Page 84 of Shadows of Light
“How long were you reporting to him about what was happening in the Gloaming?” Cole demanded.
“From the second I entered the palace to work for you.” Amaris’s eyes remained defiant as blood coated her tunic. “I bet you don’t knowwhenthat was.”
Cole bent lower until their noses almost touched. “No, because I didn’t give a fuck. You weren’t worth noticing, and Andreas knew it. He only paid attention to you because he wanted something from you and got it. But you know who did notice you?”
He pointed a finger at Lexi’s unmoving form. “Her. She was probably the only one whoevergave a shit about your worthless ass, andthisis how you repaid her.”
“She deserves to die, just likeyou. Andreas loved me, and you took him from me.”
Cole sneered at her as the shadows yanked her hands to the side. “You’re an idiot, and you’ll die because of it.”
“I welcome death to be with my love again. But you will continue to live with the knowledgeIwas the one who took your fiancée and mate from you. You’ll never find crudue vine, which means she’s as good as dead.
“Dragonia will fall, and you’ll rot in your inability to save her. Isn’t it fitting that you’ll always get to look at her and see your bride-to-be in the wedding dress she never got to wear down the aisle? I think it is.”
The bellow Cole released was so loud it rebounded around the room and echoed throughout the land. Sahira resisted slapping her hands over her ears as she recoiled from the raw anguish permeating his voice.
Her heart broke for him as tears burned her eyes. Lexi and Cole had fought so hard for everyone. They’d been so close to the life of happiness they deserved, and this rottenbitchhad stolen it from them.
Again, Sahira didn’t see Cole move until both his hands clasped the sides of Amaris’s face. Amaris struggled in his grasp, and her feet kicked against the floor as Cole squeezed until her head exploded and pieces of her showered the walls and Cole.
Sahira managed to restrain herself from making any noise, but Kaylia gagged before stifling the sound. Brokk rested his hand on her shoulder as Kaylia regained control of herself.
From below, shouts arose. Sahira turned to the window as Alina craned her head to peer down at the land.
“Invaders,” Alina stated. “This traitor wasn’t working alone.”
Cole strode over to Lexi and carefully lifted her off the floor. He cradled her against his chest before kissing her forehead and walking over to Alina.
“Take her somewhere safe,” Cole said. “Keep her protected.”
Alina bowed her head before carefully lifting Lexi with one of her talons. The dragon nestled Lexi against her chest as she took flight.
Del stretched a hand forward to stop her, but it fell limply back to his side when Alina disappeared. Sahira squeezed her brother’s hand as outside, metal clashed against metal and more shouts erupted
Sahira closed her eyes as she braced for another fight and more blood. When she opened her eyes again, Cole had climbed onto the windowsill.
“This won’t last long,” the shadows snarled before Cole leapt from the window.
Sahira and the others rushed over to look down as the shadows guided Cole to the ground. Before his feet hit the earth, more screams erupted, but these were different than the battle cries of war. These were the screams of those being tortured, dismembered, and strewn about.
The stone sill bit into Sahira’s skin, and a breeze tickled her face as she leaned further out to see the portals where all immortals, other than dragons and Lexi, entered and exited Dragonia. Immortals were already trying to flee through those portals as the dragons and shadows descended on them.
But it was too late; no one escaped the wrath of the shadows.
CHAPTERSIXTY-FOUR
“Well, that was a quick fight,”Orin muttered as the last of the invaders fell beneath Cole and the dragons’ vengeance.
He stepped away from the window and turned to survey the wreckage of Amaris. If they weren’t careful and didn’t find the crudue vine, that would bealltheir heads.
Orin gulped as he rubbed his throat. He much preferred his head intact. It was far too good-looking a head to be anywhere else.
But if anyone could take it, it was the Reaver.
“Where do we find this crudue vine?” Brokk asked.
When the scorpion started tapping the glass again, Orin rubbed his throat again. Cole would return soon, and it wouldn’t be pretty when he did.
