Page 2 of Shadows of Light
Besides, it would put others at risk if she was out there too. They’d focus on keeping her safe, and someone who might not have attacked could decide to if they believed they had a chance of killing her.
So here she was, scrubbing a floor while some of Maverick’s pack guarded the door. His pack had insisted on staying to rebuild and protect her.
Without their alpha and realm, they were lost and required something to focus on. She understood completely.
Her heart ached again at the reminder of Cole’s uncle. He was one of the many they lost during the battle, but his and Niall’s deaths hurt more as she’d known and liked them. They’d fought to ensure her place on the throne, stood staunchly by her and Cole’s sides, and paid for their bravery with their lives.
Her chest constricted again, and she inhaled a small, sharp breath as her head bowed. She had to get it together if she was going to rule this realm and protect the immortals and humans whose lives were thrown into chaos by the Lord.
Focusing on the floor, Lexi scrubbed harder.
“You don’t have to stay,” Lexi said. “You and the other dragons can have your freedom. I won’t keep you chained like the Lord did.”
She could practically hear Orin calling her an idiot and her father’s admonishment for offering such a thing; she’d be easy prey without the dragons. But she couldn’t do to them what the Lord did. They were beautiful, powerful creatures; she was connected to them, a part of them, and would miss them, but they deserved their freedom if they chose it.
“We are not chained to you; we are bound to you by birth. It is the way of things,” Alina said.
“Those ways could change. I’m offering you, and all the dragons, that change.”
Alina hesitated before asking, “And what of you? What will you do when your enemies come for you if we’re not here?”
“Fight.”
“And die.”
“We’ll have to wait to see.”
“We are where we are supposed to be. Your offer only solidifies that. The dragons will defend you with honor.”
“Shouldn’t you discuss it with them first? Maybe some of them would like to leave.”
“There is no need. We are all proud to serve the last arach.”
“You’re not serving me; if you ever decide you’d prefer to leave, let me know.”
“We will remain at your side always, my queen.”
Lexi couldn’t stop the relief that washed through her; she smiled a little as she returned to scrubbing the floor.
CHAPTERTWO
A small yelpproceeded a tiny snout shoving into her face and brushing her nose. Lexi reeled back and released the sponge as she recoiled from the small creature before realizing it was a baby dragon.
It hopped toward her, squeaking while its tiny wings flapped in the air, and its head tilted to study her. Too surprised to react at first, Lexi blinked at the beautiful, orange creature no bigger than a cat. She swore it smiled as it hopped up and down.
When she sat on her ass, the tiny creature jumped into her arms. Despite the sadness suffocating her, Lexi laughed as the baby dragon peered into her face and released another squeak.
“Astarot,” Alina chided.
The baby dragon ignored the speaker as it snuggled under Lexi’s chin and plopped onto her lap. Two red dragons followed the orange one. Their tiny tails swished as one leapt onto her shoulder, and the other pounced on the orange one.
They shrieked and nipped at each other before the red one rose to brush Lexi’s cheek. The orange one turned and kneaded her like a cat looking for a good place to lie before settling again.
When the red one’s warm breath caressed her skin, Lexi laughed. Cole’s absence, and the loss of her friends, made it feel like someone had carved out her heart and stomped on it, but these babies were so cute it was impossible not to find joy in them.
Lifting her head, Lexi looked up as Alina sat and stared proudly down at her offspring. “How old are they?” she asked.
“They hatched the night you took the throne.”
