Page 73 of Creatures of Chaos

I cross my arms over my chest. “I’m only accepting your apology if you apologize to him too.”

She grimaces. “What? No. You aren’t serious?”

I don’t say anything and just stare at Ensley with a straight face, and she groans. What she doesn’t know is that I forgave her before she even apologized—it’s what besties do—but she should still say sorry to her brother as well. And little does she know she’s about to get the opportunity to do so, because I spot Becks coming up behind her.

“Fine,” she pouts. “You drive a hard bargain, but I’ll say something to him next time I see him.”

“Say something to who?” Becks asks, and she spins toward him, a sour look on her face.

“Ensley has something she’d like to tell you,” I answer with a grin.

“She does, does she?” Becks asks, a smile curving his mouth as he already suspects what’s coming.

Ensley plays with her purple-streaked hair, stalling.

“You wanted to say something, sis?” Becks taunts.

Sighing, she rolls her eyes. “Oh, fine. Listen, I’m sorry for giving you and Locklyn a hard time at lunch today. Your business is your own and none of my business. But let’s be honest, this is also kinda my business as well, and I’m sure I’ll get all the deets from my pal Locklyn anyway, but in the future I promise to only grill you individually and privately.”

“That was supposed to be an apology?” Becks asks with raised eyebrows.

Ensley smiles and shrugs. “Take it or leave it, but don’t expect to hear it again.”

Becks shakes his head.

That’s about what I expected from Ensley. Now that’s settled, I have another matter to discuss with them. Before diving into it, I do a quick look around the parking lot. No one appears to be listening, but some creatures, especially certain shifters andvampires, have very good hearing, so I let Becks and Ensley chat until more students clear out.

“Hey, Becks,” I finally say, ignoring the little zing that goes through me when he looks directly at me.

Calm down, girl.

“What’s up?”

“Talon’s uncle . . . he’s on the council, right?” I hold my breath, hoping against all hopes I remembered that right.

Becks’ face darkens at just the mention of Talon, but he nods. “Yeah, why?”

Finally, something is going our way. Excitement that I wouldn’t let surface earlier bubbles up, and a smile stretches my mouth as I look back at Ensley’s and Becks’ questioning faces.

“I know exactly how to get one of the council members on our side.”

“How?” Becks asks.

“Talon owes me a favor.” Or at least he will once I agree to tank the next trial like he asked me to. With Becks free of the arranged life-mating, I won’t need Shadow Striker anymore. Yes, it would be nice to have magic, but if the last couple of weeks has taught me anything, it’s that I’m powerful even without magic. Besides, the only confirmation I’ve been able to find that Shadow Striker wouldn’t turn me evil or psychotic is from Mr. Brone. I’ve been trying to ignore it, but the unknowns about Shadow Striker make me a little uneasy.

Becks’ face sours at the same time Ensley’s lights up.

“Locklyn, that’s genius,” Ensley says, bouncing on the balls of her feet in excitement. “He lives with his uncle.”

“That’s what he said. And if anyone can dig up dirt on him, it will be Talon.” I truly believe that. Right now, I’m holding him back, at least according to him. I have no doubt he’ll go to extreme lengths to get me out of the equation.

“Why would he go against his uncle and help us?” Becks asks with a frown.

“He’ll help us, I’m sure of it.”

“No.” Becks shakes his head. “I don’t like the idea of owing that guy anything.”

My smile starts to fade. “You wouldn’t owe him anything. Like I said, he owesmea favor.”

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