Shadows of Discovery by Brenda K. Davies
Chapter Six
Cole didn’t look backat Sahira as he climbed the steps to the manor. Shifting his hold on Lexi, he opened the door. Sahira arrived at his side as he stepped into the cool, dark interior of the home.
“Malakai did this?” she demanded.
“Yes.”
“Are you telling me the truth?”
He glanced at her before striding down the hall toward the stairs. “Yes.”
“I swear if you’re lying to me, if you did this—”
“I didn’t do this, and I’m not a liar,” he interrupted. “When I get my hands on Malakai, he will pay for it.”
“I have to gather some of my supplies.”
She didn’t leave his side as she hovered nearby and peered at Lexi’s face. When she tried to touch her, Cole moved Lexi away without realizing that’s what he intended to do.
Sahira glared at him; he glared back.
“What are you doing back here?” she asked.
“I came back for her.”
“Why would you do that? She’s not a play toy or a game. I will not let you hurt her.”
“I’m not going to hurt her.”
“You already have. Where have you been?” she demanded as they started to climb the stairs.
He didn’t reply. He owed Lexi answers, not her.
“Conveniently, you showed up again today, and this is what she looks like,” she said.
“More like lucky. Where were you when Malakai was attacking her in the barn?”
“Where was I? Where have you been?” she retorted as he opened the door to Lexi’s room.
The familiarity of her scent and the memories of their time here almost mollified him. However, nothing was going to calm the lycan while Lexi remained like this. He hit the light switch to chase away the shadows and get a better look at her, but they remained off. The power was out again.
Carefully, he set Lexi on the bed and sat beside her. Sahira tried to push past him, but he caught her wrist to hold her back.
“Don’t get between us,” he warned.
She started to say something, but then her mouth parted. He didn’t know what she saw on his face as she took a small step back.
“I’ll get my supplies,” she said.
“Go.”
She glanced from Lexi to him and back again.
“She’s safe with me,” he said.
Clasping Lexi’s hand against his chest, he ran his hand up and down her silken skin as he sought to pierce through her unconscious haze.
Sahira hesitated before bowing her head. “I’ll be right back.”
Cole didn’t look up as she left the room. Leaning forward, he brushed the hair back from Lexi’s face and ran his fingers along her temple. Despite the damage Malakai inflicted on her, she was still strikingly beautiful and his.
Setting her hand down, he carefully touched the bruises marring her throat and face. Her other hand was turning black and blue, and when he carefully lifted it, the broken bones in it shifted as they ground together.
Hair sprouted from the backs of his hands, and his claws lengthened as he continued his exam.