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

him exerteddominance over the dark fae. And the lycan wanted her.

He’d always identified more with his dark faeside and found it more powerful than the wolf, but now the beastwas making its presence known as fangs he always kept suppressedthrobbed and lengthened.

She’d attracted the attention of more than afew men in the room, and Cole had to keep his mouth shut as herestrained himself from bearing his fangs at them. His clawslengthened until they bit into his throne.

Wood splintered beneath his grip and burieditself deep within his skin. Still, the pain did nothing to easethe turmoil churning through him. His teeth scraped together untilhe was certain everyone in the room could hear them grinding backand forth.

He didn’t know what it was about this woman,but for the first time in his life, he was on the verge of losingcontrol of his wolf. He was still staring at her when the woman shewalked onto the dais with strolled over to her.

“Elexiandra,” the woman whispered, “we mustgo.”

Elexiandra nodded before speaking.“Milord.”

Her voice was as enchanting as her, and whenshe spoke, he spotted the tips of her fangs. Vampire, herecalled.

Half vampire, half human, he recalled Delonce saying. Unlike full-blooded vampires, she could go out in theday, but she couldn’t teleport, and she wasn’t as strong as otherimmortals.

For some reason, that weakness caused hisprotective instincts to become more extreme. He tore his attentionaway from her to glare at the crowd of men openly admiring her.They all looked away from him.

“Milady,” he greeted.

Before he could say more, the father and hisdaughter stepped closer and edged Elexiandra and the other womanaway. He opened his mouth to stop them, but the father wasspeaking, and they were gliding down the stairs.

He watched until they vanished into thecrowd.

• • •

All Lexi wanted was to flee this place. There werefar too many immortals here, they were far too comfortable witheach other, and she felt like a fish out of water as everyone elsecelebrated. However, if she left now, they would notice.

Or would they?

She was one of thousands here tonight; surelythey wouldn’t notice if she and Sahira slipped away before theparty ended. Sahira could stay; she was enjoying herself.

Lexi smiled as she watched Sahira beingtwirled around the dance floor by a handsome dark fae. The flutes'haunting strains and the dark fae’s musical instrument, the ocraba,filled the room.

Now that the introductions were over, thenight had given way to music and dancing. The black floor, whichreflected the stars above, was filled with immortals imbibing indrinks and food. Their laughter filled the air while their bodieswarmed the room.

She had a feeling Sahira wouldn’t bereturning to the room they were sharing with other immortal womenuntil much later tonight, if at all. Which meant, even Sahira mightnot notice if she slipped away to return home.

She knew how to get back to the portalleading to the human realm. It was probably guarded, but she didn’tthink they would deny her if she said she was returning home. Theyprobably wouldn’t tell the king either. Who cared if someone leftbefore it was all over?

And since her father was gone, she was theone responsible for protecting and watching over theirproperty.

Maybe she could get permission from the kingor one of the princes to return early. As soon as the idea poppedinto her head, she shut it down. The idea of talking to any ofthose men made her shiver in apprehension. The power radiating fromthem was more than she’d ever encountered before, and she wasn’teager to experience it again.

Unfortunately, she didn’t think she couldavoid it. She was in their world, after all, in their home, and attheir party.

But did that mean she had to stay here?

Yes, it did. Because it would be rude if sheleft early, but she could always slip away to her room. At least itwas quieter there, and the night would pass faster if she slept. Inthe morning, she could leave. If she stayed until then, it wouldn’tbe seen as rude… she hoped.

Lowering her head into her hands, she rubbedat her temples as she tried to figure out what to do. But the moreshe pondered her options, the more her head pounded.

CHAPTER 7

“Lexi,” a voice purred from beside her.

Her eyes closed, and she bit back an innergroan as she tried not to cringe away from the voice. Could thisnight get any worse?

She had no idea why Malakai Calsov insistedon using her nickname when they barely knew each other, but he’ddone so ever since she was a child. Having grown up on neighboringproperties, she’d seen Malakai a few times a year.

However, since he was more than two hundredyears older than her, they never played together, barely spoke, andthe way he looked at her had always scared her a little.

He stared at her like he knew her, no… notknew her. Once she became a teenager, he started staring at herlike he wanted to devour her.

The last time she saw him, her father, hisfather, and Malakai were on a brief visit home from the war. She’dcome downstairs to discover them sitting at the dining roomtable.

She’d ignored Malakai’s ravenous stare as shewalked over to rest her hand on her father’s shoulder. She’d leanedforward to get a look at what they were studying, but her fathershoved the papers away before turning to smile at her.

“My beautiful daughter.” He took her hand andclasped it in his. “I won’t bore you with such trivial things aswar.”

“It’s not trivial,” she replied. “I’minterested in what you’re doing.”

He squeezed her hand. “Maybe some other time.Could you please see if Sahira can bring us some blood?”

She knew he was trying to get rid of her, soshe didn’t argue with him. Her father preferred to keep theatrocities of war hidden from her. Besides, she disliked being inthe same room as Malakai.

She felt his eyes boring into her back as shewalked away and decided to avoid him while he was home.Unfortunately, that only lasted an hour.

She was in the stables when he found her andbacked her into a corner. With his hands on either side of herhead, he lowered his face, so they were eye level with