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

“Yes,” Cole growled.

The Lord grinned at him. “Good boy. Now, runalong.”

He waved his fingers at Cole as he shooed himaway like an errant puppy. When Cole got the chance, he’d tearthose fingers off and shove them up the Lord’s ass.

Cole turned to look at the puddle of hisfather’s blood again. It had mixed with the blood of the dragon,but it was still there beneath the dragon’s head. Sorrow swelled torepress his rage, and then it burned hotly through him again.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure it’s cleanedup,” the Lord said. “Now, do as you were commanded and leave myhall, or I’ll let my dragon eat one of your arms. I’m sure youcouldn’t survive the trials without it.”

Though Cole only knew a little of what thetrials entailed, it would be impossible to survive without it.

He bent and lifted the dragon’s head from theground. “I’m taking this with me.”

“And if I say no?”

“You can say whatever you want, but if youwant the dark fae to fall in line, then I’m taking thefucking head.”

Cole didn’t look back at him as he turnedaway. It took more willpower than he’d known he possessed to leavehis father’s remains. He wanted to gather what remained of the manhe’d loved so much, but he had nothing to carry the blood in.However, not having a body to entomb beside his mother and brothersweighed heavily on his heart.

He met the eyes of the dragon behind him overthe top of the thick scales lining its snout. Hatred glistened inthose yellow eyes, but it was nothing compared to what Cole feltfor these beasts.

“Let him pass,” the Lord commanded, and aftera few seconds, the dragon reluctantly slithered away.

CHAPTER 65

Cole’s feet thudded against the floor as he strodedown the hall and past the beasts. Hatred swelled in him as hesneered at the massive creatures, but none of them paid anyattention to him as he stalked past.

With every step he took, his claws dug deeperinto his palm while his other hand carried the dragon’s head. If hedidn’t have this self-inflicted injury to keep him grounded in thisform, Cole would transform completely, and if he did, he would goback for the Lord, and he would die.

Lexi! Thoughts of her helped to keephim grounded more than the pain, and for a second, the faint scentof strawberries pushed aside the coppery stench of the bloodcoating him.

The messenger still waited by the doors, andwhen Cole walked through them, the warlock closed them with aclick. When Cole’s head turned stiffly toward the man, hediscovered the warlock staring at the wall with a blank expressionon his face.

Do not kill him. But it was sotempting.

His claws scraped against the bones in hishand as he compelled himself to keep walking. He didn’t look backas he strode to the front door. A servant opened it for him, andCole walked outside.

The warm sun beat down on him, but he didn’tsee anything as he descended the steps and stalked out of thepalace courtyard. As if he were a homing pigeon returning home, hefound the Gloaming portal and entered it.

Once inside the protective, black walls ofthe portal, he slid his parents’ rings from his pocket, put them inhis mouth, and started running. He only made it three steps beforethe wolf took over.

His clothing ripped and fell away. Hismuscles and bones shifted and popped as he transformed into thebeast he’d kept repressed for centuries. He threw the head of thedragon into the air and caught it in his jaws.

Over the years, he’d transformed only ahandful of times, and all those times were before he turned thirty.He tried to become comfortable in the wolf’s skin during thosetimes, but he hated the lack of control he experienced when thewolf was in charge.

The dark fae were known for their control andaloofness; nothing was controlled or reserved about the beast. Itwas wild, free, and ruled by the emotions the dark fae rarelydisplayed.

Now, he welcomed the loss of control as thewind whipped through his hair, and he was driven by an incessantcompulsion to run faster. He couldn’t escape what happened in thehall, but some of his fury and sorrow eased as he gave himself overto the freedom of the wolf’s run.

Then he spotted a small glow at the end ofthe portal and emerged into the Gloaming. He didn’t slow or returnto his fae form as he ran up and down hills, past homesteads, andthrough fields full of crops.

As a fae, he was aware of his senses, but notlike when he was a wolf. The scent of blood permeated the air, butbeneath it, he detected the earth's rich aroma, the fae wheatcrops, and the crisp, night air. His vision was more acute as awolf, and he spotted the tiny rodents darting back into the groundwhen he approached.

The sun had set, but the silvery radiance ofthe moons lit his way across an open field. His paws kicked up dirtthat bounced off his back legs. The few fae who saw him cried outin surprise, but none knew it was him, and none dared to get in theway of a blood-drenched lycan.

He traversed miles, but he wasn't winded ortired when he arrived at the palace. Stopping outside the massive,metal gates, he closed his eyes as he willed himself to transform.It was more difficult than he’d anticipated; the wolf was reluctantto let go of its newfound freedom, but eventually the beastyielded.

Cole dropped the dragon head as his bones andjoints popped back into place. He rose from all fours to stare atthe closed gates. His hand heated as he wrapped it around the bars.Those bars recognized his touch, and when the lock sprang free, heopened the gate.

He lifted the dragon’s head and drove it ontoone of the fence spikes. That head would make a lot of the dark faethink twice before challenging him.

He would not let anyone or anythingstand in the way of avenging his father’s death. He glowered at thebeast that slaughtered his father before turning away.

As he walked toward the towering palace halfhidden in shadow, he removed the rings from under his tongue