Page 83 of Creatures of Chaos

I’ve never been on a motorcycle before, but it makes me think of flying. At least the way Talon drives it feels that way. I don’t try to check the speedometer over his shoulder to see how fastwe’re going as we zip through the streets, passing the few cars out at this time of night.

I can’t hear much with the helmet on besides the buzz of the engine and the wind whipping by. There’s a stretch of winding road up ahead, and Talon doesn’t bother slowing to take the turns. The bike tilts to the side as we careen around the first curve and with ayipI tighten my hold around Talon, bringing the front of my body completely flush against the back of his. If I fly off this piece of metal, I’m taking him with me.

I can only breathe easier once we hit straight road again. “This is crazy,” I mumble to myself. “He’s going to kill the both of us before Chaos gets the chance.”

I hear a chuckle. “Don’t worry. I’ve been riding almost as long as I’ve been walking.”

Eep. There must be some sort of microphone system in the helmets so we can hear each other.

“Oh, ah. That’s good to know.” Now that we’re past the curves, I try loosening my hold on him, but as soon as I relax my grip Talon hits the gas and I have to clamp back around him to keep from jolting back.

“You did that on purpose,” I accuse.

Rather than answer, Talon makes some sort of noncommittal sound. We fall silent as we slice through the night, the wind whipping my hair behind me as the darkened landscape passes by in a blur. I don’t dare loosen my grip around Talon’s waist another time, but as his nearness starts to get to me, I start counting down the minutes to distract myself.

“We’re almost there,” Talon announces as we speed past a red sedan.

I nod even though he can’t see me, and then less than two minutes later Talon pulls us into the gravel parking lot of what looks like an old, abandoned building that foliage has almost completely taken over. The structure would almost be beautifulif it weren’t so creepy. It looks like the plants covering it are trying to swallow the structure whole.

I recognize the small purple blooms that dot along the ivy creeping up the cobblestone walls: shade ivy, a highly poisonous plant that shoots spores into the air and whose vines have three-inch thorns. Inhaling the spores will cause hallucinations, but they only shoot spores when they are burned or encounter fire, so we should be safe.

Talon slows to a stop near the smattering of cars parked along the grounds in front of the building and then cuts the engine. A handful of competitors loiter in front of the arched building entrance. This is nothing like any of the other trials. There are a few spectators, but for the most part there are only other bleary-eyed competitors with us, waiting for the trial to begin.

I don’t realize I’m still holding tight on to Talon until he places his hand over where mine are clasped around his waist and says, “It’s safe to let go now.”

I immediately rear back, almost losing my balance and toppling from the bike.

How embarrassing.

Scrambling off the seat, I yank the helmet off and hand it to him. His gaze goes from my face to my hair, and I self-consciously reach back to find a matted mess.

Fantastic.

As I finger-comb the mess, he flips open the top box behind the seat and pulls something out. “Here,” he says as he offers me a small black ring.

“A hair tie?”

The corner of his mouth quirks, and it’s charming enough that for a moment I forget how angry I am at him. “You didn’t think you were the first girl I’ve had on the back of my ride, did you?”

And I’m back to being annoyed.

Rolling my eyes, I snatch the hair tie and twist my matted hair up into a bun on the top of my head.

“Let me look at this,” he says, snatching my hand when I’m done.

The bandage wrapped around my injured palm is ripped, and one of the remaining stitches has popped. That’s just great. I was supposed to get them removed tomorrow. At least it’s healed enough that it’s not bleeding. Reaching back into his box, Talon pulls out a roll of gauze and starts re-dressing my hand, expertly covering the healing wound.

“Thank you,” I say quietly as Talon looks up from my hand. As much as I want to be angry with Talon right now, I know I owe him.

“It’s no big deal. You should get someone to look at those stitches tomorrow,” he says as he ties off the gauze.

“Not just for that. For coming to get me tonight. I don’t want to think what would have happened if you hadn’t shown up.” A shiver runs through me when I realize just how close I was to missing this trial.

“I told you I don’t want to see you get hurt,” Talon says, his gaze connecting with mine, and a different type of shiver works through me. “Besides, I’m sure your princeling would have come and saved you if he wasn’t snoring away in his castle right now.”

I cock my head. “You know you could have just called him and told him about the trial. He would have come to get me.”

A wicked smile kicks up the corner of Talon’s mouth. “And miss the feeling of you holding on to me for dear life? Never.”

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