Page 133 of Kingdom of Chaos
The moment I walk back through the door, I search for Talon, finding him in the far corner,seated beneath one of the flickering lights, sharpening a blade with slow, steady strokes. The rhythmic scrape of metal against stone ceases the moment his gaze finds mine. For a beat, neither of us moves. Then he sets the weapon down and quiet tenderness creeps into his eyes. I see the question there—Are you okay?—but he doesn’t ask. He just stands and strides toward me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Becks peel off and head toward Titus on the other side of the open room. Talon casts a brief look his way before meeting my eyes again. When hereaches me, his hand brushes lightly against mine in a barely-there touch, but it centers me more than anything else could.
“You good?” he murmurs, voice low.
I manage a smirk, though it wobbles at the edges. “Define good.”
Talon huffs a quiet breath that’s almost a laugh, but his thumb brushes mine again, silently reminding me I’m not alone in this.
Behind Talon, I catch Becks watching the two of us, but he quickly looks away when my gaze connects with his. Talon glances over his shoulder and then back at me, but he doesn’t ask how it went with Becks. He’s letting me decide what I want to share, and I appreciate that.
“It was a hard conversation, but we’re all right. Or we will be, eventually,” I say with a sad smile.
“You need to give yourself some grace. You don’t have to make any big decisions right now. You’ll have time for that later,” he says, once again giving me the space I need without having to ask for it.
There’s no guarantee Iwillhave time, but even so, I’m not sure I’ll need it.
I open my mouth to tell him that, but the moment is cut short when Kade and the leaders of the Order step through the warehouse doors. Kade heads straight for me, while the others make their way to the back meeting area where we gathered before. Tobias looks jumpy, his gaze scanning the space, no doubt searching for Imogen, as he follows the others. I can’t help but get a little satisfaction at his discomfort.
“So,” Kade says as he approaches, arms folding across his chest. His expression is all business. “You ready?”
A nervous laugh escapes before I can stop it, and Kade’s brow tightens.
“She’s ready,” Talon answers before I can speak, his voice steady and sure.
It’s not the full truth, but the confidence in his tone wraps around me like armor. And for now, that’s enough.
“Good.” Kade gives a sharp nod and then tips his head toward the back. “Let’s go compare notes. It’s time we took this bastard down.”
The meetingwith the Order leaders lasts a couple of hours. I listen closely, though I don’t contribute much. Strategy isn’t exactly my forte, and my role in this mission is straightforward: face off against Kerrim and do whatever it takes to get Shadow Striker back. Still, it’s important I understand what everyone else will be doing, if only for my own peace of mind.
Becks and Titus have been tasked with getting Ensley away from Kerrim and to safety. Imogen and Talon are my direct backup, along with Kade and a few of his most trusted fighters. They’ll be hidden near the open field where I’m supposed to meet Kerrim. The same place the portal from the creature world first opened on that fateful night.
The rest of the Order will focus on concealing the battle from the human world. Their first mandate is to protect humanity from supernatural threats, and in their minds that includes keeping the public unaware. If they’re not managing illusions and containment, they’ll be fighting whatever forces Kerrim brings with him.
The meeting breaks a few hours before midnight, final plans made, final words spoken. There’s nothing left but the waiting.
Becks gives me a hug, holding me tightly and whispering in my ear that he believes in me, precious words I’ve been waiting to hear from him for so long, and now I wonder if they’ll be the last I ever hear from him. He gives me a lingering look before leaving with Titus to collect their weapons and get into their positions in the park.
The warehouse empties out slowly after that, voices fading as everyone prepares in their own way for what’s coming.
I linger near the table, my hands resting flat on the cool metal. My nerves buzz like static, and for a moment I close my eyes just to steady my breathing. When I open them again, Talon is still there, leaning against the far wall, arms folded, watching me like I’m the only thing in the room worth looking at.
When our eyes meet, he pushes off the wall and walks over.
“Come with me?” he says quietly.
I nod.
We step outside into the warm night air. The city hums in the distance. Distant traffic, a car alarm somewhere far off, the faint thump of bass from a rooftop party. But here, under the stretch of stars overhead, it’s just us.
Talon leads me to a small unkempt park behind the warehouse. It’s secluded, more paved than grassed, but the kind of place where the world feels like it pauses for just a little while. We find a grouping of trees and sit with our backs against the same trunk, shoulders brushing.
For a while, neither of us says anything. The silence isn’t awkward. It’s safe.
Then he reaches for my hand, his fingers brushing lightly over my knuckles before he laces them through mine. I let him. I need the warmth.
“You good?” he asks softly.
