Page 123 of Kingdom of Chaos
“Okay, what is going on here?” Imogen asks, and I glance over to see her and Titus watching the three of us with sharp, suspicious eyes.
“You’re acting like—” she cuts herself off, eyes suddenly widening.
And just like that, I know.
She’s figured it out, or at least come close enough to the truth.
She crosses her arms. “I see. So this tension isn’t about the missing sister, it’s about who Locklyn kissed.” A pause. “Priorities.”
Titus’ mouth drops open, and my face goes hot with embarrassment.
Becks turns away from all of us, but not before a glint of shame crosses his face.
My heart aches.
Ensley’s abduction is more important than anything that’s happened between us, but that doesn’t mean he’s not allowed to be affected by what I’ve done.
All I want is to go to him, to reach out, to say something that might make this less awful. But he won’t let me close. Not now.
“You said that we’re moving the plan up to tomorrow,” Becks asks.
“Yes,” Talon answers before I can. “Locklyn offered herself up in exchange for Ensley.”
Becks’ head snaps toward me. Despite the anger still lingering in his eyes, there’s something else beneath it. Fear.
“Can you be ready that fast to face him?” he asks.
I lift a shoulder. “I don’t have a choice.”
I can see the conflict written all over his face. He wants his sister back, desperately, but he knows how dangerous this is going to be for me. Even if he wants to argue, to beg me not to, he also knows he’s lost the right to tell me what to do.
Becks exhales through his nose, his mouth a hard line. “Then you better come back in one piece,”he mutters.
It’s not quite forgiveness, but it’s a start.
“I intend to,” I say.
Beck’ gaze softens and he nods.
“Does Kade know about all this?” he asks Titus.
“Yeah,” Titus says. “He’s gone back to Order headquarters to rally his people and speed up their planning.”
Becks nods again, more firmly this time. “Okay. I’ll go and see how I can help.”
I blink, caught off guard. “Seriously? You’re going back there?” Even earlier today, the thought of stepping foot in the Order’s headquarters again made his blood boil. “After everything they did to you?”
He shrugs, but there’s a grim steadiness in his eyes now. “I’m not exactly overflowing with magical usefulness these days.” Afaint smile ghosts his lips, bitter but resigned. “If they’ve got a job for a guy without powers, I’ll take it. Ensley’s out there. I’m not sitting this out.”
For a moment, none of us say anything. Even Titus seems surprised.
Imogen breaks the silence first. “Don’t get too excited. They’ll probably have you filing paperwork.” But there’s a glint of reluctant respect in her eyes.
Titus studies Becks for a long second, then gives a small, approving nod. “The Order could use someone with firsthand knowledge of Kerrim’s tactics. Especially someone who’s fought him before and isn’t afraid to call them out on their crap.”
Becks’ mouth lifts in the ghost of a grin. “That I can do.”
Talon, still at my side, adds, “They’ll take one look at you and know you’ve got skin in the game.”
