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

“What is that?” Orin inquired in a raspyvoice as she removed the potion from the pouch.

“It’s a healing potion,” Lexi answered as sheuncorked the bottle. “I bought it from a witch.”

“I’m not taking a witches’ brew. I’ll heal onmy own.”

“Not fast enough.”

“What does that mean?”

His fathomless black eyes were bloodshot whenthey met hers, and she saw the pain reflected in them. She movedthe potion toward him, but he grabbed her wrist and held it beforethem. Despite his weakness, his grip was strong.

“What does that mean?” he demanded.

“They’re looking for you, and they can’t findyou here. I have to protect my family. You have to take this andleave here… soon.”

“Who is looking for me?”

“Malakai and a group of lycans.” She pausedas she contemplated not telling him about his brothers; he hadenough going on without adding that betrayal to the mix, but heneeded to know what he faced once he left here. “Your brothers,Cole and Brokk, are with them. They can’t find youhere.”

His eyes darkened at the mention of hisbrothers, and his nostrils flared. “Those bastards.”

She didn’t blame him for being angry at hisbrothers; she would be incensed, but something inside her rankledwhen he called Cole a bastard. Though, she supposed it was anadequate description for the man trying to kill him.

“I can’t leave here,” he said.

“You can’t stay here.”

A muscle twitched in his cheek as his jawclenched. He was gorgeous with his narrow face, high cheekbones,pointed chin, and hawkish nose, but he radiated an unsettlingbrutality. He wasn’t as handsome as Cole, but there was no denyingthe similarities between them, especially when it came to theirruthlessness.

“Are you going to make me leave?” heasked.

She didn’t know how to respond because theyboth knew she wasn’t strong enough to make him leave. “I’mhelping you.”

“And you’re going to keep helpingme.”

She gawked at him, and then, feeling like anidiot, she closed her mouth, but she couldn’t quite keep it closed.“I saved you.”

She felt like an idiot for saying that. Itwas obvious he didn’t care she’d saved him and was trying to helphim. All he cared about was protecting his ass.

Why did you bring him here?

These tunnels were their sanctuary, and she’drisked them by exposing their existence to this ungratefulasshole.

She mentally smacked herself half a dozentimes, but berating herself wouldn’t do any good. It was too late.She’d already done this stupid, reckless thing, and shecouldn’t undo it. It was time to face the consequences.

“You can’t stay here,” she said.

“I can, and I am, unless you plan to turn mein, which means turning yourself in. You knew who I was when youhid me. That’s why you hid me away. Do you think they’lltake it easy on you if you turn me in now?”

“I had no idea who you were when I broughtyou in here.”

“Maybe you didn’t know I’m a dark fae prince,but you knew I was a rebel.”

She couldn’t argue that. “I have others toprotect!”

“So do I, which is why I’m not goingback out there right now.”

“You can’t stay here.”

Her teeth grated together as she resistedhitting him. She’d never hit anyone before, but she’d love to bashin Orin’s face.

“I can stay, and I am,” he stated. “Get usedto it. I’m not leaving here until they finish searching forme.”

“You’re putting innocent lives at risk.”

“I don’t care.”

Without realizing she was going to do it, shelaunched a punch at him. Even injured, he was far faster than her,and he caught her hand with ease. She considered trying to hit himwith her other hand, but he would catch that one too, and it wouldonly infuriate her more.

She felt like an ill-tempered child as sheglowered at him and jerked at her hand. He released her, and shescrambled back before throwing the potion at him. “Drink it orsuffer; I don’t care what you do.”

He fumbled for the potion as it started toseep into the earth. He righted it and set it aside. She tossed thefood and water she’d brought for him onto the ground.

“There’s enough for a few days,” she saidbefore turning on her heel and stalking away.

“Lexi.”

She didn’t stop to look back at him, but shewished she’d never told him her name. At the time, she’d foolishlybelieved that because she saved his life, she could trust him withthe information. She’d been a naïve idiot.

She wasn’t prepared for a world wherebrothers turned on brothers and where the one she saved turned onher like a rabid dog.

“If you tell them I’m here, I’ll tell themyou’re a scorned lover who decided to turn me in and you’ve been arebel spy this entire time,” he said.

Her teeth ground together until she sworethey’d shatter, but she still didn’t look back. If there were anyway she could do it and survive, she’d gladly hand him over to Coleand Brokk.

“You keep me safe, and I’ll keep you safe,”he taunted.

“Screw you.”

She stepped through one of the gates herfather installed and closed it behind her. She didn’t bother totell him that she would keep him safe. They both knew she wouldn’tturn him in, but if he had any doubts about her intentions, shewanted him to fester in them.

“I’ll see you soon!” he called after her.

Now she understood why his brothers werehunting him.

CHAPTER 20

Lexi closed her eyes and leaned against thefireplace as she tried to calm the anger coursing through herveins. That asshole!

How could he do this to her when she’d putherself on the line to save him?

Because he’s a damn dark fae, and Ishould have known better than to trust him.

It was true, but it didn’t matter now. Nomatter how much she wanted to, she couldn’t change what she’d done.She’d put herself in this position, and the best she could hope forwas to somehow crawl out of this mess without getting anyonekilled.

She stepped away from the fireplace andstrode over to sit in one of the chairs. She sank into the invitingcushion and stared at the fireplace as she tried not to think abouthow long Orin would hold her hostage.

“Lexi?”

She almost squealed and jumped out of thechair when Sahira said her name. She spun in the chair to discoverher aunt standing