Shadows of Discovery by Brenda K. Davies
Chapter Twelve
Lexi remainedhidden in the shadows, but if she poked her head out a little, she could see most of the table. The dark fae council all looked like they were walking on thin ice, while Cole looked like he’d set up a chair and was casually catching fish on that ice.
She didn’t know how he could remain so calm when she was on the verge of chewing off her fingernails to keep from screaming. She had no powers, and being half human, she wasn’t as strong as any purebred immortal, but she wanted to go out there and protect him from them… somehow.
Instead, she remained standing in the shadows, spying as she used to when she was a little girl and her dad was in one of his meetings. She was always so scared he’d catch her, but he never did.
During those times, she’d never understood half of what she overheard. She understood all of it now, and most of these fae didn’t want Cole in charge. The woman was the only one who didn’t speak as she eyed Cole in a way that made Lexi feel as murderous as Godzilla on a rampage.
“Are you done?” Cole demanded in a voice commanding enough to silence them.
They would make it difficult for him to claim the throne, but these self-important assholes already obeyed him.
“The Lord cannot threaten us,” one of the fae said.
“He can, and he has,” Cole said calmly. “How soon can the trials start?”
Lexi leaned forward to make sure she didn’t miss the response.
* * *
“I’m not sure,”Elvin said. “I will look into it and send word when I know.”
“Good,” Cole stated.
“A half-breed will not lead us,” Aelfdane declared.
“Once I survive those trials, I will.”
“My son will also endure the trials,” Durin said.
“So will mine,” Alston said.
Cole kept his face impassive while he inwardly seethed over these two assholes so gallantly offering their sons up for death. They were both too cowardly to endure the trials themselves, but if, by some miracle, one of their sons survived and he didn’t, they planned to rule the Gloaming through them.
“I will endure the trials too,” Aelfdane said.
At least he’s not as cowardly as the other two.
“That’s fine,” Cole said as he stared at Aelfdane. “If anyone else survives the trials, I’ll kill them when it’s over, as custom dictates.”
Aelfdane paled a little but didn’t respond.
“You can all go now,” Cole said.
Used to being dismissed in such a way by his father, they didn’t question it until they were to the door. Once there, they hesitated before leaving the hall. Returning to the table now would only make them look more foolish.
“Now what?” Brokk asked.
“Now, I’m going to take Lexi to my rooms,” Cole said. “She wants to return home soon, and I need you to protect her in case Malakai returns.”
“Of course,” Brokk said. “But without me here, the palace will be open to the council’s invasion.”
“Do you think they’ll try to move in?”
“Yes.”
“So do I.”
“How do we stop it?”
“Brokk can stay here,” Lexi said as she slipped from the shadows. “I’ll be fine at home with Sahira. I’m sure she’s made plenty of skin-melting potion by now.”
“That sounds lovely,” Brokk said.
“Can I come out now?” she asked.
Cole smiled as he beckoned her forward. “You already are.”
She chuckled as she descended the stairs with fluid grace. “That I am. I don’t think the council likes you.”
When she slid her hand into his, he squeezed it.
“I don’t care if they like me. I intend for them to respect and obey me, and once the trials are over, they will. Now, as for Brokk staying here, that’s not going to happen. I have to know you’re safe during the trials, and having him with you will help with that.”
“But what if they take over the palace?”
“Then I’ll drive them out again.”
He looked over her head to Brokk, who nodded his agreement.
Lexi glanced around the hall. “You can’t lose this place.”
“I won’t.”
“If they decide to move into the palace, I won’t be able to keep them from it anyway,” Brokk said. “There is no king, which means the council has a right to this place. Together, they rule the realms until a new king is crowned.”
“Before my father was crowned, the council lived here for nearly a hundred years as many tried, and failed, to survive the trials,” Cole said. “He evicted them afterward, and we will too.”