“Sometimes, the arach would get silver markings on them,” he said.
“So?” Cole asked.
“So, your mate had a silver marking on the back of her hand. Don’t you find that a little strange?”
Lexi studied her palm beneath the water before turning it over. The silver was gone. “The dragon must have had something on it that left a mark on me.”
There was no other explanation. At one time, the arach were the most powerful immortals in existence, but she couldn’t even create a portal, was physically weaker than most immortals, and had no discernible powers.
“You think she’s an arach?” Cole inquired.
“I’m not sure what I think,” Orin said.
“I’m not an arach,” Lexi said. “It’s said they could walk through a dragon’s fire, and I can’t withstand a tiny flame from the stove.”
“I see that,” Orin muttered.
A ticking against the window over the sink broke the ensuing silence. She and Cole stared at the curtain as the ticking paused for a few seconds before starting again.
“Did you send a letter to Niall?” Cole asked her.
“No, I never got the chance,” she said. “They returned for me before I could.”
Cole glanced over his shoulder at Orin. “Hide.”
Orin slipped into the hallway and, drawing the shadows around him, disappeared. Cole kept one hand on her wrist beneath the water as he pulled aside the curtain. A crow peered in at them from where it sat on the sill.
Cole undid the lock and pushed the window open a little. The crow dropped a small piece of paper, cawed loudly, and took flight. Cole retrieved the paper, closed the window, and set the note on the counter beside the sink.
He released her wrist, dried his hands on one of the towels hanging from the kitchen cabinets beneath the sink, and tugged the curtain into place. Orin returned to the kitchen as Cole opened the note.
“Shit!” Cole hissed a second later.
“What is it?” Lexi asked.
“It’s from Elvin. There’s been an uprising in the Gloaming. The king’s army is fighting to end it, but I have to return.”
Is it ever going to end? But she already knew the answer to that.
No.
As long as the Lord sat on the throne, it would never end.
“They’re testing their boundaries,” she whispered.
“And I’m going to make sure they learn what a giant mistake that is, but you have to come with me. I cannot fight this battle if you’re here where Malakai and the Lord can return for you.”
“You can’t take her to the Gloaming while it’s in upheaval; there are countless enemies there,” Orin said.
“Am I supposed to leave her here for you to protect?” Cole demanded. “In case you’ve forgotten, you’re the most hunted man in all the realms.”
“It’s safer here than in the Gloaming.”
“Not if she’s in the palace; it will protect her.”
“You’re kidding.” Orin snorted.
“I’m not,” Cole said. “It already has.”
Orin’s eyes narrowed on her. Lexi didn’t like the look in his eyes, and Cole must not have either, as he growled while stepping in front of her. The move drew Orin’s attention to him.
“You have to return to the tunnels and stay there,” he said.
“You don’t know who you can trust in the Gloaming, and you don’t have Brokk to watch your back,” Orin said.
“Are you offering to come back to help me fight this rebellion?”
“I would, but do you want the Lord to hear about me fighting at your side? That would sign both our death certificates. However, returning to fight this battle alone is a risky thing, Cole. Enemies with friendly faces will surround you.”
Chapter Sixty-Nine
As much as Cole wanted to kill his brother for harming Lexi, Orin spoke the truth. If he could return to the Gloaming to help Cole against this insurrection, he would, but it would only result in the Lord hunting them both.
There was a lot of animosity between them, but they were brothers. They might one day kill each other, but they would also fight to the death for each other.
“I have to go,” Cole said to Lexi. He clasped her uninjured hand tenderly in both of his. “Please, come with me.”
“What if….” She paused to swallow her sorrow before speaking again. “What if something happens to you while I’m there? I won’t be able to leave.”
“I’ll leave a portal open inside the palace. If something happens to me, you can return here. Hopefully, Sahira and Brokk will be back by then. Brokk will be able to get you somewhere safe and away from the Lord.”
Because his death would not guarantee her safety from that madman.
“So will I,” Orin said.
Cole gave him a nod of thanks before returning his attention to Lexi.
She bit her bottom lip before responding. “I’ve already asked George to stay on and help with the horses, so they’ll be fine. And I’d prefer to be there… to know… to….”
Her voice broke, and she stopped speaking to look at the window.
He brushed the hair back from her shoulder and clasped her cheek to turn her face to him. “I’m going to be fine. The dark fae have no idea what they’re messing with when it comes to me.”
“That’s for sure,” Orin muttered, but when Cole shot him a look, he saw the curiosity in his brother’s gaze.
“And there is Niall. I have him and other men there that I trust.”
Lexi turned the water off and carefully dried her blistered hand. When Cole lifted her palm to examine the red welt, he glowered at his brother again.
Orin rolled his eyes. “She’ll heal.”
“Prick,” Cole muttered.
“Then we should go,” Lexi said.
“I’ll be right back,” Cole said.
He released Lexi and jogged down the hall to the library. He’d left his sword leaning against the wall there after returning from the tunnels with Lexi, Brokk, and Sahira. That all seemed like weeks ago, but a day hadn’t passed.
Lifting the sword, he swung it onto his back and secured it there with the strap. He returned to discover Lexi filling her pockets with potions from one of the cabinets.
“What are those?” he asked.
“Sahira’s skin-melting potions. They could come in handy.”
He wouldn’t turn down anything that would help keep her safer. When she finished, Cole claimed her good hand.
“Stay below, stay out of view, and stay out of trouble,” he said to Orin. “I’ll be back as soon as this is over.”
“Don’t rush on my account,” Orin said with a dismissive wave of his hand. He dipped his spoon into the sauce before lifting it to take a small taste. “It needs some garlic, but you don’t have any.”
“Oh, well, I’m so sorry,” Lexi retorted. “When this is over, I’ll run down to the grocery store to get some for you. Oh, that’s right, they don’t exist anymore.”
“That’s okay,” Orin said. “I’ll make do without it.”