Shadows of Fire (The Shadow Realms, Book 1)
Page 28
Once that was settled and the trials were over, he would use his power to help him find a way to sink his claws into the Lord and rip him to pieces. He would celebrate as that bastard’s blood covered him.
“Cole.” Brokk reached for his arm, but blood coated him so thickly that his brother hesitated before lowering his hand without touching him. “The fae council is going to descend on this palace as soon as they learn of father’s death.”
“I know.”
“They won’t want either of us ruling. We’re only half breeds.”
“They’re not going to have a choice.”
“Great. Fantastic. Glad to hear you say that because I’d really like to kill the Lord, and we’re going to need the power of the fae throne behind us to help with that, but if you’re not here when they arrive, then what? I don’t want to throw myself in the ring as I want nothing to do with ruling the Gloaming.”
“I know.”
“You never wanted to rule it either.”
“I still don’t.”
“Then—”
“I don’t have a choice either. I am going to rule because if I don’t, the Lord is going to destroy us all,” Cole interrupted. “I will rule because I’m going to fucking kill that prick if it’s the last thing I do. But I have to see Lexi first.”
“Cole—”
Brokk stopped speaking and took a startled step back when Cole spun on him. “She’s my mate, Brokk. She’s mine, and I am going to see her. If the council shows up here before I return, then you will have to stall them. I don’t care how you do it. Just do it.”
Brokk gawked at him, and this time when Cole walked away from him, it was a few seconds before his brother scrambled to catch up again.
“Your mate as in your lycan mate?” Brokk demanded when he arrived at Cole’s side again.
“Yes.”
“Holy shit. Why didn’t you say something? I could have checked on her.”
“I wasn’t expecting to be gone so long.” Or to come back soaked in his father’s blood. “I didn’t expect any of this.”
And he’d certainly never expected to watch his father die, to be forced to endure the trials, rule the Gloaming, or have the Lord breathing down his neck about his rebellious brothers. He hadn’t expected to leave Lexi for nearly two weeks when he walked away from her manor.
Because of his dark fae nature, she probably thought he’d abandoned her, and she had every right to believe that, but he would make sure she learned the truth. And he had to make sure she was safe before starting the trials. He would never get through them if he were worried about her, and there was no way Cole could let her keep thinking that he’d used her and left her.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Brokk demanded.
“I wasn’t ready.”
Brokk didn’t speak again as Cole continued to his room. He hated the silence that descended because with the silence came the memories, and every room and hallway he ever entered this place contained memories of his father.
His father had walked these halls. He’d ruled over and loved them, just as he’d loved his children. And his children loved him.
With every corner Cole turned, he expected to find his father gliding toward him. A smile would brighten his face when he saw Cole, and his arms would open for a quick embrace and pat on the back.
Tove, King of the dark fae, was a cold and ruthless ruler to the outside world. To his sons, he was a man who was loved, and they loved him in return.
Cole fingered the rings his father gave him before everything went to shit. The rings once belonged to his father and mother, and now they were his. And he hoped that one day Lexi would wear his mother’s.
But that was an obstacle for a later time. Now, Cole just had to see her, to make sure she was safe, and return here to take control of the Gloaming.
He sneered at the reminder. He never thought anything would ever happen to his father. The man had ruled these lands for over seven hundred years; he was ruler before Cole was born. He’d been the longest-running dark fae king, and in a moment… just one, lightning-fast, hideous fucking moment, he was gone.
Cole shuddered as some of his rage ebbed, and the grief crept back in again. Except, he had no time for grief.
He had trials to survive, a throne to ascend, and hell to unleash.
Lexi and Cole’s story continues in Shadows of Discovery.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brenda K. Davies is the USA Today Bestselling author of the Vampire Awakening Series, Alliance Series, Road to Hell Series, Hell on Earth Series, and historical romantic fiction. She also writes under the pen name, Erica Stevens. When not out with friends and family, she can be found at home with her husband, son, dogs, cat, and horse.