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

wet thump, Cole released it and dropped down. His shouldersheaved as he spun on the Lord.

CHAPTER 64

With a snarl, Cole stepped toward the Lord. He wasabout to rush up the steps of the dais, but the dragon behind thethrone had slid its head in front of the Lord while Cole destroyedits friend.

Its face was only inches away from Cole’s.Its hot breath blew Cole’s hair back from his face when it baredits lethal, six-inch-long teeth at him.

Then he felt the hot breaths of the othersand realized they’d all enclosed on him. He didn’t turn to look atthe monsters, but if the hate in the eyes of the one guarding theLord was any indication, they were all pretty pissed.

None of them were as irate as him.

“Uh-ah.” The Lord wagged his index finger atCole like he was some kind of recalcitrant toddler throwing atantrum.

It only enraged him more. His shouldersheaved, his muscles swelled, and his fangs filled his mouth as hisbreath came in ragged exhalations. His claws bit into his palmsuntil his blood spilled free; it mixed with his father’s and thedragon’s while he glowered at the monster before him.

He might be able to kill this one too, butthe others would be on him before he reached the Lord. A big partof him didn’t give a fuck if he died trying to slaughter thisprick. The other part told him he had to live to fight anotherday.

If he died here and the Lord survived, Lexiwould be vulnerable. And he could not leave her unprotected in aworld where this monster ruled.

If he could get to this monster and kill him,he would do it because it would keep her safer. However, he had noshot of succeeding. He’d managed to kill one dragon; he would notbe able to battle his way through them all.

“Such a pity,” the Lord said as his gaze fellon the slaughtered dragon. “She was one of my favorites.” Then hisattention returned to Cole, and a sly smile curved his mouth. “Butvery impressive. I don’t think anyone has eversinglehandedly killed a dragon before.”

Cole didn’t speak as blood dripped off him tosplatter on the ground.

“I should kill you for doing that to one ofmy babies. Her friends certainly want you dead, but you are of farmore use to me alive.”

The Lord stopped and stared expectantly athim, but Cole still didn’t speak. If this lunatic gave the commandto kill him, he planned to take out a few more of these monstersbefore he went.

“I bet you’re thinking I’ve made a big enemyout of you and the dark fae,” the Lord said.

Silence.

“Normally, I would say you’re right, butyou’re wrong here. Your father’s arrogance got him killed, as didhis lies. He never planned to hand his sons over to me, butyou’ll have no qualms about doing so. You will not become myenemy, Cole, and do you know why?”

Cole kept his mouth shut as he eyed thedragons slithering around him. They were eager for his blood, butthey didn’t strike.

“Because if you become my enemy, countlessdark fae will die. Do you understand me?”

He still didn’t speak.

“Do not eat him, my friends,” the Lord saidand rubbed the back of the one protecting his throne. “If hedecides not to play nice, you can have him, but that’s not going tohappen because he’s going to be one of our best friends.”

Cole’s jaw clenched as images of tearing thisbastard’s head off and dancing around it filled his mind.

“Now,” the Lord said as he steepled his handsbefore his face, “you’re going to go back to the Gloaming, and asthe eldest prince, you’re going to take control of the dark fae. Iknow you’re only a half-breed and you will have to endure thetrials, but you will rule them.

“If you survive the trials, some will fightyour rise to the throne, but that’s not my problem. You willget the dark fae to fall in line, or I’ll destroy the Gloaming. Youwill be my greatest ally, or I will label the dark fae as traitorsand hunt them across the realms. Do you understand me?”

Cole scowled at him. Before this was over, hewould make sure this thing was nothing more than pieces ofmeat strewn across the ground for his dragons. And then, he wouldslaughter all the dragons.

The Lord’s eyes flicked past him, and asecond later, a rush of hot air billowed against Cole’s nape as adragon exhaled behind him.

“Do you understand me?” the Lordrepeated.

Cole didn’t bother to look at the dragon, whowas so close its nose brushed his skin, as he replied throughgritted teeth, “Yes.”

“Good, because it is time that all theleaders of the realms learn I am not fucking around, andthey are all replaceable. They will do as I say. Youwill do as I say, or I’ll kill them all.”

He was crazier than Cole realized, and as thehot breath of the dragon continued to warm his neck, a chill ranthrough him.

“You just killed the king of the dark fae,”Cole snarled. “The fae will not be excited to obey you.”

“And I have crowned you the new king, and youshould have no problem with making them fall in line.”

There would be a huge problem. The dark faehad admired his father and followed him because he was powerful,fair, and quick to eradicate his enemies. They wouldn’t have suchfaith in Cole, and they were going to be pissed the Lord haddestroyed their king.

But even with all their powers, and even ifthey got help from the other immortals, they couldn’t defeat thedragons. And there would be some who were glad Tove was dead; theywould come for him and Brokk and try to destroy them.

The Lord had no idea the unrest he’dunleashed on the Gloaming by killing its king. If Cole couldn’tkeep the realm together, it would crumble into civil war, just likeDragonia once did.

“Do you understand?” the Lord demanded.

Cole started to tell him where he could shovehis declarations, but when an image of Lexi entered his mind, hebit back the words. He had to return to make sure she was safe, andhe had to let the other coalition members know what happened here.He couldn’t do