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

what her father toldhim during one of their countless conversations.

The world shifted and blurred, and for aminute, Cole found himself sitting in a tent across from a man withpale blond hair. Delano Harper’s bright blue eyes twinkled as hesmiled and sipped his wine.

“They’ll never know what hit them, boys. Ican assure you of that,” Del said as he finished his drink andgestured for the pretty serving girl to bring him more.

Brokk and Cole gazed at each other beforereturning their attention to the robust vampire sitting across fromthem. The wine had reddened Del’s cheeks, but his eyes remainedclear.

Over the two years they fought together, Colehad learned nothing dulled Del’s intelligence. He often used hisability to drink more alcohol than three immortals combined as away to make others think he was less aware of what was going onaround him, while he was keenly aware of everything.

He’d fooled Cole a couple of times before hecaught on to the act.

He learned Del was a brilliant master ofdeception, manipulation, and strategy. He’d also become one of Coleand Brokk’s best friends.

Del rarely talked about his daughter over theyears, but on the rare occasions when there were no battles tofight, strategies to plan, or enemies closing in on them, he wouldsometimes speak about her. There was no denying the love in theman’s voice, and it was difficult to shut him up once he gotstarted.

Cole had always found this amusing while helistened to the doting father prattle on about his daughter. He’dclaimed she was beautiful, but Cole had blown it off. There weremany beautiful immortals, and a father was always biased, but Delhadn’t exaggerated.

Over the years, he’d spent many hours withDel, they’d saved each other more times than Cole could count, andthen, one day, unable to get to him in time, he watched helplesslyas his friend died.

And now he was about to come face-to-facewith his daughter.

• • •

Lexi tried not to bury her hands in the abundantmaterial of her dress as she sought to control the tremble in them.She could do this, and she would do it without falling flaton her face.

The king first. Make sure you approach theking first.

She kept reminding herself of this becauseshe was desperate to rush through this and get out of here.However, if she didn’t approach the king first, it would beconsidered an insult, and the dark fae did not like to beinsulted.

As the lycan ahead of them left the dais, shethrew her shoulders back, lifted her chin, and strode up the stepswith a confidence she didn’t feel. At her side, Sahira saunteredforward with elegant grace.

When they stopped before the king, Lexicurtsied. Having never done it before in public, she half fearedshe’d faceplant, but somehow she managed not to fall over.

“Your Highness,” she murmured.

“Milady,” the king replied with a bow of hishead.

Lexi gulped as the power emanating from himrippled across her skin. The number of ciphers he possessed hadhinted at his power, but this close, she could tell he was keepinga lot of it hidden and doing a damn good job too.

Lexi forced a smile and somehow managed tokeep her hands from shaking as she turned away from him. Sheapproached the younger of the two brothers as Sahira went to theolder. Brokk’s aqua blue eyes were warm as he studied her.

“Milady,” he said and clasped her hand. “It’sa pleasure to meet you.”

Lexi had no idea what to make of those wordsand the gesture; she hadn’t seen him touch anyone else, so shemerely smiled. “You also, Your Highness.”

The prince looked about to say more, but aman and his daughter were already being introduced. They wereheading up the steps and toward the king as Sahira approached her.If she didn’t move now, she wouldn’t get the chance to speak withthe older brother.

She’d prefer not to talk with theintimidating man, but it would be rude if she left the stage, andone did not snub the dark fae. They especially didn’t snubthe eldest son of the king.

Knowing their time was over, Lexi gave asubtle tug on her hand in the hopes the prince would release her.It took a couple of seconds before he seemed to recall he washolding her hand.

With a small smile, he released her. Lexi’sgaze lingered on him, not because she was still confused by hisstrange behavior but because she had to brace herself beforewalking over to the older brother.

She had to go now.

Walking away from the brother, she crossedbefore the king as the father and daughter stepped onto the dais.Acutely aware of all the eyes on her, she tried not to blush, butshe couldn’t control the riotous beat of her heart.

When she finally lifted her head to take inthe prince, she wasn’t surprised to find his striking, Persian blueeyes locked on her. She’d felt them burning into her flesh sincethe second she stepped onto the dais.

She’d never seen a blue so pure or vividbefore. They were like looking into a pool of crystalline oceanwater on the clearest of days. If she wasn’t careful, she could getlost in those eyes.

Her heart lodged in her throat as she stoppedbefore him. Unable to keep the tremor from her hands, she twistedthem into the folds of her dress and clutched them until her bonesached.

His leisurely perusal of her body caused herknees to quake. She was used to men examining her, but she’d neverexperienced it with this kind of intensity before, and she’d neverbeen this unnerved or excited by it.

CHAPTER 6

Cole couldn’t tear his gaze away from the beautifulwoman standing before him. Elexiandra, he recalled Sindrisaying.

Del had told him his daughter’s name, but itwas lost to him until Sindri announced it. He would not forget itagain.

Up close, she was even more beautiful beneaththe radiance of the turning sky. This close, he could tell shardsof pure emerald flecked her hunter green eyes.

With her high cheekbones and rosebud lips,she stood out in a room full of immortals. The smattering offreckles dotting the bridge of her slender nose and sun-kissed skingave her beauty a charming air of innocence.

Looking at her, something inside him shifted,and for the first time in his life, the lycan part of