Following the scent of whatever was cooking, Cole descended a set of backstairs and entered a large, airy kitchen. With her back to him, Sahira stood at the island in the center. Her fingers flew as she chopped something with easy precision.
Though she remained focused on whatever she diced, the slight stiffening of her shoulders told him she was aware he’d arrived. His feet didn’t make a sound as he strode across the kitchen toward her.
She didn’t turn to look at him as he approached. “Can I get you something to eat, Colburn?”
He stopped at the countertop and, sniffing the air, caught the faint hint of Lexi. She’d been here recently.
“No,” he said. “And call me Cole. You helped save my brother’s life.”
Sahira didn’t look up at him while she worked, but her jaw clenched a little.
“Where is Lexi?” he asked.
Her fingers stopped, and the thud of the knife ceased against the wooden board. Her head remained bowed for a second before she lifted it and met his gaze. Strands of her mahogany hair had slipped loose of her bun to frame her face. Her amber eyes narrowed on him.
“Stay away from her,” Sahira said.
Cole almost chuckled in amusement, but there wasn’t anything funny about this. Sahira played a large role in Lexi’s life, and she didn’t like him. Because of that, she would do everything she could to drive him away.
However, after the taste he got of Lexi last night, he wasn’t going anywhere. He rested his hand near the stainless steel cooktop with its black, iron burners.
“And why would I do that?” he asked.
“Because she deserves better.”
“Better than me?”
“Better than being messed with by a dark fae.”
Perhaps that was true, but he didn’t care. “You don’t like the dark fae.”
Sahira tossed a handful of herbs into the large pot on the stove. “No one likes the dark fae, Colburn.”
He lifted an eyebrow at her pointed use of his full name. She was a brazen little witch. So that’s where we stand.
“I could say the same about witches and vampires, Sahira.”
She scowled at him while she stirred the pot.
“I could say the same about lycan and humans,” he continued.
“She deserves better than to be messed with by a man who is only looking for one thing. She’s better than that. She’s better than you.”
Again, maybe that was true, but it wasn’t going to stop him. He wanted Lexi, and he would have her. The only one who could prevent it from happening was Lexi. After last night, he didn’t see that happening.
He leaned closer to her. “And how do you know what I’m looking for?”
“Because it’s what all dark fae are looking for. You have to feed, and you need victims to quell your hunger.”
“I can assure you, Sahira, there are no victims in my past. They were all willing.”
“Did they all know what you are?”
He held her fiery gaze as she stopped stirring the pot. His hand flexed on the countertop as his claws lengthened before retracting again. She wasn’t a threat to his safety, but she was a threat if she tried to stand between him and Lexi.
“You know that’s not the way immortals work,” he said. “Or at least it’s not the way we worked before the war. Humans were never supposed to know about our existence, but since you’re so curious about my sex life, I can assure you that since they learned of us, they’ve always known whose bed they’ve climbed into. For some, their curiosity has only increased their desire for immortals and especially the dark fae.”
“Good for you,” she muttered sarcastically.
A vein in Cole’s temple throbbed. “And has everyone in your past always known what you are?”
“There’s a big difference between us; I don’t feed on others.”
“We all do what is necessary to survive. You are part vampire; you require blood.”
“I use blood bags.”
“Good for you.”
“And is it necessary for you to leave the broken, twisted souls of the shadow kissed in your wake?”
“Anything I’ve ever done to anyone, they’ve asked for. No,” he said as he leaned closer, “they begged me for it.”
Waves of dislike emanated from her. He smiled in return.
“Where is Lexi?” he asked.
“She’s young, and she just lost her father. She deserves better than to have someone like you playing with her.”
“You have no idea what I’m like,” he said.
“Everyone knows what the dark fae are like.”
“And what are the witches like? Or the vampires? You’re condemning the dark fae when all immortals have questionable traits. A witch’s temper is legendary.”
Sahira pulled the wooden spoon from the pot and slammed it on the counter. The flames beneath the pot rose as her temper flared. Lifting his hand, Cole moved it toward the fire and closed his fingers. The fire went out.
“You’re not the only one who can control the elements,” he reminded her though the dark fae were stronger and better at controlling the elements than the witches.
The fire surged back to life and wrapped around the corners of the pot. “I am the only one who can cast a hex.”
“Are you threatening me?” Cole growled.
He didn’t want to upset Lexi by hurting this woman, but he wouldn’t tolerate threats from anyone. She had no idea what she was playing with right now. He didn’t know what she was playing with right now. He barely recognized himself since Lexi entered his life.
“I’m telling you,” Sahira hissed. “Leave her alone. She is one of the kindest souls I’ve ever known, and she deserves the best.”
Cole straightened away to study her angry countenance. She’s a mama bear protecting her young.
Sahira wouldn’t be a hindrance to Lexi because she disliked him; she would be a problem because she loved Lexi.
“Now on that, we can agree,” he said.
She blinked at him, and some of the anger went out of her, but her stance remained rigid. He turned away before their antagonism toward each other became something worse. He’d find Lexi on his own.
He started for the doorway but stopped when she called his name. He turned back to find her stirring the pot once more.
“I don’t care that you’re the prince of the dark fae; if you hurt her, I’ll find a way to make you pay,” she vowed.
He laughed as he walked out of the room. He had no doubt she would do everything she could to keep Lexi safe, but he wasn’t afraid of her.
However, he wasn’t going to fight with her either. Sahira could succeed in pushing Lexi away from him, and he wouldn’t let that happen.
He strode down the hallway toward the front door. As he walked, the scent of Lexi drew him to a set of open, double doors. Inside the room, he spotted Lexi curled up on the cushion of an oversized, brown chair.
She sat with her legs beneath her and her chin on her palm as she held a book. The sun shining through the floor-to-ceiling windows on one side of the room cascaded over her. Its glow brought out the deeper shades of red in her auburn hair.
Feeling like someone had socked him in the stomach, he stood in the doorway and drank in her beauty. He’d never seen anyone as lovely as her. It was more than the perfection of her face; it was also the soul Sahira mentioned. Its warmth radiated from her.
Stepping out of the doorway, he strolled toward her. He crossed the Oriental rug to settle in the chair a few feet away from her. She was so engrossed in her book she didn’t realize he was there until he cleared his throat.