Page 56 of Shadows of Light
The ones he sought were down there. He suspected those below believed the concrete would hide their conversation, but it was only a matter of time before the shadows found them.
Cole smiled as the shadows rejoiced at the bloodshed to come. Nothing could keep them out except for spells and light. Whoever was down there had made a fatal mistake, and they were an idiot.
He reached out to the ones still guarding Lexi, but she remained safe. And once he finished here, she would be safer.
Bending, Cole grasped the handle carved into the door and easily lifted it. Maybe it would help keep out those weaker than him, but it was nothing compared to a pissed-off lycan’s strength.
He plucked the door from its hinges and tossed it aside. Cloaking himself in shadows, he descended into the dark depths and glided toward the light at the end of the stairs.
CHAPTERFORTY-FIVE
The sun had set,and the moon was rising when Lexi parted ways with Queen Banba and Gibborim. Despite feeling minuscule compared to them, she enjoyed their dinner and company.
Banba was quiet and thoughtful, but Gibborim was funny. He had a quick wit, enjoyed laughing, and when he slapped his knee, the breeze he created blew the hair back from her face.
Once, he accidentally knocked her over with a slap to the grass. Grasping her by her shirt, he carefully plucked her off the ground and righted her as he chuckled.
Lexi couldn’t stop laughing after that, though her dad, Brokk, Maverick, and the others weren’t as amused. Muttering something, Orin walked away to do whatever Orin did while Sahira and Kaylia went to rest.
After a while, Varo also wandered off. The last Lexi saw of him, he’d strolled over the hills and toward the merchants hawking their wares.
Those merchants sounded more enthusiastic about the things they sold than they used to, but still not as much as those who resided in other realms. An overeager warlock thrust a bottle of something at Varo, who didn’t acknowledge him as he continued.
Now, as she walked back to the palace, some of those merchants remained, but most had returned home. “My queen,” one of them blurted before falling to a knee in front of her.
Uncomfortable with the gesture but knowing this was something she was supposed to accept, Lexi rested her hand on his shoulder. “Please rise.”
The man staggered to his feet as she stopped to examine the satchels of herbs the man had on display. A pleasant aroma wafted up to her, but there were so many herbs she couldn’t differentiate one from the other.
She tried to hide her awkwardness over his reaction to her and to engage him in conversation, but she had no idea what to say. “It’s a beautiful night.”
“It is,” the man agreed and cringed when a dragon swooped overhead.
“They won’t hurt you,” Lexi assured him.
“Maybe not now.”
Lexi lifted a satchel of lavender and rose. She could use some relaxation, and though Sahira would make her something like this if she asked, she felt compelled to buy something now that she’d stopped.
“How much is this?” she asked.
“For you? Nothing.”
She smiled. “That’s awfully kind of you, but I’m going to pay.”
Lexi dipped a hand into her pocket and pulled out a few carisle. She set them onto the man’s booth, thanked him, and walked away.
She’d probably paid too much, but she didn’t like all the attention or fawning that came with her new position. Over time, she’d get used to it… maybe. But she certainly hadn’t had enough time to adjust.
When they arrived at the palace gates, the guards outside them pushed one open for her and the others. Lexi studied the mountains as stars twinkled to life in the sky and the moon rose higher. It was only a half moon, but its radiance bathed the land.
Now that they’d finished going through all the papers, she had a new mission. Tomorrow, after they executed the prisoners, she would continue searching for Cole.
She’d hoped to be armed with the knowledge of how to save him when she found him, but that hadn’t worked out. And now, she just wished to see him.
She had no idea where to start her search; it would be in Dragonia, but there weresomany mountains and caves in this unfamiliar land that it could take her years to search them all. Alina would help her, or one of the other dragons, as Alina had her hands full with her offspring, but Lexi would figure out a way to find him.
He’d left her, and he hadn’t returned, but she wouldn’t abandon him. He was suffering, and she could ease it.
