When Lexi turned to survey the verdant land and rolling hills, so did he. He didn’t get the chance to visit here often, but it was one of his favorite places in the Gloaming, especially when the horses weren’t hiding. They normally spotted the land for as far as the eyes could see.
“They’re all hiding now, but usually, the fields are full of wild horses who make excellent mounts once broken. The best warhorses come from Underhill. It’s where Torigon hails from,” he told her. “Come, let’s get some rooms.”
“Is the inn open?” she asked.
Before she finished asking her question, a young boy darted out of the stable and ran for the horses. Another young lad, still tugging on his pants, followed him out the door.
“Underhill is always open,” Cole told her. “They’re known for their hospitality.”
They didn’t reach the door to the inn before it opened to reveal a pretty fae woman with her breasts pushed up by her formfitting dress. Piled into a loose knot on top of her head, curly tendrils of black hair had worked themselves free to frame her brown skin—the glow from the moons reflected in her black eyes.
Her inviting smile faltered when she spotted him. “Mi-milord. Your Highness!” she stammered, and a chair scraped against the floor behind her.
Cole bowed his head to the woman; he’d met her before, when he stayed here a few years ago, but that was a war, and what seemed like a lifetime, ago.
“Your Highness, you bless us with your presence,” the woman said.
She regained her composure and stepped aside to beckon them to enter with a graceful curtsey and a swooping wave of her arm. She glanced curiously at Lexi before turning her full attention back to him.
“Please, come in and make yourself at home,” she said. “We still have warm stew in the pot and fresh bread as well as ale, wine, and water, if you would like some. If not, we can make you some tea.”
The warm, inviting inn was much as he remembered it from his previous visit. Bronze sconces hung on the wooden walls; four of them held lit torches that cast shadows around the large, open room.
Six, round, dark wood tables filled the room. Each of them had six chairs surrounding them. Cards and a chessboard sat out on two of the tables, but a chest against the far wall stored the rest of the games. To his right was the swinging door to the kitchen; despite the time, delicious aromas of cooking food wafted out.
“Are you hungry?” Cole asked Lexi.
“No,” she said and hid another yawn.
A tall man with broad shoulders and the build of a lycan stood near the fire crackling in the gray, stone hearth. The flames nearly matched the man’s orange hair. His gray eyes were full of curiosity as he stared at them, and Cole was just as curious; what was a lycan doing in the Gloaming?
Chapter Forty-Seven
“Milord,” the woman murmured. “This is my husband, Bledig. He was not here the last time you visited. We wed last year.”
“Congratulations to you both. It is nice to meet you, Bledig,” Cole greeted.
The man bowed his head. “You also, Your Highness. Your uncle is my alpha.”
“Maverick is a good man.”
“Yes, he is. He and your father gave me permission to reside in the Gloaming with my mate.”
And he was afraid Cole would revoke that permission. He hadn’t been aware his father had granted it, but there were plenty of things his father did that he never knew about.
“I wish you both a lifetime of happiness in the Gloaming,” Cole told him.
Bledig visibly relaxed. “Thank you, milord.”
Cole turned back to the woman. He didn’t see any marks on her, but then, Lexi’s clothes also covered his bite.
“I’m sorry, but I forgot your name,” Cole said to her.
“I am Dora,” she replied with a warm smile.
“It’s nice to meet you both,” Lexi murmured.
Exhaustion made her words thicker than normal.
“We require some rooms for my men and us,” Cole said. “Though they may wish to eat.”
“Of course, milord. Our best room is taken, but I can wake the occupants and have it readied for you.”
“There’s no need,” Cole assured her. “A bed, any bed, is all we require.”
Besides, he wasn’t sure Lexi would stay awake long enough to wait for a room to be readied for them. When a bellow pierced the air, Dora jumped. Her eyes widened as they flew past him and to the open door.
“What was that?” she whispered.
“A dragon,” Cole said. “That is why we are here.”
“In the Gloaming?” she blurted. “In Underhill?”
Cole didn’t reply as she rushed toward the door, but her husband shoved a chair aside and, leaping over the table, wrapped his arm around her waist to hold her back.
“The horses!” Dora cried.
“It ate a couple of them, but the rest have gone into hiding,” Cole assured her.
“The dragon is on a mountain,” Lexi said. “It seemed quite happy to be there, and I don’t think it’s coming down anytime soon.”
When Dora relaxed in her husband’s hold, he released her. Remembering she had guests, Dora straightened her skirt and smoothed it down as she turned toward them. She plastered on a smile as she edged closer to the door.
A low grumble made its way up Bledig’s chest and throat, but Dora waved her hand at him as she poked her head out the door. “I’m only going to take a peek. My goodness,” she whispered.
“We’ve been tracking it,” Lexi said.
“What’s it doing here?” Bledig inquired.
Cole had far too many guesses than answers to that question. His best guess as to what drew the dragon was standing in his arms, and she needed sleep.
“They occasionally come into the Gloaming,” Cole replied. “It’s not often, but they do make their way here.”
“I’ve never seen one in Underhill,” Dora murmured. “It’s terrifying.”
It was many things, and dead would be one of them if it came off that mountain.
“We require rooms,” Cole reminded her when Lexi yawned again.
“Oh, of course!” Dora exclaimed as she turned away from the door. “My apologies, milord. I have just… I’ve never—”
“It’s okay,” Cole interrupted as the dragon released another bellow.
From what he could see of it through the window, it spread its wings before taking flight. Dora staggered away from the door as Cole stepped toward it.
The dragon swooped down the mountain, heading directly for the inn. Beside him, Lexi stiffened as if she were bracing for an attack, Dora released a small squeak, and the stable boys ran for the stables with the last two horses.
His men pulled their swords. Cole was reaching for his to go out there when the dragon opened its own portal and vanished into it. Lexi remained rigid against him as Cole relaxed.
It wasn’t the first time a dragon had entered the Gloaming, and it wouldn’t be the last. None of the others ever traveled this far, but then again, the land around the palace had never been a burnt-out wasteland when they arrived before.
The dragons had always managed to scrounge some food from there, but not this time. The creature’s disappearance eased the tension in his chest. It hadn’t come here for Lexi; it had come for food and, after a short pause to digest, decided to go home.