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

“Where is Lexi?” he asked.

Her fingers stopped, and the thud of theknife ceased against the wooden board. Her head remained bowed fora second before she lifted it and met his gaze. Strands of hermahogany hair had slipped loose of her bun to frame her face. Heramber eyes narrowed on him.

“Stay away from her,” Sahira said.

Cole almost chuckled in amusement, but therewasn’t anything funny about this. Sahira played a large role inLexi’s life, and she didn’t like him. Because of that, she would doeverything she could to drive him away.

However, after the taste he got of Lexi lastnight, he wasn’t going anywhere. He rested his hand near thestainless steel cooktop with its black, iron burners.

“And why would I do that?” he asked.

“Because she deserves better.”

“Better than me?”

“Better than being messed with by a darkfae.”

Perhaps that was true, but he didn’t care.“You don’t like the dark fae.”

Sahira tossed a handful of herbs into thelarge pot on the stove. “No one likes the dark fae,Colburn.”

He lifted an eyebrow at her pointed use ofhis full name. She was a brazen little witch. So that’s where westand.

“I could say the same about witches andvampires, Sahira.”

She scowled at him while she stirred thepot.

“I could say the same about lycan andhumans,” he continued.

“She deserves better than to be messed withby a man who is only looking for one thing. She’s better than that.She’s better than you.”

Again, maybe that was true, but it wasn’tgoing to stop him. He wanted Lexi, and he would have her. The onlyone who could prevent it from happening was Lexi. After last night,he didn’t see that happening.

He leaned closer to her. “And how do you knowwhat I’m looking for?”

“Because it’s what all dark fae are lookingfor. You have to feed, and you need victims to quell yourhunger.”

“I can assure you, Sahira, there are novictims in my past. They were all willing.”

“Did they all know what you are?”

He held her fiery gaze as she stoppedstirring the pot. His hand flexed on the countertop as his clawslengthened before retracting again. She wasn’t a threat to hissafety, but she was a threat if she tried to stand between him andLexi.

“You know that’s not the way immortals work,”he said. “Or at least it’s not the way we worked before the war.Humans were never supposed to know about our existence, but sinceyou’re so curious about my sex life, I can assure you that sincethey learned of us, they’ve always known whose bed they’ve climbedinto. For some, their curiosity has only increased their desire forimmortals and especially the dark fae.”

“Good for you,” she mutteredsarcastically.

A vein in Cole’s temple throbbed. “And haseveryone in your past always known what you are?”

“There’s a big difference between us; I don’tfeed on others.”

“We all do what is necessary to survive. Youare part vampire; you require blood.”

“I use blood bags.”

“Good for you.”

“And is it necessary for you to leave thebroken, twisted souls of the shadow kissed in your wake?”

“Anything I’ve ever done to anyone, they’veasked for. No,” he said as he leaned closer, “they begged mefor it.”

Waves of dislike emanated from her. He smiledin return.

“Where is Lexi?” he asked.

“She’s young, and she just lost her father.She deserves better than to have someone like you playingwith her.”

“You have no idea what I’m like,” hesaid.

“Everyone knows what the dark fae arelike.”

“And what are the witches like? Or thevampires? You’re condemning the dark fae when all immortals havequestionable traits. A witch’s temper is legendary.”

Sahira pulled the wooden spoon from the potand slammed it on the counter. The flames beneath the pot rose asher temper flared. Lifting his hand, Cole moved it toward the fireand closed his fingers. The fire went out.

“You’re not the only one who can control theelements,” he reminded her though the dark fae were stronger andbetter at controlling the elements than the witches.

The fire surged back to life and wrappedaround the corners of the pot. “I am the only one who can cast ahex.”

“Are you threatening me?” Cole growled.

He didn’t want to upset Lexi by hurting thiswoman, but he wouldn’t tolerate threats from anyone. She had noidea what she was playing with right now. He didn’t knowwhat she was playing with right now. He barely recognized himselfsince Lexi entered his life.

“I’m telling you,” Sahira hissed. “Leave heralone. She is one of the kindest souls I’ve ever known, and shedeserves the best.”

Cole straightened away to study her angrycountenance. She’s a mama bear protecting her young.

Sahira wouldn’t be a hindrance to Lexibecause she disliked him; she would be a problem because she lovedLexi.

“Now on that, we can agree,” he said.

She blinked at him, and some of the angerwent out of her, but her stance remained rigid. He turned awaybefore their antagonism toward each other became something worse.He’d find Lexi on his own.

He started for the doorway but stopped whenshe called his name. He turned back to find her stirring the potonce more.

“I don’t care that you’re the prince of thedark fae; if you hurt her, I’ll find a way to make you pay,” shevowed.

He laughed as he walked out of the room. Hehad no doubt she would do everything she could to keep Lexi safe,but he wasn’t afraid of her.

However, he wasn’t going to fight with hereither. Sahira could succeed in pushing Lexi away from him, and hewouldn’t let that happen.

He strode down the hallway toward the frontdoor. As he walked, the scent of Lexi drew him to a set of open,double doors. Inside the room, he spotted Lexi curled up on thecushion of an oversized, brown chair.

She sat with her legs beneath her and herchin on her palm as she held a book. The sun shining through thefloor-to-ceiling windows on one side of the room cascaded over her.Its glow brought out the deeper shades of red in her auburnhair.

Feeling like someone had socked him in thestomach, he stood in the doorway and drank in her beauty. He’dnever seen anyone as lovely as her. It was more than the perfectionof her face; it was also the soul Sahira mentioned. Its warmthradiated from her.

Stepping