With no place else to go, the vampires remained in the human realm. They’d traveled to Earth before to feed, but it became their home after the witches’ attack.
Lexi had no idea how Sahira’s father managed to sweet talk a witch into his bed, but somehow, he did it. And Sahira was the one who paid the price.
Her mother left after Sahira was born, and she didn’t take her baby with her. Sahira grew up in the human realm with her father and Del, who was only four years older. Del’s mother, a vampire, was killed by a warlock shortly after his birth, and Sahira’s mother was still alive, but she had nothing to do with her.
Ashamed of her weakness at having not only slept with but conceived a child with a vampire, Sahira’s mother left her baby behind so she could return to the witch realm. Sahira rarely mentioned her, but Lexi knew they’d met.
The loss of both their mothers and their close ages bound Sahira and Del together; they grew up as thick as thieves. Their deep loyalty and love for each other continued until the day he died.
Over time, Sahira stopped traveling to the Shadow Realms and remained on Earth. It was easier for her that way. She was as caught in the middle as Lexi, but at least Lexi wasn’t torn between two species who despised each other.
Although, that had probably changed now. Before, the humans had never known she existed. Vampires had always been a thing of legends born from real encounters with vamps, but they were still fantastical and believed to be fake.
However, humans knew they were real now, and she doubted that knowledge made them happy. Yes, she was sure the humans probably hated vamps as much as the witches did.
She followed Sahira over to the two overstuffed chairs, but she stopped before taking a seat. She couldn’t spend the next hour staring at the fireplace while knowing what lay beyond it.
CHAPTER 21
“How about we sit outside today?” she suggested. “It’s so nice out.”
Sahira turned back to her and smiled. “That sounds perfect.”
The teacup warmed her hands when she took her cup from Sahira, and the scent of lavender and peppermint wafted to her. Sahira switched the flavor every day, and Lexi was glad she’d chosen these two today as a sense of peace descended over her.
They left the library behind and made their way down the hall before crossing through the sitting room with its delicate antique furniture and a striking grandfather clock in the corner. The pendulum of the clock swayed as it ticked away the seconds.
With its gray stone walls, the room housed furniture mostly done in shades of blue, and sheer blue curtains framed the double doors leading to the patio. They settled into the patio chairs with their thick blue cushions.
Lexi started to rest her cup on the white table when she recalled why they’d stopped coming out here.
“Oh,” she murmured as she stared across the vast, once green lawn that had been bordered by a ten-foot-high privet hedge.
Now, only charred pieces of that once perfectly manicured hedge stood up from the ground. Half the lawn was nothing more than blackened earth.
Beyond the charcoaled remains, humans trudged down what remained of the road. They skirted broken chunks of asphalt as they walked with their shoulders hunched forward and their heads bent against the sun. Dirt streaked their faces and clothes, and many of them looked like they’d crawled out of a coal mine.
These people looked like this because they didn’t have much clothing left and because the dragons destroyed most of their homes. Lexi often felt like she’d lost everything, but she realized how lucky she was.
Despite her losses, she still had much more than so many. She did her best to give what they could, but they didn’t have much to spare. Normally, she didn’t come to this side of the house, but she couldn’t hide from her reality anymore.
It was outside her home, and now, it was also beneath it.
“I saw Malakai,” she said as she sipped her tea.
“Oh,” Sahira said.
Lexi detected the dislike in her voice; Sahira had never been good at hiding it when it came to Malakai.
“He was out in the daytime,” she said.
“That’s not unusual if it’s overcast.”
“It was today.”
Sahira turned toward the clear blue sky and the sun streaming down on them. Like her, Sahira could tolerate the sun because she was only half vampire.
“Ooooh,” Sahira said more slowly.
“He was wearing an amulet.”
Sahira set her cup down with a clatter and spun toward her. She looked like Lexi had told her he was dressed as a scarecrow and reciting the Wizard of Oz.
“Really?” Sahira asked.
“Yes. It was…”
“Red,” they said at the same time.
“You know what it is?” Lexi asked.
“It’s a sun medallion. At one time, there were a lot of them in the vampire realm. They used to mine for them beneath the mountains there. When the witches destroyed their realm and drove the vampires out, most of the medallions were destroyed or lost. The few remaining ones are all held by the Lord of the Shadow Realms.”
“So the Lord gave it to him?”
“Yes.”
“Which means no one would dare try to take it from him.”
“Not unless they want to have the wrath of the Lord unleashed on them.”
Lexi shuddered at the idea of that wrath coming down on her. “Why would the Lord give Malakai an amulet?”
“Malakai must have done something to earn it.”
“I don’t want to know what that was.”
“Neither do I.”
Feeling unsettled by this development, Lexi lifted her cup and sipped her tea as she watched the people on the road.
CHAPTER 22
Cole caught the scent of Orin not far from where he left Lexi. He didn’t say a word to the others, but the other lycan tracked it to a forest where even Cole lost Orin’s trail. From there, they prowled through the woods until they came across a few houses.
They interviewed the occupants of those homes, but no one had seen Orin. From there, they traveled back into the woods until they came to the edge of a lake. The sun reflected off the water’s pristine surface and illuminated the large, gray stone manor across the way.
Malakai stared at the manor while the lycans prowled the water’s edge, and Brokk studied the ground like he was bored with the whole thing. However, the set of Brokk’s jaw and the way his fingers twiddled behind his back indicated Brokk was paying attention to everything.
Cole studied the amulet at Malakai’s throat. The vampire hadn’t possessed the powerful sun medallion while they were fighting together, but there was only one place he could have gotten it.
The vampire’s possession of the medallion made Cole distrust him more. He was acutely aware Malakai would tell the Lord every detail of their time together today.
He glanced at Brokk, but his brother was wandering idly by as he examined the shoreline as if searching for something. Whatever Malakai did to earn that amulet, it had made the Lord extremely happy.
“I’ll be back,” Malakai said.
“Where are you going?” the largest of the lycans demanded.
“I have something to do.”
Malakai walked away, and Cole watched as he strolled around the lake. As his step's pace increased, Cole realized Malakai was nowhere near as nonchalant as he was trying to act. Something about the manor had Malakai excited.
“I’ve had enough of that asshole,” the smallest lycan grumbled.
“Then let’s get out of here. We’re not going to find the dark fae,” another lycan said.
“He’ll report us to the Lord.”
“Report what? That we lost the trail. There’s not much to report there.”
The largest lycan looked at Cole and Brokk, who stared back at them. “I don’t care what you do,” Cole said.
The lycans didn’t say anything before they turned and loped away into the woods.
“Now what?” Brokk asked.
Malakai was almost jogging as he closed in on the manor. “What has him so excited?” he muttered.
“No idea,” Brokk said. “We should try to find Orin.”
“We will, but let’s see what has that asshole in such a rush first.”
Brokk frowned as he gazed after Malakai. “Yes, let’s.”
They started around the lake together.
“What do we do if we find Orin?” Brokk asked as Malakai climbed the steps to the front doors of the manor.
“We’ll get his ass somewhere safe if we can.”
“Can you smell him?” Brokk asked.
“No, I lost his scent soon after they did, but I might be able to pick it up again if we keep searching.”
They were almost around the lake, and the manor doors were still closed when the scent of strawberries hit him. He’d been so focused on trying to find Orin’s scent that he’d shut out all others; now, Lexi’s aroma hit him like a hammer between the eyes.
He suddenly understood why Malakai abruptly left and his obvious rush.
“Shit,” he hissed.
“What?” Brokk inquired.
He didn’t respond as he moved faster than Malakai had toward the home. His heart beat faster with every step as he recalled Malakai’s reaction to Lexi in the Gloaming and the marketplace, and hers to him. It was obvious what Malakai wanted from her and just as obvious the feeling was not mutual.
“What are you doing?” Brokk demanded.
“Stopping that prick of a vampire.”
• • •
“How can we make their lives better?” Lexi asked Sahira as she sipped her tea and watched the stragglers.
“The humans?”
“Yes.”
“How can we change what has already happened?”
“We can’t, but there has to be something we can do for them.”
“We’re doing the best we can by giving them food. We’d still offer some of them employment, but most don’t trust us enough to work for us anymore.”
That was true. Only a couple of the people who once worked here were willing to come back, and none of them lived here anymore. Maybe it was because of the war, or maybe it was because they realized they were messed with for years while living in the manor.
For years, Sahira had cast a glamour over the manor and those working in it that made it appear the immortals were aging the same as humans. When the dragons descended on the land, Sahira saw no reason to keep the glamour in place.
Those who saw the truth and realized they’d been tricked were rightfully pissed. Despite the protection the manor offered them, they left. Lexi didn’t blame them, but she missed them.
Before Lexi could say anything more, someone pounded on the front door. The blows echoed throughout the house and rebounded down the hallway. The sudden intrusion of the powerful blows caused Lexi to jump. She cursed as tea splashed over the rim of her cup.
“Who could that be?” Sahira asked as she set her cup down.
Lexi’s pulse pounded in her temples as she recalled the group at the marketplace. The group who had gone off in search of Orin. Sahira had cast protective spells over the tunnels years ago; they shouldn’t be able to detect him down there, but had she missed something else that could have led them here?
Lycans had a really strong sense of smell. Could they have tracked him all the way here? Would they smell him on her?
She’d rushed to clean up his trail; she could have missed something. Or maybe someone had seen her with him. She hadn’t noticed anyone around, but that didn’t mean they weren’t there.
Oh shit.
She tried to control the shaking in her hands as she rose from the chair, but she felt like someone was continuously hitting her with a taser as her heart raced.
Get it together! She gritted her teeth together as she willed herself not to blow it completely. Besides, she didn’t know who was at the door, but she had a sinking suspicion she did.
Throwing her shoulders back, she strode to the front door with a confidence she didn’t feel. Her mouth felt like she’d been chewing on sand as she took one step and then another toward the door… toward her doom.
Sahira’s footsteps sounded behind her as another loud knock rebounded throughout the manor. Lexi stepped into the hall and almost winced at the harsh sound. It took all she had not to turn and run in the opposite direction.
Instead, she wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans and called, “Coming!”
Walking toward the door, she felt as if she were walking toward the death chamber, but she didn’t try to fight her fate. She’d done this to herself. If the consequences of her actions were waiting to drag her away, then so be it.
She told herself this, but inwardly she was screaming that she wasn’t ready to die. She’d prefer not to be dragon chow.
“Do you want me to get it?” Sahira asked from behind her.
“No,” Lexi said.
She stopped in front of the door, took a deep breath, and pulled it open before she chickened out and ran. She plastered a fake smile on, but it faltered when she spotted Malakai on the other side.
CHAPTER 23
Malakai stood with his hand resting on the doorframe as he leaned toward her. Her teeth ground together as her heart thumped out a few extra beats.
“Malakai!” she greeted a little too cheerfully.
She was never outwardly rude to him, but she wasn’t exactly friendly either. She preferred not to encourage his pursuit of her or make him suspicious.
Gathering herself, she compelled herself to relax as she continued. “What brings you by today?”
“Elexiandra,” he drawled in a tone that made her skin crawl. “It’s a pleasure to be blessed with your presence twice in one day.”
Somehow, Lexi managed to keep her smile in place, but she wanted to slam the door in his arrogant face. She didn’t reply as Sahira came to stand beside her.
“Hello, Sahira,” Malakai greeted.
“Malakai,” Sahira replied in a clipped tone.
Malakai didn’t notice the tension in Sahira’s voice as his eyes remained riveted on Lexi. When his gaze ran hungrily over her, Lexi managed to stop herself from crossing her arms over her chest.
However, making her uncomfortable was exactly what he meant to do. Instead of cowering, she lifted her chin and met his brown eyes when they finally returned to hers.
“What can I do for you, Malakai?” she demanded.
His smile caused her hands to fist. Malakai believed she would be his, and since her father’s death, she’d believed it too, but no more. She would lose everything before she ever allowed him to claim her as his wife.
Malakai’s smile widened as his hand fell away from the door. If she hadn’t known better, she might suspect he’d read her mind and found it amusing. However, vampires didn’t possess that ability.
“Have you seen a dark fae around here?” he inquired.
“We haven’t seen anyone around here,” Sahira said.
“This one is injured.”
“Which would make him more noticeable.”
Malakai’s eyes narrowed on Sahira, and Lexi almost laughed, but her amusement lodged in her throat when Cole and his brother strode into view.
Can this get any worse?
But even as the thought ran through her mind, excitement hummed across her veins, and a big smile spread across her lips before she could stop it. Seeing her reaction, Malakai stiffened and looked over his shoulder as Cole and Brokk climbed the steps.
They were here, hunting their brother, and she was harboring the fugitive, but she couldn’t find it in her to be frightened when Cole’s Persian blue eyes landed on her. A small smile curved the corner of Cole’s mouth before Malakai stepped in front of him and slammed his palm into the doorframe.
Unprepared for the motion, Lexi couldn’t stop herself from jumping at the sound. Exasperated by his intimidation tactics, she scowled at Malak
ai as he leaned closer. The malicious gleam in his eyes caused her stomach to roll, but she refused to back down from his intimidation tactics.
“Back off,” Cole said, and clasping Malakai’s shoulder, he pulled him back a step.
For a second, Lexi believed Malakai was going to shove him as they glared at each other. They were two extremely powerful beings, but Malakai had to know he would lose in a fight against Cole.
He didn’t seem aware of this as his hand fisted.
• • •
Cole braced himself for Malakai’s attack; he would welcome the chance to beat this asshole into a bloody pulp. Malakai believed that because he worked for the Lord, he could do whatever he wanted. He was in for a rude awakening.
“I said,” Cole bit out, “back off.”
Brokk shifted behind him, but Cole didn’t look at his brother. Brokk wouldn’t interfere unless he believed Cole might lose. There was no chance of that happening.
Malakai’s eyes turned red. “Are you interfering in an investigation that the Lord of the Shadow Realms ordered me to undertake to find your treasonous brother?”
Stepping closer, Cole used his superior size to force Malakai back. “I am interfering in nothing. I’m telling you that harassing the daughter of a man who died for our cause will not be tolerated.”
“I will inform the Lord of your insubordination.”
“Go ahead. You are a lieutenant in his army, and I am a general. You served under me in the war, and we know which of us means more to him. We have helped to track Orin, but his trail has grown cold. It’s time to move on.”
“I’m sure the lycans hunting him with me will disagree with you,” Malakai said.
“Perhaps, but you’ll have to hunt them down to ask them. They left.”
Malakai looked as if Cole had punched him in his too handsome face. “No, they didn’t.”
“They’re gone,” Brokk said. “If I were a betting man, I’d say they’re probably already having a drink somewhere.”
“They didn’t care if you reported them either,” Cole said.
Red crept up Malakai’s neck as he searched for the lycans and found nothing. Cole didn’t know if he was more embarrassed or incensed by this revelation, but he found Malakai’s discomfort amusing.
Shadows of Fire (The Shadow Realms, Book 1) Page 10