Page 99 of Creatures of Chaos

A wicked grin spreads on Talon’s face. “They can try.”

I roll my eyes. “Wow. Conceited much?”

“The best I can figure is that they are banking that a weaker competitor wins, one they can easily get the dagger from. But when I have Shadow Striker back, no one is taking it from me again,” he says with conviction, and I just shake my head.

“This is nuts,” Ensley says, leaning forward in her seat. “So to recap, you’re saying that the Ancient about Shadow Striker that you just told us is real and that someone stole a dagger made by demons from your family and is using an underground competition to activate it so that they can trigger some apocalyptic prophecy that ends the world? Is that the gist of it?”

Talon flicks his tongue against his canine tooth, his patience with us running thin. “More or less.”

“What if you’re just feeding us a story to get us out of your way?” Titus asks with a look of suspicion on his face.

“There’s a way for you to tell if I’m telling the truth,” Talon says with a pointed look at Titus.

Titus’ brows shoot up. “How do you know about that?”

“I know a lot by looking at someone,” he answers, and for a brief second his gaze flicks to me before returning to Titus.

“What are you talking about?” Becks demands.

Talon just looks at Titus, who blows out a breath of air with a huff. “I’m a truth reader,” he says, and it’s my turn to raise my brows.

Truth readers are fae who have the power to detect lies. It’s an old magic that is very rare these days. I’m starting to believe Titus when he says he isn’t interested in Shadow Striker’s abilities. He must be an extremely powerful fae.

“If you know that about me, you know how powerful I am. I can take care of myself if I win.”

“Test these words,” Talon says, urging Titus to use his truth reading abilities.

Getting to his feet, Titus places a hand over Talon’s heart, and after a moment it starts to glow with silver faelight.

“I know exactly how powerful you are,” Talon says, his stare unwavering as he looks back at Titus. “But I’m more powerful.”

Titus sucks a quick breath through his nose.

“Everything I’ve told you about Shadow Striker is true,” Talon goes on. “If I don’t get it back, all our lives are in danger.”

Titus removes his hand from Talon’s chest, the light fading from his palm. They stand face-to-face and I hold my breath, waiting to see what is going to happen next.

“Well,” Becks prompts.

Still looking at Talon, Titus says, “Tell me what we need to do.”

Thirty-Three

I’m so screwed.Forget winning Chaos, once Titus verifies Talon is telling the truth any secret hopes I still have of winning Shadow Striker and using its powers instantly die. But Talon doesn’t stop with his revelations; the floodgates have opened, and Talon explains that in order to activate Shadow Striker competitors have to have their strengths tested to be found worthy of the dagger—specifically their physical, mental, intellectual, and magical strengths. That means that the next trial is a test of magical powers, of which I have none.

Titus and Ensley send me pitying gazes when that bomb is dropped, but Becks shoots to his feet.

“Locklyn will be defenseless,” he says, his eyes going wild.

“Which is one of the reasons I wanted her out of the competition before now,” Talon grinds out.

“If I’d failed the last trial you wouldn’t be here,” I snap back.

“I know,” Talon says. Plowing a hand through his hair, he turns toward the mantel, giving us all his back.

“It’s all right, Locklyn,” Titus says. “We’ll make sure you make it through okay.”

And then it dawns on me . . . the only reason I’m even part of this discussion. “I’m only here so that when you and Titus come up with a plan, I’m around to agree to stay out of the way,” I accuse Talon.

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