Page 101 of Chaos
“What? Really?”
He nodded again.
Why the hell hadn’t Andi mentioned any of this? Was I wrong when I assumed she was still in the States? She could be hiding out on a tropical island for all I knew. After what Christian had just revealed, part of me hoped she was laying out on a beach in a bikini, blissfully untouched by the apocalypse.
“If you have people close to you, I would take a moment to reach out and ensure they are safe. It might be your last chance, and Monsieur Laurent won’t offer them refuge here, not that most would be able to travel this far anyway, but at least you’ll know they are all right.”
My thoughts went instantly to Cole. He and Lilith were all I had left. To the best of my knowledge, Andi was safe. And Lilith had forbidden me from contacting her for the time being, which only left him.
My skin crawled as fear took hold. If anything had happened to Cole, I would never forgive myself. I’d left our conversation with him promising not to abandon me, but me cold and distant.
Snatching my phone off the kitchen counter, I shot Christian an apologetic look. “Would you excuse me? I think I’m gonna take your advice.”
“Bonne chance, mademoiselle. I hope your loved ones are well.”
“Thank you, Christian,” I called over my shoulder, already moving out of the kitchen.
Had I realized the state of the world had gotten this bad, I never would have left things the way I did with Cole. I only hoped it wasn’t too late to fix it.
Chapter
Twenty-Six
GRIM
“Explain to me why, with over forty rooms in the house, you choose an abandoned cellarbeneaththe property,” Malice intoned from his station in the far corner.
“I thought it obvious,” I answered, matching his dry delivery with one of my own.
“Pretend it isn’t.”
“I didn’t want this conversation overheard.” I glanced at my watch for the second time in less than as many minutes and huffed in annoyance.
Sin burst through the door, breaths heaving. “I’m here! I’m on time. Look at that. A minute to spare.” He leaned dramatically against the doorframe. “Commence with the super-secret underground book club meeting.” He glanced around, realizing that he wasn’t the last to arrive. Then he chuckled and sing-songed, “Uh-oh, someone’s in trouble.”
A low grumble announced Chaos’s arrival before he darkened the doorway. “I’m not in trouble. I arrived precisely when I intended.”
“Suuuure, you did. Why is your hair all wet? Did you get into a fight with a tunnel-dwelling swamp monster because they tried to make off with you by dragging you into their underwater lair?”
“If I did, I clearly bested it.”
I sighed and shook my head. “Next time, maybe you both could try to remember that if you’re not five minutes early, you’re late.”
“Yes sir, Master Sergeant sir,” Sin said, snapping his heels together and offering me a messy salute. He was only able to hold on to his serious expression for a heartbeat before he smirked and winked. “Buuuut it’s still probably not gonna happen.” Sin leaned close and whispered conspiratorially, “My name really should’ve been Chaos if you think about it. I’m way more chaotic than he is.”
A low tremor ran beneath our feet, sending some bits of dust and rock clattering to the ground.
Sin paled at Chaos’s show of power. “Okay fine, you win. You can keep the name.”
“We don’t have much time. I’ll thank you to stop the theatrics.” I stepped forward, commanding control of the meeting before Sin started a mutiny. “We need to talk about Merri.”
“Of course we do. She’s the only thing we talk about these days,” Malice complained. “What has she reduced us to?”
My brow raised at the pricklier-than-usual comment. Last I checked, the two of them had been getting on well. Then I recalled the toy Merri had been cradling in the snow. It was pretty easy to figure out what happened from there. She’d clearly stumbled across something Malice hadn’t wanted her to see.
“Our little succubus is getting stronger by the day,” I said, gaze landing on Mal. “As you all well know.”
“And her appetite doesn’t seem to be lessening.” Sin sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’m trying to take care of her, fellas. But I’m only one man.”
