed toward the door, Elvin hung back and turned toward Cole as he followed them to the door Alston opened before exiting. Becca, who was just ahead, cast a suspicious glance back at them.