Page 49 of Chaos
Caleb:Jensen? Alek, what are you doing with a member of the Shadow Court?
Alek:I caught him as he was lurking about the property. Likely planning to curse one of us again. Fae scum.
Jensen:I was not lurking, you overgrown baboon. I was invited.
Alek: *scoffs*When?
Tor:That’s what I was trying to tell you, brother. Kai invited him. Don’t you remember our discussion earlier? We need every ally we can drum up.
Alek:Are you sure we want allies that can’t even tell a couple of twins apart? We’re liable to all end up casualties of friendly fire.
Jensen pulls out of Alek’s hold and straightens to his full height, gathering his composure.
Jensen:Firstly, I had nothing to do with cursing your brother, Alek. Secondly, the Shadow Court is directly affected by the apocalypse, and Queen Maeve has sent me as her emissary prior to opening the portal between our realms so she can send every warrior we have to fight by your side. You don’t want to make an enemy of me now, Novasgardian.
Tor places a hand on his brother’s shoulder.
Tor:If I can let it go, brother, so can you. It’s time to set our differences and past squabbles aside.
Alek’s anger deflates before he nods.
Alek:Fine. But one wrong move and . . .
Jensen stares at the camera, confusion on his face.
Jensen:Are you filming this?
Asher visibly starts.
Asher:Shit. I forgot. You guys came in the middle of my sign-off. So, um, anyway. Things continue to unravel, are once again far worse than we thought, and frankly, if you were waiting for some kind of sign before getting up off your ass and joining therevolution, consider me one big flashing neon light. We need you here. Yesterday. If Pan’s translation is correct?—
Pan:Of course it is.
Asher:—then we have weeks left at best before the shit hits the fan for good. If we have any hope of righting this ship?—
Pan: (as an aside)You really need to work on your metaphors, brother mine.
Asher: *heavy sigh*Just get here.
>
End of transmission.
Chapter
Twelve
MALICE
My phone buzzed in my pocket, incessant and demanding, but I didn’t have time for distractions. I had an appointment with the one woman who would either end the world or save it. Snatching the device, I silenced the call and tossed the phone onto my neatly made bed. If it was important, they’d leave a bloody message.
A sharp rap on the door was my only notice before it swung open and Merri peeked around the corner.
“Am I interrupting?”
“Would it stop you if you were?”
“No,” she said brightly, pushing the door the rest of the way open and waltzing inside. “Part of me was hoping I’d catch you being naughty.”
