For one thing, Malakai wanted to marry her and rule over her life and lands. She’d rather be tied behind a horse and dragged naked over a field of glass before being dumped in a vat of rubbing alcohol than have such a thing happen, but staying free of him could become the biggest battle of her life.
She had a feeling he would make that life miserable until he got his way.
“Malakai,” she greeted flatly.
His eyes fell to her lips and narrowed. She almost touched them but stopped herself. Now that he’d drawn her attention to them, she realized how swollen Cole’s kisses had left her mouth.
“Is there something I can help you with?” she asked.
“I came by to speak with you about something. I thought we could take a walk.”
Lexi glanced at the sun and then the amulet at his throat. What did he do to earn it?
Knowing Malakai, it was something awful. She inwardly recoiled from him even as she remained standing where she was. He unnerved her more than a child speaking in tongues, but if she revealed that to him, he would use it to his advantage.
She suspected he knew he unnerved her, and he liked it.
“I’m too busy for a walk,” she said. “I’m sorry you wasted your time coming here.”
She started to shut the door, but he threw out his hand to keep it open. Leaning closer, his grin revealed all his perfect white teeth, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
If the eyes were the window to the soul, then Malakai’s soul was more rotten than meat left out in the summer sun for weeks on end.
“I’m sure you can spare a few minutes of your time, Elexiandra. I have some very important things to speak with you about,” he said.
She suspected some of those important things were marriage, and she was not in the mood to deal with that. Even before Cole entered her life, she was determined not to bind herself to this man. But now that she knew what it was like to desire another so completely and like them, she would never agree to marry Malakai.
Unfortunately, she might not have a choice.
“I can’t, Malakai,” she said. “You’ve come at a bad time.”
A flash of red ran through Malakai’s eyes before he managed to suppress it. Whereas the signs of Cole losing control excited her, this loss of restraint from Malakai caused her blood to run cold. Cole wouldn’t destroy her life; Malakai would.
“I have to go,” she said and tried to close the door again, but he refused to remove his hand.
He leaned closer as he hissed. “I’m not playing, Elexiandra.”
“Neither am I,” she grated out as she glared at him.
Yes, he terrified her, and he might force her into a loveless and most likely brutal marriage, but she would not let him push her around. She would not give in to him without a fight.
“Please leave,” she said.
This time when his eyes flashed red, Lexi braced herself for him to lash out at her, but before he could hit her, an arm enveloped her waist. Cole tugged at the door, and she released it to him.
As he opened the door further, he pulled her possessively against his chest. His posture was casual, but hostility coursed through his coiled muscles.
Malakai rose away from her and his mouth parted before he closed it. Then he gave her a scathing look as his lip curled in disgust.
Lexi’s shoulders went back, and her chin lifted defiantly. Getting involved with a dark fae was a stupid decision, but she decided to make it, and she wasn’t going to be judged for it by this asshole.
“What’s going on here?” Cole inquired.
“I’ve come to speak with Elexiandra,” Malakai said in a clipped tone.
“As she said, she’s busy right now.”
Lexi glanced between the two men. Out of the two of them, there was no doubt who was more powerful, but Malakai was not the type to fight fair.
When Malakai’s attention shifted back to her, there was no denying the loathing in his eyes. “I’ll be back soon.”
Cole’s fingers tightened on her hip, and before she could reply, Malakai vanished. She stood staring at the spot where he’d been before Cole guided her back and closed the door.
“That should keep him away for a while,” Cole said.
“He’ll be back,” Lexi muttered. “He always comes back, except he’ll be pissed off next time, and you won’t be here.”
Needing to be alone, Lexi shrugged out of his hold and backed away from him. Cole reached for her, but she dodged his hand and hurried down the hall as she resisted running.
However, there was nowhere for her to go, and she didn’t know who she was running from, Malakai, Cole, or herself and her shitty decisions.
As she strode down the hall, she spotted Sahira standing in the shadows next to the stairs. Sahira opened her mouth to say something, but whatever she saw on Lexi’s face silenced her.
She didn’t say a word to her aunt as she went up the stairs to her room.
CHAPTER 40
Cole followed Lexi for a few feet before stopping to watch as she disappeared into the hallway above. She’d purposely avoided him, and she needed some time alone. In truth, so did he as the echo of her words continued in his head.
When the click of her door closing sounded a few seconds later, his attention shifted to Sahira. She stood with her shoulders slumped forward and her eyes closed.
“How bad is it with him?” he asked her.
Sahira opened her eyes and met his gaze. “He won’t stop until he gets what he wants.”
“And that’s Lexi.”
“Lexi, the manor, and the land. He intends to marry her.”
Cole felt like she’d kicked him in the nuts. Not only could he not stand the idea of Lexi as Malakai’s wife, but he couldn’t imagine her married to that asshole. Malakai would destroy her.
However, Malakai must want her and everything she offered badly if he was willing to marry her for it. Marriage was sacred to immortals, and it was rare when something other than death severed the bond.
“He’s been asking for her hand in marriage since she was fourteen,” Sahira continued. “Her father always refused him.”
“Fourteen? She was only a child.”
“She was beautiful, even then.”
“I’m sure she was, but immortals don’t marry for beauty or lust.”
“Malakai’s different. His property abuts ours, and not only does he want her, but he’s also after both lands.”
“And when Del refused to let them marry, she became an obsession to him.”
“When Del refused to let her be his concubine, she became an obsession,” Sahira corrected.
“He wanted to take her as a concubine at fourteen?”
“Yes. He later offered marriage, but my brother was not going to let that happen.”
Cole’s claws lengthened and retracted as he glanced over his shoulder at the closed door. He’d never liked Malakai, but now he despised the man even more.
“And now that Del is gone, he thinks it’s open season on her,” Sahira said. “And nothing is going to stop him.”
“I will.”
Sahira laughed mirthlessly and rolled her eyes. “And why would you do that?”
Why would he do that? He wanted and liked Lexi, but why involve himself in her life? He’d never given a single fuck about any of the other women he’d desired before.
However, Lexi wasn’t like those other women. For one thing, her father had been his friend and co-conspirator against the Lord. He was a man Cole respected, and he could not forget Del’s love for his daughter or the fact they were friends.
Cole kept his gaze focused on the front door as he recalled the red in Malakai’s eyes and the hatred on his face. Malakai coveted Lexi, but he also despised her.
Her father had turned him down—she’d turned him down and became the one thing he couldn’t have. If he ever got his hands on her, he would destroy her for that.
“Del was my friend, and I can’t forget that. We saved each ot
her’s lives many times during the war, and I won’t leave his daughter unprotected,” Cole told Sahira.
There was more to it than that, but he wasn’t in the mood to figure it out. Cole stalked away from the door and started up the stairs. He’d only traversed a couple of them before Sahira spoke again.
“And who is going to protect her from you?”
He stopped walking, and his head turned toward her. When he met her steely gaze, Cole glowered at her, but the witch didn’t back down.
Turning away, he stalked up the stairs. When he arrived at the top, he spotted Brokk leaning against the doorway of his room. Cole’s step faltered at the sight of his brother’s sweat-streaked face.
“Who indeed, brother?” Brokk inquired.
Cole’s shock faded as he scowled at his brother. “What are you doing out of bed?”
“Who could sleep with all that pounding?”
Cole strode toward him, and clasping his arm, he swung it around his shoulders and supported Brokk’s weight as he steered him into the room. “You shouldn’t be up.”
“I had to make sure someone wasn’t coming to kill us,” Brokk muttered as he let Cole lead him back to the bed.
Cole lowered his arm from his shoulders and sat him on the edge of the mattress. Brokk fell back with a groan. Grasping his legs, Cole swung them into the bed.
“I’m not an invalid,” Brokk protested, but as he pushed himself up to rest his back against the bed, he winced and lifted his arm to wipe the sweat from his brow.
“You’re barely any better,” Cole muttered as he jerked the blankets over his brother.
“I’m doing a lot better.”
“Yes, you managed to stand today. You’re doing fucking fantastic.”
Cole ignored the finger Brokk gave him.
“What game are you playing with the girl?” Brokk asked when Cole finished getting him settled.
Cole sat in the chair he’d become far too familiar with over the past few days. “I’m not playing any game with her.”
Brokk winced as he pushed himself further into a seated position. “I heard your conversation with Sahira. We’re not exactly known to do things out of the kindness of our hearts, but I’ve never known you to play with an innocent’s head.”
“I’m not playing with her head.”
“She’s young, and we both know she’s inexperienced. She’s led a sheltered life here.”
“How can you say that when you barely know her?”
“I know she’s an innocent, and so do you. I remember how Del talked about her and how he kept her protected from the worst of the realms. He was our friend, and she doesn’t know how to handle creatures like Malakai or us. You’ve never been one to take advantage of that, so what game are you playing, Cole?”
Cole gripped the ends of the chair. “I told you, I’m not playing any game. I owe it to Del and her to keep her safe, and I plan to do exactly that. They took us in here, and they kept you alive; I will repay that debt.”
Brokk’s head fell back and hit the headboard with a small thud. “It’s a debt I’ll repay too, and she is beautiful. They both are.”
“Stay away from Lexi,” Cole warned.
Brokk lifted his head and met his gaze, but his brother was smart enough to keep his mouth shut.
CHAPTER 41
Lexi poked her head into Brokk’s room and was pleased to discover him sitting up with his back against the headboard and a book on his lap. When he looked up at her, he smiled as she stepped into the room.
“How are you feeling?” she asked.
He laid the book down as she approached the bed. Though he remained paler than normal, his eyes were bright, and the color had returned to his handsome face. His blond hair was disheveled, and he could probably use a shower, but he was on the road to recovery, which meant he and Cole would leave soon.
Lexi pushed aside the pang of disappointment accompanying the realization as she stopped next to his bed. She would miss Cole, which meant she was an idiot who allowed herself to get too attached to a dark fae.
“I’m much better,” Brokk said. “Thank you for taking me in.”
She waved away his gratitude. “Anyone would have done the same.”
“No, they wouldn’t, and we both know that.”
His aqua eyes perused her from head to toe, but she didn’t sense any sexual interest from him. However, the intensity of his gaze made her shift uncomfortably.
“Can I get you anything?” she asked.
“No, I’m good,” he said.
“We have a TV downstairs, and the electricity is working right now; I can bring it up so you can watch it. There aren’t many channels left, but sometimes they air something decent.”
“I’m good. Cole gave me this book to read.” He held up the first Harry Potter book for her to see. “Have you read this?”
Lexi bit back a laugh as she stared at the cover. “A few times.”
“It’s really good.”
This time, she couldn’t stop herself from chuckling. “I told your brother the same thing.”
And he’d liked it enough to recommend it to his brother, which meant she’d turned him into a Potter groupie. Now she had someone to discuss the books with as Sahira refused to read books about wizards. She claimed she had enough witches and warlocks to deal with without reading about them.
“I can’t tell you the number of times Cole has been wrong over the years, but he wasn’t wrong about this,” Brokk said.
“He may have been wrong a lot over the years, but I’m always right,” she said.
Brokk laughed. “Over the years, I’ve learned most women are always right.”
Lexi glanced around the room, but there was nowhere for Cole to hide in here. She couldn’t stop herself from asking. “Where is Cole?”
“He decided against spending another night sleeping on the chair, so he’s settling into the guestroom you gave him.”
Lexi clasped her hands before her. “Are you sure you don’t need anything?”
“Some company,” he said and waved at the chair. “My brother’s not exactly a barrel full of laughs.”
She strode around the bed and settled into the chair Cole often occupied. “I’m not sure I’ll be much better.”
“You have to be better than a pissy lycan with the arrogance of a dark fae.”
A burst of laughter escaped her. “You’re right; I’m a lot better than that.”
“I thought so,” Brokk said. “So, Elexiandra—”
“Call me Lexi.”
“So, Lexi, has my brother been driving you crazy?”
She leaned back in the chair. One of his brothers had infuriated her, but she couldn’t tell him that. The other one had been…. Well, she wasn’t entirely sure what Cole had been doing to her, but yes, he was making her a little crazy.
“It’s been nice to have some company,” she admitted. With his dazzling smile and twinkling eyes, Brokk was incredibly easy to talk to. “Though I wish you’d come here under better circumstances.”
“So do I.”
His eyes ran over her, and he studied her with that strange intensity again, but she still sensed only curiosity from him. Unlike Cole and Orin, he was easy-going, which was odd considering he’d nearly died.
“It looks like you’ll be good to go soon,” she said.
“I should, but I don’t think Cole’s in any rush.”
Her forehead furrowed, but before she could respond, Cole stepped into the room. His massive frame took up most of the doorframe as he gazed at them with an expression she couldn’t quite figure out. He looked annoyed but also amused and a little shocked.
Then his gaze settled on her and a sexy smile curved his lips. Butterflies erupted in her stomach as that smile warmed her to her soul. Yes, she was an idiot who had allowed herself to get too close to a dark fae, and she was going to miss him when he left.
“Cole!” Brokk greeted loudly. “We were just talking about you.”
&nb
sp; Lexi tried to suppress the blush creeping up her neck and into her cheeks, but she failed. She’d been hoping Cole hadn’t heard their conversation, but Brokk was happy to inform him that he was their topic.
A steel edge settled into Cole’s eyes when they flicked to his brother. “I heard.”
Lexi rose from the chair. “I should go. Are you sure you don’t need anything?” she asked Brokk.
“No, thank you.”
She strode around the bed and toward the doorway, but Cole didn’t move out of her way. Her step slowed as she approached him. Memories of what passed between them in the library flooded her, and her mouth went dry.
If he didn’t move, she’d either be stuck in this room with them or forced to squeeze past him. And if Lexi touched him again, she might kiss him, and if she did, she didn’t know if she would stop.
“You don’t have to rush off on my account,” Cole said as his gaze raked over her.
Her step faltered. “I’m not.”
Though she was.
After the library events, and then with Malakai, she wasn’t entirely sure what to do about him. She couldn’t deny she was coming to like and even care for him, but if she allowed herself to get closer to him, it would only lead to heartache, and her heart had been battered enough this year.
And since they were leaving soon, she had to put some distance between them.
• • •
Cole reluctantly stepped out of her way so she could pass. She glanced at him, but her gaze fell to the floor as she slipped by him. The blush warming her cheeks was endearing and adorable.
It took all he had not to clasp her wrist and halt her, but he didn’t move as she left the room. Stepping back, he watched the sway of her hips as she strolled down the hall and descended the steps.
When she was gone, he turned his attention back to his brother, who grinned at him. When Cole scowled at him, the smile slid from Brokk’s face.
“I’m warning you, Brokk, don’t fuck with her.”
Brokk pushed himself up higher on the bed. “Unlike you, brother, I have no intention of doing so.”
“I’m not fucking with her,” Cole said.
“Maybe not, but it’s obvious you desire her. And not only is she an innocent, but she’s a good person, and I like her. Del was also our friend, and I don’t want to see his daughter hurt.”
Shadows of Fire (The Shadow Realms, Book 1) Page 17