Page 27 of Shadows of Light
Her eyes squeezed closed as she struggled to suppress the tears burning her throat and eyes. If it wasn’t for the pleasant soreness between her legs, and his lingering scent on the air, she might have believed she’d dreamed last night, but she knew the truth.
Besides, she didn’t have such pleasant dreams anymore. They’d died beneath the bloodbath of the Lord’s war and the pressure of becoming a queen.
While Cole was here, she didn’t have any nightmares either. By the time they finished with each other, she was too exhausted to do anything but sleep.
Which was why she didn’t notice when he slipped away.
She didn’t bother to hope this was a return to when they first got together and he’d sleep somewhere else because he was afraid he’d hurt her. Then, she’d always been able to sense him nearby.
Now, emptiness filled the room.
Frustration tore through her as she shoved herself up to take in the room. As she’d known it would, emptiness greeted her. No sign of him remained.
She didn’t know when he’d left, but judging by the coolness of the bed beside her and the absence of his allspice scent, it was hours ago, which only made the emptiness of the room somehow more profound.
Lexi swung her feet out of bed and sat for a minute before rising to stalk over to the window. Judging by the sun’s position, she’d slept later than normal.
Dragons flew around Dragonia as she took in the vast, beautiful kingdom, the towering mountains, and the residents who hurried about their business. Even as she searched for Cole, she knew it was pointless; he was gone.
She’d mistakenly believed she’d gotten through to him last night, that she’d chased away the shadows and he would stay. She’d been wrong, and it killed her.
Lifting her face to the ceiling, Lexi blinked rapidly as tears streaked her cheeks, and she wiped them away. She wouldnotcry. This wasn’t over.
However, she had no idea how to save him from the shadows’ nefarious clutches. She had no idea what pulled him away from her, but it had to be something major. It wouldn’t surprise her to learn he’d unleashed a lot of destruction on the realms after he left.
She jumped when a knock sounded on her door and spun away from the window. She rushed to the bathroom and called, “Hold on a second.”
Stepping into the small room, she turned on the water and splashed her face before leaving it behind. She opened the drawers on the sage-colored dresser with delicate legs and elegant, leaf-shaped handles.
Not caring what she wore, she removed a green, fae tunic and a pair of supple, brown pants. She’d taken to wearing the dark fae’s clothes; they were comfortable and easy to move in.
Besides, she didn’t have many options. All her clothes burned when the dragons set her manor on fire. They followed the Lord’s orders at the time, but she still lost all her possessions.
She also pulled on a lightweight cloak and buttoned it at her throat. When she finished, she walked over to the full-length mirror in the corner. Tilting it toward her, she carefully examined her reflection to ensure the cloak hid Cole’s marks.
Lexi wasn’t ashamed of those marks and never would be, but she wasn’t ready to explain what happened last night. And if anyone started questioning her about them, she’d end up in tears.
She refused to let that happen.
CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR
Walking over to the door,she checked to make sure no sign of Cole remained before unlocking the door. She opened it to reveal Amaris on the other side, as well as two of her lycan guards and Brokk.
There was a chance those lycans could still smell Cole and sex, even if she couldn’t, but neither of them did anything to indicate they did. If the lycan and Brokk hadn’t sensed anything different last night, she should be fine now.
“Good morning,” she greeted Amaris.
The pretty, dark fae woman smiled at her as she breezed into the room with a dress over her arm. Lexi frowned at the dress, but her attention was pulled from it when Kaylia strolled into the room.
“Did you forget Cela and Yamala are coming today?” the beautiful crone asked.
Lexi almost closed her eyes and groaned at the reminder of the two sirens arriving this morning. They were bringing their followers who survived the final battle with the Lord.
The sirens had helped them defeat the Lord. In return, they expected her to treat them as equals among immortals.
Lexi didn’t think anything was wrong with that, which was why she and Cole agreed to the condition in return for the sirens’ aid. However, many immortals saw the sirens as nothing more than vultures who couldn’t handle more difficult prey and therefore focused on mortals.
That was about to change as Lexi would do everything she could to include the sirens from here on out. The women had helped them defeat the Lord and proven themselves more trustworthy and courageous than many other immortals.
