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

The vibrant, Persian blue color of his eyeswas evident across the vast distance separating them. Thosestriking eyes also differentiated him from the purebred, dark faeas they all had black eyes. However, he did possess the dark fae’sjet-black hair and pointed ears.

Cut short, his hair emphasized his tannedskin and the angles of his cheekbones. His square jaw had a short,black beard lining it. He was one of the most handsome men she’dever seen. And it was clear the troubadours weren’t lying aboutwomen falling at his feet as the ones who climbed the dais to greethim all preened and simpered while openly flirting with him.

She had no idea how they could flirt sobrazenly with him when he stared at them as if he didn’t see them,but each new woman who went to greet him smiled as she fawned overhim.

One brazen vampire rested her hand on his armas she leaned forward. Lexi was sure her low-cut dress left nothingto the imagination.

To be fair, they also flirted with the kingand younger son, but it wasn’t as overt with them. Or maybe sheimagined it.

Uncomfortable with the display, she shiftedher attention back to the stars but found her eyes irresistiblydrawn back to him. As they got closer and the crowd between themeased, she saw that his ciphers ran down his thick forearms to thetips of his fingers.

The black markings resembled flames withtheir sharp edges but managed to flow like water as they encircledhis wrists and hands. She supposed this mix of fire and water madesense as the dark fae could control the elements.

His short-sleeved tunic revealed more ciphersaround his biceps before they disappeared beneath the material.They reemerged at the collar of his shirt. Cole’s beard hid them,but the way the flames moved up his neck made her suspect the tipsof the ciphers licked at his chin.

Having that many ciphers was a clear sign ofhis power and it oozed from his pores while his steely gazesurveyed those who came before him with an air of disdain. Only thearrogant dark fae would throw this big of a party and seem annoyedby their guests.

As she and Sahira edged closer, Lexi found itincreasingly difficult to breathe, and she tugged at the collar ofher dress again. She didn’t belong here.

What she’d seen of the Gloaming wasbeautiful, but she was ready to go home, and she did notwant to climb those steps to introduce herself to these powerful,cold men. She was uncomfortable with this entire show.

What am I doing here? Why did I agree tothis?

She yearned to be at home and in bed with abook. She’d give anything to be anywhere other than here. Lexiglanced at the door three hundred feet away and tried to figure outif she could make it out of here before Sahira stopped her.

However, escape wouldn’t be possible, atleast not without drawing a lot of attention to herself. She gulpedas she clasped her hands before her and squeezed them.

She’d probably never see any of theseimmortals again, but she couldn’t make a scene. Her father would bemortified if she did.

Still, she gazed longingly at the door as sheresigned herself to her fate.

Deciding to get through it as fast aspossible and hoping she didn’t make a fool of herself, she turnedher attention back to the stage and bit back a gasp when she foundthe lethal prince of the dark fae staring straight at her.

CHAPTER 5

Cole couldn’t tear his gaze away from the woman wholooked about to bolt from the hall. Her deep auburn hair hung inwaves around her shoulders and swayed against the middle of herback as she searched for what he assumed was an exit. The deep redstrands of her hair shimmered in the starlight.

She tugged at the collar of the emerald dresshugging her slender body. It emphasized the rounded hips of herhourglass figure. Her full breasts were thrust high by the bodice,but she revealed far less cleavage than most other women in theroom.

Despite that, when his gaze fell to herbreasts, a bolt of desire hit him. She turned back toward thestage, and when her eyes met his, they widened. They stared at eachother before she glanced back toward the doorway.

For a second, she looked about to bolt as shestepped away from the line, but then she closed her eyes andresumed her place. He’d never seen her in the Gloaming before; hewould have remembered her.

His hands gripped the ends of his throne asthe line snaked forward and the woman moved closer. When she bither bottom lip, his gaze latched onto her lush mouth.

What does she taste like?

He vowed to discover the answer to thatbefore this night was over.

Cole stalked her every move as she snakedthrough the throng and shifted from foot to foot while the otherimmortals crowded around her. She didn’t meet his gaze, but hereyes traveled toward him before darting away.

When a male vampire pressed entirely tooclose against her back and she cringed away from him, Cole almostrose from his seat to kill him. However, he couldn’t kill a guestfor touching a woman.

Such a thing could set off another war, andhe’d had enough blood and death. However, he suspected more wouldcome soon. The war was over, but another one had been brewing foryears; he would find himself at the center of it again.

He didn’t know how much time passed, butfinally the woman stood near the stairs. A male lycanclimbed the four steps to the dais in front of her. After he wasintroduced, Cole nodded to the man, but he didn’t hear a word ofwhat the lycan said.

The woman leaned forward and gave her name totheir helot, Sindri. Sindri stepped away from her. “Milords, Ipresent to you the ladies Elexiandra and Sahira Harper.”

Cole jolted when Sindri announced her lastname. Harper!

Brokk’s head turned toward him, and Coleexchanged a look with his brother. He was sure his startledexpression mirrored Brokk’s. Between them, their father didn’treact, but the king had to know she was here; he’d invited herafter all.

Harper.

And now he understood the woman’snervousness. She had never been to the Gloaming or any ofthe Shadow Realms before. Or at least that’s