Page 91 of Shadows of Light
Until then, he wouldnotbe the prophecy. Not yet, anyway. The shadows were back, louder than ever, but he retained some control. He could keep them at bay while he had a chance of saving Lexi… at least for a little longer.
He didn’t kid himself into thinking that, as more time passed and the whispers grew louder and the shadows stronger, he’d retain this amount of control. But for now, he could.
And he had to. He and Lexi were working to bring the realms together; they couldn’t do that if he started offing the residents.
But they also couldn’t do it if Lexi didn’t have the cure.
“Listen!” Cole shouted again. “We came here for crudue vine; it’s rumored you know where it is. I asked your merfolk for help, and they refused. Now, I’m asking you.”
The queen tried to kick him again, but he easily sidestepped the blow as the drenched and irritated-looking others climbed out from behind their boulders. Sahira pulled a yellow starfish from her hair and tossed it toward the sea. Skog scowled at him before shifting his attention to the merfolk.
“You donotcome to Atlantia and demand our help!” King Firth roared.
“I asked for your help to savethequeen of the Shadow Realms.”
“We don’t concern ourselves with the business of other immortals.”
Cole’s hand tightened on the queen’s throat. “She’s to be my wife. Sheismy mate. Concern yourself with that; understandthat.”
The king’s face remained impassive as his queen stood with her chin raised and defiance emanating from her slender body. The king’s gaze met his wife’s. This was the woman he loved and would do anything to save.
“You know what I am,” Cole said to the merking. “Which means you must know the only reason your wife andallyour followers are still alive is because I have chosennotto kill them.”
“The Shadow Reaver,” the queen stated.
“That’s right, and we didn’t come here to fight or make enemies. If you help us, we’ll repay the favor. I came here to save the womanIlove and will marry, but I need your help. She’s also the only one who can keep the Reaver at bay. Without her, it’s only a matter of time before the shadows let loose.”
“You came here and not only threatened my people but also mywife,and I’m supposed to help you?” the king demanded.
“Yes.”
A stunned silence followed Cole’s simple word. And then the queen spoke.
CHAPTERSEVENTY
“We knowwhere to find some crudue vine,” the queen said.
“Mira,” King Firth said in a warning tone.
“You would do this and more to save me, Firth. The queen of the Shadow Realms is trying to make them all a better place, and at least we don’t have to fear her killing us for no reason like we did the Lord.
“If she dies, do we want some other immortal taking the throne and leaving us with another madman to deal with? Or worse, are we going to be the reason the Reaver destroys all the realms? I’m assuming he’ll start with us.”
“I will,” Cole confirmed.
Firth didn’t look happy about his wife’s words, but the funnel of water he’d been riding lowered him onto the shore. “Let my wife go.”
Cole debated this for only a second. He could easily reclaim the queen if necessary, but releasing her now would be a sign of good faith. Letting her go, he kept the shadows in front of the other merfolk as he cleared a path to let her glide toward her husband.
The king grasped her arms and looked the queen over before pushing her behind him. Mira looked more irritated by this than Cole’s capture of her; she immediately stepped out from behind her husband.
Cole almost laughed over the exchange. The woman reminded him of Lexi, but he’d stopped finding anything funny the second the shadows whispered to him about Lexi’s downfall.
“Where is the vine?” he asked.
“On the other side of Atlantia is the Malignant Waters, a salty lake full of ocean creatures.Allof them are ruthless, and no one has successfully taken the vine from them in centuries, but there’s crudue at the bottom of the lake,” Mira said.
“And I’m supposed to believe you’re telling me the truth?”
