Shadows of Fire (The Shadow Realms, Book 1) by Brenda Davies (chrome ebook reader .txt) 📗

the cities and towns since the war ended. Heunderstood their necessity as humans scrambled to survive, andthose who still had fortunes sought to get their hands on thingsthey’d only ever dreamed about. However, he preferred it when themarkets only catered to immortals and were hidden from themortals.

“Watch it,” Brokk growled when a passinglycan’s shoulder hit his.

The lycan turned to look at Brokk, who liftedhis hand in the air. The lycan took in the ciphers on Brokk’s handand kept walking. Not many immortals sought to pick a fight withthe dark fae. The lycan was larger and stronger, but they allfeared the dark fae’s powers.

“Bunch of hairy assholes,” Brokkmuttered.

Cole didn’t take offense to his brother’scomment. He couldn’t count the number of times he’d called vampsbloodsucking leeches around Brokk.

“I do not have a hairy asshole,” Colesaid.

“You never know what the future holds.”

“It better not hold hairy assholes.”

Brokk grinned at him before turning to avoida herd of humans who scurried past with their heads down. Colebarely acknowledged the humans as he tried not to inhale the stenchof dirt and body odor wafting from them. The sweet stench ofwitches’ potions and burnt wood, as well as the ever-present reekof the distant burning city, hung heavily on the air.

The open road that vehicles once traversedwas now a thoroughfare crowded with ramshackle huts and hastilyassembled buildings. They’d turned the broken and cracked four-laneroad into little more than a lane.

Many of the shops belonged to witches, butthere were plenty of other immortals looking to sell things they’dcrafted and the food they grew on their land. There were alsostalls with vamps who sought to pay for blood. The vamp stalls andfood booths were the most crowded with humans, but the witches hada fair amount of business too.

He’d prefer not to be here, but if they weregoing to know what was happening in the world and how things weregoing, the markets were the best place to go. Plus, there was achance he might run into Lexi.

It was a small chance, but one he was willingto take. He’d never been to Del’s home, but he knew it wassomewhere nearby. And if he didn’t find her here, he’d….

What?

Hunt her down?

And how would he explain that to Brokk? Theywere close, they always had been, but he’d never gone out of hisway to find a woman. Brokk would find it odd; he found itodd.

However, the possibility of seeing her againintrigued and excited him.

As they walked, he listened to the chatter ofthe humans and immortals who passed. Most conversations focused onsecuring supplies to keep their families alive, but there were afew murmurs of discontent amongst the crowd.

He ignored those whispers. Of course, thesepeople were unhappy; nothing of the world they knew remained. Whathe sought were whispers about where some of the rebels were hiding;he wanted to know where his brothers were.

He was shifting through the conversationsswirling around him when he detected the faint hint of strawberrieson the air. He scanned the crowd as he drew the scent deeper intohim.

He’d smelled strawberries thousands of timesbefore, but this was different. It was fresh and welcoming, and heknew it was her.

Turning, he searched the crowd. He stoodalmost a head taller than most of those surrounding him, so hecould see over them with relative ease.

And then he spotted her exiting a witches’store and shrugging a pouch onto her shoulder. The sun emphasizedthe different shades of red in her auburn hair and illuminated herdelicate features.

She stepped back from a passing lycan beforeturning and walking in the opposite direction of him.

“I’ll be back,” he said to Brokk.

Before his brother could reply, Cole startedafter her.

CHAPTER 17

The scent of baking bread tickled Lexi’s nose, andher stomach rumbled in response. She tried to recall the last timeshe ate, but she couldn’t quite remember.

She should eat something, but she had to getback to the manor so she could give the fae the potion and get himout of her life. However, it was a long walk home, and she’d preferto have something to munch on while she made the trek.

Unable to resist, Lexi stopped at a cartselling all kinds of baked goods. Her stomach rumbled louder, andit took all she had not to lick her lips as she studied thedelicious treats laid out on trays before her.

“Can I get you something?” the woman standingbehind the cart asked.

Lexi pointed at one of the cinnamon buns.“Yes, I’ll take one of those.”

The woman beamed at her as she used a pieceof paper to pick up the bun. She slid the pastry into a bag whileLexi handed over more of her money. Lexi tried not to drool as sheheld the bag and waited for change.

In the distance, the faint strains of aguitar floated through the air. The notes were followed by a sweet,lilting voice that barely carried over the din of the crowd.

“I’ll take one too,” a deep voice said frombeside her.

Everything around Lexi went as still as abroken clock. Like the clock pendulum that stopped ticking, sheswore her heart ceased beating before giving a mighty thump thatrattled her rib cage.

She knew that voice; even if she livedanother ten thousand years, she would never forget that voice. Shewould always recall the deep timbre of his words as he stood behindher in the room full of luna flowers. Always remember the way hiswarm breath felt against her ear and how it stirred her hair.

She hadn’t believed she’d ever see him again,let alone see him again so soon. He was one of the elite immortals,he moved in entirely different circles than her, and she wasn’treturning to the Gloaming anytime soon.

However, she didn’t have to look up to knowCole stood beside her.

She couldn’t stop her head from tiltingfurther and further back until she found his vibrant blue eyes onher even as the woman held a bag out to him. Her breath gave asmall hitch. She wanted to touch the tip of one of his ears; wouldhe like it?

The black, mortal shirt he wore clung to hisbroad chest, and the short sleeves emphasized the thick muscles ofhis biceps. His jeans were loose-fitting enough to