Page 35 of Legacy of Chaos

He shoved to his feet in a smooth surge, but not without a pained grimace, and one hand braced on the stone wall. She hurried over before he fell on his ass.

“Come on,” she said, taking his arm. “It’s this way.”

The Harrowgate’s glittering opening dissolved into a dark entryway as they approached. She ushered him inside. Once the door closed, the pitch-black walls lit up with two symbols, one representing Sheoul and the other the human realm. She tapped the human-realm symbol, and a giant world map spread in glowing lines on all the walls. She was just reaching to tap on the continent of Australia when Stryke’s hand clamped down on her wrist.

“We’re going to Canada, not StryTech. You’ll need to use the keypad.”

Well, that was unexpected. She pressed her fingertip to the map of Canada and then tapped the symbol to the right of the glowing country. Instantly, dozens of symbols popped up next to the map.

“The code is in Sheoulic. Numbersinje, vilam, olshek. You’ll need my thumb.”

She shot him a surprised glance. “So, someone with the code could chop off your thumb and get access to…wherever we’re going?”

“A pulse in the thumb is required.”

“Good thinking.”

She brought up the Sheoulic language box, entered the code, then took his hand and guided his thumb to the indicated glowing circle. She also took note of the coding in the system—a complex, secure language she’d never seen but figured she could break if she tried hard enough.

Instantly, the gate opened onto the deck of a house nestled in snowy trees as far as she could see into the darkness.

“Wow,” she said as she guided him out, his hand still in hers. “I thought you lived at the top of StryTech tower. Where are we?”

“My cabin. The penthouse suite at the top of StryTech is all for show, parties, and interviews.”

A blast of icy air made her shiver as they made their way across the deck toward the sliding glass door. “Why am I not surprised?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

She stepped carefully onto the icy planks. “Supervillains always have secret lairs.”

He let out a sound somewhere between a cough and a laugh. “You see me as a villain?”

“You think that’s funny?”

“I do.” He waved his hand blindly in front of an electronic pad until he finally got it right, and the device beeped and unlocked the door. “But I might have a concussion.”

She paused before crossing the threshold. “Maybe I should go back and get Eidolon. I saw him at the party—”

“Absolutely not,” he said, slurring the words. “I heal quickly. Just get me to the couch.”

“Please.”

“What?”

She shook her head in dismay. “How did a polite, sweet woman like Runa raise you? Is it so difficult to say, ‘Please get me to the couch?’”

“Please get me to the couch.”

She tugged him inside. “I’ll accept that because I’m cold, but the sarcasm was a little over the top.”

He might have smiled at that, but it was hard to tell because of all the swelling and bruises. But he was right about healing quickly. By the time they crossed the entryway’s hardwood floor and made it to the living room throw rug, his gait was steadier, and he was standing straighter. Once they got to the sofa, he sank down with a hiss and a wince, then reclined on the buttery, toffee-colored leather with a contented sigh.

She gave the place a cursory glance, noting the rustic cabin decor but very modern conveniences, like the enormous kitchenwith professional appliances that didn’t look like they’d ever been used.

“I’ll get a washcloth and some ice,” she said. “Stay here.”

“You don’t have to do that. Go back to the party.”

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