Shadows of Fire (The Shadow Realms, Book 1) by Brenda Davies (free e books to read .TXT) 📕

never liked Malakai, butthe wolf part of him marked the vamp for death.

“Perhaps you’ve seen the traitor,”Malakai said to Cole.

“Who is it?” Cole asked, and the questioncame out as more of a growl.

“Your brother. Orin. Some of the boys” —hewaved a hand at the lycan surrounding him— “almost had him, but hemanaged to get away.”

“We fucked him up real bad,” one of thelycans bragged.

Cole managed to keep his face impassive as aknife of dread lodged in his heart and twisted deep. They werehunting Orin, and his brother was injured. Was it so bad hewouldn’t be able to hide?

“I haven’t seen Orin in a couple of years,”Cole replied with an indifference he didn’t feel.

He couldn’t lose another brother.

“Hmm.” Malakai rubbed his chin while hestudied Cole. “That’s too bad. You could always help us look forhim.”

“You can’t handle it yourself, Malakai?”

“Of course I can, but you know him betterthan any of us. You know how he thinks. Maybe it’s you who can’thandle watching your traitor of a brother die.”

A seething tempest boiled inside Cole untilhe felt like a volcano about to blow, but he smiled at Malakai. “Mybrother’s been dead to me for years.”

It wasn’t true. He would always love Orin.Out of all his brothers, the two of them butted heads the most, butOrin would forever be his brother. Orin was the second of hisfather’s children, and only thirty-five years separated them.

They hadn’t grown up together, but Cole hadwatched him grow from a babe to a child to a stubborn adult with apowerful will. And once Orin was old enough, they trained together,laughed and drank together, and developed a bond that came withblood and shared experiences.

And now Orin would be hunted as long as theLord of the Shadow Realms remained on the throne.

• • •

Lexi was extremely glad Malakai and Cole werefocused on each other as the blood drained from her face and herstomach plummeted into her toes.

Malakai, her freaking neighbor,was looking for a traitor. A traitor who was attacked by lycan andCole’s brother. A dark fae who was sitting inher tunnels.

She had to get away from these two and Orinaway from her home. What was she thinking by helpinghim?

It took everything she had not to slumpagainst the stand behind her as the pouch slung over her shouldersuddenly felt as if it weighed a thousand pounds. She’d bought ahealing potion. If any of them asked what was in the pouchor demanded to see it, she had no idea what she would say.

Sahira easily could have made what the pouchcontained; why would she come to the market to purchase it? Hermind spun as she tried to come up with some plausible answer, butthe only thing she could come up with was that Sahira was out ofthe ingredients and they had a sick animal at home.

It was flimsy at best and easy enough todisprove, but it might be enough to get her out of here and back tothe manor. She’d have to tell Sahira about it then, but she’d worryabout that if the time came.

Why had she decided this would be a goodidea?

She almost clutched the pouch against herchest, but it would only draw attention, so she restrained herselffrom doing so.

She glanced around for an escape. However,there was nowhere for her to go. She couldn’t exactly run awaywithout making them a little curious.

So, she had to stand here and try not to looklike a cornered rabbit surrounded by powerful men who would turnagainst her if they learned what she’d done.

And if she managed to get out of this, shehad to go home, give Orin the potion, and get him out of hertunnels before she put Sahira in jeopardy. No, she’d already donethat with her reckless actions. Now, she had to fix it.

“Then, if you happen across Orin, you’ll letus know,” Malakai said.

“I’ll bring him in myself,” Cole replied.

Lexi tried not to wince at the harshness ofthose words. Cole was talking about his brother. They’dopposed each other, but how could he be so callous about hisbrother?

Because he’s a dark fae.

No, it was more than that. He was animmortal, and many of them weren’t known for their kindness;Malakai and his pack of lycan proved that. She didn’t belong hereamid these ruthless, coldblooded men, but she’d inadvertentlyinserted herself in the middle of this awful mess.

“I’m sure you will,” Malakai said beforeturning to her. “I’ll see you soon, Elexiandra.”

The look in his eyes made her blood run cold.He would come to her manor soon. Lexi didn’t reply as Malakaiwalked away with the lycan following him.

Gradually, the marketplace came alive aroundthem again. With the Lord’s men out of the way, people andimmortals resumed their day while she and Cole remained standing bythe woman’s food stand.

Then Cole turned toward her, and she saw thesteely gleam in his eyes. She forced herself not to gulp as sheconsidered what he would do if he learned she was harboring hisfugitive brother, a man he would hand over for execution.

“How do you know Malakai?” Cole asked.

How did she answer that question?

He’s the bane of my existence. Hethinks he’s going to marry me, and I’m terrified he’ll find a wayto succeed.

For some reason, Malakai believed she was hisconsort, or maybe he didn’t. Maybe he saw her as something to ownand not as his fated one. The more she considered it, the more shebelieved that was more likely. He saw her as an accessory and nothis consort.

Besides, she’d heard that when any vampirefound their consort in another vampire, it was a mutualrealization. If she was Malakai’s consort, wouldn’t she feel ittoo? And she most certainly did not.

But then again, probably not. She couldn’ttransport like vampires, she walked freely in the sun, and shewasn’t as strong as them. She was only half vampire, and that mightmake it impossible to feel the pull of the consort bond.

However, she didn’t tell Cole any of thesethings because this man did not care about her problems.Instead, she simply said, “He’s my neighbor.”

“I see,” he murmured, but his attentionremained on the direction Malakai went.

“I have to go,” she said and gave a subtletug on