Even with all his newfound power coursing through him and the backing of the dark fae throne behind him, he still needed the council on his side. They held a lot of sway over the dark fae realm.
“Yes, you are,” Becca purred.
She seemed to have forgotten her irritation with him as she lustfully eyed his body. When Cole scowled at her, she smiled. Becca was something he would also deal with later, but all he wanted now was to return home to Lexi.
She had to be worried about him, and not only did he need to ease her apprehension, but he also had to hold her. He missed the feel of her in his arms more than he’d missed water while in the desert.
“I expect all of you to meet me in the palace in one hour,” he said. “We have much to discuss.”
“Of course,” Finn murmured.
He didn’t look back at them as he strode toward the portal and entered it. He would never look back on the trials or the realm that nearly destroyed him.
It was time to move on to a throne he never wanted but would fight to the death to protect.
As he stalked through the portal, the shadows twisted around him, and he felt their movement in his soul. He wasn’t sure he would ever get used to the strange sensation, but he welcomed it.
When he emerged from the portal, he was only fifty feet away from the palace gates. A crow cawed as it soared toward one of the open palace windows and slipped inside. As soon as he got inside, he would send crows to Lexi and Brokk.
He hoped she would agree to join him here for a little while. He would have preferred to go to her, but he couldn’t leave until he secured the throne.
Grasping the gate, Cole felt the familiar warmth beneath his hand as it recognized him before opening. He ignored the rotting dragon’s head and Sindri’s body as he strolled through the gate.
For the first time in years, he admired the palace as he stopped. Its endless rooms and numerous mysteries had always fascinated him, but sometime over his many years here, he stopped appreciating it as much.
He didn’t make that mistake again today. This towering, magical structure with a personality all its own was his now, and he would make sure the palace deemed him worthy of such a claim.
These fae, moving about the inner courtyard, going about their lives, were his to rule and protect now. Like the palace, he would make sure they also deemed him worthy.
He would not always be kind, he would not tolerate disobedience, but he would be just and fair. And he would fight and die for them if it became necessary.
This was his land, these were his people, and he was glad to be their king.
Taking a deep breath, he smiled as he examined the buildings and the fae before walking up the stairs to the palace. One of the double doors swung open before he reached it, but as he entered the hall beyond, he discovered no one there.
Then the helot Adham emerged from one of the hallways.
“Milord!” he greeted as he rushed toward Cole. He came to a stop a few feet away. “Milord… Your Highness. You’ve returned.”
“I’ve returned,” Cole said. “How long was I gone?”
“Ten days.”
Ten days of pure, unadulterated hell.
“It is good to see you,” Adham said as he fell into step beside Cole.
“You too, Adham. I need some paper, a pen, and two crows. When that is done, I want any members of the council who have taken up residence here removed.”
“No one has moved in, milord.”
Adham stared at the door like a dog at a bone.
“The council didn’t try to move in?” Cole asked.
“They tried, but they were unsuccessful.”
Cole had intended for the crows to be the first thing he did, but those words caused him to stop and face Adham. “Explain.”
The helot stopped in front of him. “Your entrance through the doors was the first time they’ve opened since you and master Brokk left.”
Cole gazed around the hall before chuckling. “I love this place.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Lexi was in the middle of sparring with Brokk when the loud caw of a crow pierced the day. She stopped so abruptly that she never saw Brokk’s next move until he swept her feet out from under her and her ass hit the ground.
Despite having the air knocked out of her and an aching tailbone, she gazed hopefully at the sky as the crow soared toward them. Her hands flattened on the ground, her heart hammered, and her mouth went dry in anticipation.
But there was only one crow, and as it swooped toward Brokk, her hope shriveled. No one from the dark fae realm would write to tell her if Cole died, but they would send a note to Brokk.
And Cole wouldn’t write to Brokk and not her, would he?
He was new to this whole relationship thing; he might not understand she was desperate to hear from him too. She had to believe that was what happened, and it wasn’t a notice of Cole’s death heading toward Brokk.
Or maybe a friend was sending a note to Brokk. Why was she instantly jumping to Cole? Brokk was a dark fae prince; of course, someone from the Gloaming would seek to communicate with him.
Then why was she still unable to breathe? She sucked in a breath as the crow landed on Brokk’s shoulder and released the note into his waiting hands. The bird flew off as another crow swooped out of the trees and soared toward her.
An unexpected sob escaped Lexi as the bird landed on her shoulder. Its beautiful black eyes surveyed her before it dropped the note in her hand and brushed its head against her cheek. The soothing caress caused a tear to slide down her face as she rubbed the bird’s head in unspoken thanks.
It released a small caw before spreading its wings and flying away. Lexi snatched the paper up and almost tore it as she unfolded it. The tears in her eyes caused the words to blur, and she had to blink them into focus.
I’m back. I cannot leave the Gloaming right now. Please join me here.
Love, Cole.
Her tears landed on the paper before she clutched it against her chest and sobbed. All this time, she tried to maintain the faith he would return, but each passing day and every endless night had eroded some of her faith.
And now, he was back, and he wanted her with him.
She didn’t realize Brokk was kneeling at her side until he rested his hand on her shoulder. “I’ll take you now,” he said.
Unable to form words, she simply nodded as joy filled her to the point of bursting. Cole was alive!
She hadn’t realized what an emotional mess these past ten days had made her until she couldn’t suppress her sobs while Brokk helped her rise. When she lifted her eyes to his, he grinned at her.
“You’re a mess,” he said.
Lexi laughed as her tears continued to fall. “I am! But I’m so happy. I have to tell Sahira about this.”
Despite the tears blurring her vision, she ran toward the manor to tell Sahira the good news.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Lexi took a quick shower, packed a small bag of supplies, made an excuse to see the horses, and went out to the barn. She pushed open the barn door and stepped into the shadowed interior.
Though the sun still shone, it was near nightfall, and she’d brought the horses in before she started sparring with Brokk. Two of them had already been removed from their stalls and saddled to ride to the Gloaming portal. She was impatient to get to the Gloaming, but Brokk preferred to ride to the portal rather than open one.