When they floated into the middle of the lake, he set the oars in place and let them drift as he told her about the coalition, his role in it, and her father’s role.
She stared at the manor while he spoke. She’d never suspected a thing, but the more he revealed, the more sense it made. Her father never fit in on the Lord’s side.
She’d understood why he fought for that monster, but it never seemed like the right side for him. He wasn’t an oppressor who wanted more from the human realm; like her, he was a man who was happy with the life he led.
“So many secrets,” she murmured when Cole finished speaking.
“No more secrets,” he said. “This is it; it’s all out in the open.”
She shifted her attention from the manor to him. His Persian blue eyes shone as he stretched his legs out before him in the boat.
“Is it?” she asked. “You move in completely different circles than me and have a lot more years on me. I’m sure there are many more skeletons in your closet.”
“There are many skeletons, and if you ask me about them, I’ll tell you, but I’m not going to sit down and reveal all the details of my past unless you insist on hearing them, and then we will need a lot of time.”
“I don’t want to know all the details of your past, but I do want to know the really important things like what you just revealed about the coalition and Orin. And from now on, I want to know it all.”
“Then you will, but I expect the same from you.”
“You’ll have it.”
“Good,” he said. “There is one more thing I have to tell you, but it’s something that will be easier to show you.”
She frowned at him.
“I’ll show you later, I promise. Now, come here.”
When he opened his arms to her, she braced her feet apart on the boat, rose, and slipped across the space separating them to crawl into his embrace. He kissed the top of her head as he held her in his lap.
“I am sorry,” he said as he smoothed back her hair.
“So am I,” she whispered. “But you have to know I’d never be with someone else; you’re it for me.”
His arms tightened around her. “You’re everything for me.”
Lexi relaxed into his arms and closed her eyes. A sense of peace descended as his strength enveloped her and the bird’s song filled the air. The sun’s rays warmed her, and when she opened her eyes, it was to a sky free of clouds.
Her tranquility didn’t last as the manor door opened and Sahira and Brokk emerged. Her aunt carried a bag on her shoulder as they approached the lake.
“I don’t like this,” she whispered.
“Neither do I,” he admitted.
Chapter Sixty-One
Lexi battled back her trepidation as she embraced her aunt.
“I left an extra bottle of your birth control potion on the kitchen counter, just in case you run out before I return,” Sahira said.
“You don’t have to do this,” Lexi said.
“Yes, I do. The Lord has to be taken down, and Orin can help with that. And Cole needs to get the Lord off his back.”
“If, at any point, you think it’s too risky to continue, promise me that you’ll return.”
“I will, but there’s no danger in the travel.”
Lexi wasn’t so sure she believed her. Sahira would never tell her the truth if she thought she was protecting Lexi. More protection and more secrets.
Though, with Sahira, she doubted it would change. The woman had helped raise her; she would always see Lexi as a child whose scrapes and bruises she kissed to make better. Lexi could never change that.
Her aunt kissed her cheek before releasing her. Lexi stepped back to stand beside Cole as Sahira and Brokk disappeared into the portal Sahira had opened to the outer realm they were traveling to. Once they were out of view, the portal closed behind them.
“Now what?” she asked.
“I have to return to the Gloaming soon,” he said as he took her hand. “I have duties I must attend to, but I can’t leave you here alone.”
Lexi stared at the barn as they approached the manor. “I can ask George to stay on to help. I have to make sure Orin knows he’ll be here for a while.”
She’d have to figure out how to pay George. For now, she had enough to keep him on for another week, and by then, Sahira should be back. They could figure it out together as she suspected George might have to become a permanent fixture here.
“I can’t stay away long,” she said. “With Sahira gone, this place will be vulnerable without at least one of us here.”
“I’ll send men to watch over it.”
“Aren’t you concerned about them possibly encountering Orin?”
“As long as he’s not a fucking moron, he’ll be okay.”
“So… yes.”
Cole chuckled. “We’ll make sure he knows George and my men are here. He’s gone undetected this long; I’m sure he can figure out how to keep doing it.”
“I’ll go speak with George now then.”
She squeezed his hand and released it before hurrying away to the barn. Cole’s horse lifted his head to watch her before returning to grazing. He hadn’t traveled far.
When she reached the barn door, she pushed it open and entered the shadowed interior. George was in the tack room, cleaning the saddles she and Brokk used.
He looked up at her, and his weathered face broke into a grin. “Good afternoon, miss,” he greeted.
“Good afternoon, George.”
“The horses are eating their dinner, and I’m about to head home to have mine. Is there anything else I can help you with today?”
“No, we’re all set for today, but I’d like it if you would stay working for us for a little while. I won’t be able to pay you much, but we have some extra food you and your family can have.”
He put down the sponge coated with leather soap and wiped his hands on a towel. “I’d like that, miss. As you know, times are tough, and any money and food we can get is always helpful.”
And she would do her best to help him as much as possible. “Thank you, George.”
“Anytime, miss.”
She left the tack room and was almost to the door when the jingle of saddles drifted to her. The hair on her nape rose, and her step faltered. The last time she heard that many riders approaching, they were the Lord’s men.
She practically ran the rest of the way to the door. With her heart hammering, Lexi stepped outside and shaded her eyes against the fading sun. A knot formed in her stomach when she spotted the riders.
The Lord’s white flag with the fire-breathing dragon on it flew from one of the mounts. The horses’ hooves dug into the earth as they kicked up dirt while circling Cole. He stood in the center of the riders as the horses pranced around him.
“King Colburn of the house of the dark fae?” the rider closest to Cole asked.
She recognized him as the lycan in charge when they came to search her manor. He hadn’t seemed like a bad man before, but his loyalty to the Lord made him treacherous.
Cole’s eyes met hers as she approached, but she couldn’t get too close with all the horses dancing around him. He held her gaze as he gave a subtle shake of his head, and she stopped walking.