Page 33 of Shadows of Light
They would be foolish not to make sure she was okay after everything the previous Lords, especially the last one, unleashed on the realms. Their insanity had nearly destroyed them all.
Besides, the arach hadn’t shown good judgment when they destroyed each other. It was smart to distrust her, but she still felt perfectly sane, as well as exhausted and heartbroken.
“When you’re ready, I’d like to visit your new home,” Lexi said.
“I shall inform my peers.” Approval and pride shimmered in Skog’s hazel eyes. “I think we will be ready for visitors within a week or two.”
Lexi bit her lip to keep from laughing over the seriousness of the dwarf’s words. Skog was often grumpy and never pulled his punches, but she liked the nearly five-foot-tall dwarf who was bigger than most of his brethren by about six inches. His brown skin and bald head reflected the colors of the fading sun.
“I look forward to it,” she said honestly.
They all returned to eating and idle chitchat while Lexi studied the darkening night. If Cole was going to return, it would be at night, but she couldn’t bring herself to rise.
She yearned for him to return but suspected it wouldn’t be tonight. Once she left here, she would sit in her room, awake and waiting, only to be disappointed. So instead, she stayed and tried to focus on the conversation.
Maverick and Brokk were unusually quiet, and she’d become accustomed to Varo’s silence. Sahira, Kaylia, Skog, and her dad made up for it as they discussed the growing Dragonian army.
“Lexi has decided to give much of the carisle back to the realms the Lord overtaxed, but we still have plenty enough to pay a decent salary,” her dad said.
“Money can buy loyalty,” Orin murmured.
“Not always,” Sahira said. “If someone comes along who offers more money, they’ll happily turn on Lexi.”
“There aren’t many whocouldoffer more money, and a larger army will cut down on some of the threats against her life.”
Lexi felt all their eyes shift to her, but she didn’t acknowledge them. She was aware there was a giant bullseye on her back.
Instead, she rose and walked over to the window. She leaned against the wall and stared at the valley bathed in silver moonlight.
She rested her fingers on the ledge as she inhaled deeply. The air still held the hint of fire and blood from the war, but the natural aromas of grass, flowers, the deepening fall, and the crisp freshness of mountain air had started to return.
“What is that?” Orin demanded.
Lexi turned to see what he was talking about. Her stomach plummeted when she saw his eyes were riveted on her… as was everyone else’s.
And they were all motionless.
CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE
“What is what?”Lexi asked in confusion.
When he rose, Orin’s chair skittered across the stone floor before toppling with a bang. Lexi winced as the sound rebounded off the walls.
Anger clouded Orin’s features as he stomped across the room toward her. Lexi almost backed away from him, but there was nowhere for her to go, and this washerhome. She wouldn’t be intimidated by a pissy dark fae with a bee up his ass.
“Orin,” Maverick said as he rose, “careful.”
Orin didn’t acknowledge him as he snarled, “What is on your neck?”
Lexi’s blood ran cold. She still wore the cloak to hide Cole’s marks on her, but in the moonlight, they would glow silver. The cloak didn’t hide the radiance of his bite.
Throwing her shoulders back, Lexi lifted her chin as Orin loomed over her. He wasn’t as tall as Cole, but he was still a good eight inches over her five-seven height. Still, she refused to be intimidated by him.
She had enough shit to deal with without adding his crap to the mix.
“Who did youfuck?” Orin exploded.
Lexi recoiled as if he’d slapped her.
