Shadows of Discovery by Brenda K. Davies
Chapter Thirteen
Lexi kepther apprehension hidden as she stared at Cole and then around the room. Many tried and failed for a hundred years before Tove ascended the throne. And she would bet every last one of them was a purebred dark fae.
The dark fae designed the trials for a purebred dark fae. Would he be able to survive them?
She closed her eyes against the doubts churning in her mind. She couldn’t do anything to keep him from the trials, and she wouldn’t even if she could. He had to do this for himself and his father.
She would do the same.
“A hundred years without a king?” she whispered.
“That was many years ago,” Cole said. “It won’t be anywhere near that long this time.”
She hoped he was right. She couldn’t take losing him a second time.
“Now, if you’re ready, I’d like to change,” he said to her.
“Of course,” she replied.
When he offered her his arm, she slipped hers through his. He locked it against his side before clasping Brokk’s shoulder. “Thanks for having my back.”
“Always,” Brokk said.
Lexi walked with him through the double-wide doorway of the great hall and back into the main hallway. Her step faltered when she spotted the woman who sat in on the council meeting.
Her skin crawled as the woman’s black eyes surveyed her. Then a smile twisted a mouth that would have been beautiful if not for the cruelty of it.
She’d seen the way this woman looked at Cole and didn’t have to see the hostility in her eyes to know there was something between them. Lexi buried the knot of jealousy in her chest and pulled back her shoulders as the woman strode toward them.
“Cole,” the woman purred in a voice meant for seduction.
Cole was rigid as he stared at the woman with a look of disdain that probably would have deterred many; the woman never hesitated.
“Becca,” he greeted coldly.
“And who is this?” Becca asked as her eyes ran over Lexi. “I didn’t see her during the meeting.”
“That’s because she wasn’t there.”
“Oh, really.” Becca’s eyes flicked pointedly toward the great hall. “But you both came from there.”
“What is your point?” Cole demanded.
The lethal tone of his voice would dissuade most, but Becca was used to getting her way and rarely deterred from it. She smiled as her almond-shaped eyes narrowed on Lexi. Ciphers coiled around Becca’s hands and wrists before vanishing beneath the sleeves of her tunic.
“No point, just an observation. The council wouldn’t like it if our conversation was overheard by—” She paused as her gaze raked disdainfully over Lexi. “—a vampire? Witch? What is your newest play toy, Cole?”
Cole tried to pull her away from Becca, but Lexi refused to budge. She wasn’t as powerful as this woman, but she wouldn’t back down from the bitch either.
“My name is Lexi,” she said.
Some of Becca’s amused derision vanished. “I never asked your fucking name.”
Lexi didn’t see Cole move before he was standing over Becca. She backed away from him until her foot connected with the wall and she couldn’t go any further. Cole towered over her as he rested a hand on the wall beside her head.
“I’d watch what you say.”
The hair on Lexi’s nape rose at Cole’s warning. For the first time, Becca didn’t look smug as a glimmer of unease crossed her striking features.
“Before you speak again, think carefully, Becca. Do you understand?” he demanded.
A muscle in Becca’s jaw twitched; she managed a small nod before Cole stepped away and clasped Lexi’s hand. Becca looked like her head might explode, but she wisely chose not to say anything more.
“Get out of my home,” Cole said.
Becca lifted her chin. “You don’t want me as an enemy.”
“You’ve got that wrong, Becca. You don’t want me as an enemy. Now, get out.”
She hesitated before giving Lexi another scathing glare. Then she turned and sauntered away as if the encounter never happened. Cole didn’t relax until the door closed behind her.
“Are you okay?” he demanded of her.
“I’m fine,” she assured him. “But I don’t think she likes me very much.”
“She doesn’t matter.”
“She doesn’t agree.”
“I don’t care.”
He didn’t say anything more, and Lexi forced herself not to look back as she walked with him down the hall.