Page 10 of Kingdom of Chaos
Tearing my eyes away from Titus, I glance back at Ensley. Her face mirrors my shock, but she quickly slides her hand out of his and stands up. She tucks a strand of her blonde-and-blue-streaked hair behind her ear. Sometimes she uses her fae glamour to match her hair to her mood. Blue seems intentional today.
“Do you have any news?” she asks eagerly, padding over to me with eyes full of hope.
I wince, instantly regretting that I didn’t warn her I was coming. When I shake my head, her face crumples and her shoulders slump.
It feels like I’ve been sucker punched in the gut.
This is all my fault.
“But I have a plan,” I say.
Ensley doesn’t perk up like I’d hoped. She nods, her eyes taking on a faraway look.
Titus comes up behind her, and although he doesn’t touch her, the move feels protective, like he wants her to know he has her back. I don’t know why, but it makes me bristle a little.
I trust Titus. Kinda. Sorta. But the vibe between the two of them is throwing me off. He’s only met Ensley once. What’s he doing chilling in her room and holding her hand? After discovering the mountain of secrets Talon kept, and how deeply Kerrim deceived me and my family, saying I have trust issues would be an understatement.
“Hey, Titus. I didn’t expect to see you here.” My tone isn’t exactly hostile, but it’s not warm either. Ensley isn’t paying enough attention to notice, but Titus’ eyebrows rise.
“I figured there weren’t a lot of creatures for her to confide in right now, considering the circumstances around Chaos and that cursed dagger.”
Oh shoot. That was surprisingly thoughtful.
Whatever guard I’d put up slips. Besides Talon and me, Titus is the only other creature who knows the truth, or at least a good portion of it. Ensley can’t even speak openly to her parents. They don’t know about Shadow Striker. They don’t know I’m human. They don’t know I accidentally opened a portal to another world. And they definitely don’t know their son is trapped there.
He’s right. Ensley needs someone right now. Someone besides me. And as much as I want to protect her, shutting himout would only leave her more alone. Denying her that support would be cruel.
I nod toward Ensley, who’s wandered off and is staring out the window like she doesn’t even realize we’re here. “Thanks for being there for her.”
“No problem,” he says, his gaze drifting over to her, and I swear his face softens a little. Clearing his throat, he looks back at me. “How are you doing?”
I shrug. “I’m fine.”
“You seem . . . different.”
“Different how?”
He hesitates. “You remember I’m a truth reader, right?”
I nod slowly.
“I can usually sense truth without fully activating my magic. But with you? It’s always been blank. Until now.”
My brow furrows. “What do you mean?”
He shrugs, a little too casually. “Just that for the first time I picked something up. A flicker. It’s never happened before. Thought that was interesting.”
“What’s your plan?” Ensley asks and I start, not even realizing she’s walked back to join us.
“My plan?”
“You said you had a plan,” she prompts. “I’m assuming it has to do with Becks?”
“Right,” I say, pushing Titus’ small revelation about me to the back of my mind. “Well, first I need to find Talon.”
Ensley tenses, her expression darkening at the mention of Talon. Apparently, I’m not the only one a little peeved with the dark-haired creature right now. I wonder if she thinks things might have turned out differently if he’d been completely honest with us. I know I do. He kept secrets. Right up until the end.
“Why do you needhim?” she asks, the sharp edge in her voice confirming my suspicion that she wants nothing to do with Talon.
