Page 82 of Shadows of Light
“No,” Sahira assured him. “Kaylia cast a spell to freeze her heart before the poison could kill her. We have to find the antidote. We can save her, if we find it.”
“No one has seen crudue vine in centuries,” Maverick said.
Sahira spun on him. “You think I don’tknowthat? Do you think I don’trealizethat? But we have to find it. This is my niece, and I won’t lose her!”
Maverick held up his hands in a placating gesture. “We’ll find it.”
“It’s too late,” Kaylia whispered.
Her words caused Sahira’s heart to sink. She’d been so certain Kaylia’s spell had bought them time; they could save Lexi if they had time.
“The spell….”
Sahira’s words trailed off when she realized Kaylia wasn’t talking about the spell being too late for Lexi. It was too late because ofCole.
Outside the window, darkness seeped across the horizon as shadows rolled forth like towering thunderclouds. Unlike when he drew the shadows into him before to reveal more of the sun, they blocked out much of the light as they spread across the land.
Enough light remained for those shadows to thrive. Screams rang across the land, but they sounded more like panic than suffering. She didn’t think the Reaver was killing… yet, but he’d come to rain down hell on those who’d failed Lexi.
“Shit,” Maverick breathed.
The shadows rolled across the land until they pressed against the window and seeped inside. Sahira didn’t dare move as their tendrils weaved throughout the room before brushing against Lexi.
Sahira considered wiping the blood away from her chin, it would only incense Cole more when he saw it, but she didn’t dare move as the shadows created a blanket around Lexi. When some brushed against her flesh, she didn’t jerk away from their cool touch.
As darkness descended over the realm, the shadows lifted Cole, and he rose to hover before the window. Sahira’s breath caught in her chest and remained trapped there; breathing might trigger an attack.
Sahira had never seen anything like the man standing across from her. Not even when he absorbed the shadows to defeat the Lord had Cole looked so menacing and hell-bent on destruction.
When his gaze fell to Lexi, Sahira shuddered at the rage and grief in eyes so silver they burned brighter than the moon. Sahira could barely think through her sorrow and terror, but she knew one thing for sure…
Cole had come to exact revenge, and he would have it. The Shadow Reaver had been unleashed on the realms.
“She’s alive, Cole!” Sahira blurted as the shadows carried Cole into the room. “Kaylia froze her heart before the poison could destroy her. She’s alive!”
When Cole stopped beside Lexi, his silver eyes with the shadows creeping through them latched onto her, Sahira’s bladder clenched, and she nearly pissed herself. She wasn’t sure if she was getting through to him, didn’t know if he understood her, and wasn’t certain it would matter if he understood.
He looked ready to slaughter everyone as the shadows danced around him in a serpentine rhythm that would have made Medusa’s snakes proud. They crept across his face and chest as they slithered through his skin.
“We can save her, Cole,” Maverick said as he stepped in front of Sahira.
Cole’s head swiveled toward him, and his nostrils flared. “Get away from her.”
Maverick held up his hands as he edged away. Sahira was surprised to see the powerful, alpha lycan retreat from anything, but he had to know he wouldn’t survive a battle with Cole, and his nephew’s state of mind wasn’t one for rationale. He would attack his uncle without a second thought.
Slowly, Cole knelt beside Lexi. Sahira retreated from her niece and grasped Del’s hand when he extended it to her. Her brother helped her rise while Cole’s fingers wiped away the blood on Lexi’s chin.
For a second, emotion registered on his face as anguish radiated from him. Sahira could practically hear his heart screaming for her.
They’d just found each other again. Tomorrow was supposed to be one of the happiest days of their lives, and now… now…this.
“Who did this?” Cole hissed in a voice not his own.
More footsteps pounded down the hallway a second before Orin, Brokk, and Varo ran into the room. The three brothers skidded to a halt when they spotted Lexi and Cole.
“What the fuck?” Brokk blurted.
“Who. Did.This?” Cole bit out.
