Page 14 of Kingdom of Chaos
The barista, a pretty fae probably in her late twenties or early thirties, with curly red hair and a friendly smile, makes small talk while preparing our drinks. When she asks if we’re just passing through or visiting someone, Ensley casually mentions we’re here to see a friend named Talon. That’s when things shift. The barista’s smile falters, just for a second, before she recovers and offers to draw us a quick map to his place, saying that it’s easy to get lost on the backroads.
She’s polite, helpful even, but there’s a shift in her demeanor that suddenly feels guarded. Like we mentioned a topic that’s off-limits.
We thank her for the drinks and information and leave without lingering.
As we climb back into the car, Ensley twists in her seat. “Did you see her face when I said we were looking for Talon?”
I nod. “Yeah, that was weird.”
“It might be nothing,” Titus says. “Maybe she just dated Talon or has some history with him and is curious about two girls visiting him.”
I scrunch my nose. “She has to be almost ten years older than him.”
Titus shrugs. “Guy’s got game.”
A bolt of annoyance shoots through me, and I bite my tongue to keep from snapping at Titus, even though I’m not actually mad at him.
“The first time we kiss, Freckles, it won’t be to make another guy jealous. It’ll be because we can’t live another second without tasting each other’s lips. I’m a patient creature. I can wait.”
Game indeed.
Suddenly my vanilla tea smells sickly sweet; the croissant in my hand might as well be a brick. My appetite’s gone.
“Let’s just get to Talon’s,” I say.
Ensley looks over to Titus, who nods in agreement, then starts up her car and we glide out of the center of Grimbrooke.
Five
If we hadn’t gottenthat hand-drawn map from the waitress at the café, we never would’ve found Talon’s house. I vaguely wondered if Drake knew the address he gave me was basically useless and was back in Everton laughing about it right now.
Well, joke’s on him. The fae marked out every landmark. After a sharp turn at a massive boulder covered in purple vines, we followed a dirt road barely wider than a footpath, squeezing the car between two drooping willow trees, their branches trailing along the roof. Beyond them, a tree-lined cobblestone drive stretched on endlessly before finally revealing Talon’s home.
We spill out of Ensley’s sportscar, and I look up. And up. Andup.
Calling it a house is laughable. It’s a full-on stone fortress. Not like Drake’s mini-castle either. This one’s the real deal. Medieval and creepy in all the right ways, with high gray walls, four cylindrical towers at each corner, and a central courtyard visible through a wide arched opening. The only thing missing is a moat.
“This is wild,” Ensley says, staring up at one of the towers. “I didn’t think this part of the country was even old enough to have architecture like this.”
“Maybe it was just built to look old,” I offer.
Titus shakes his head, like he’s not so sure.
“Come on,” I say, motioning them forward. “Let’s see who’s home.”
The outer walls are surprisingly clean, free of ivy or moss, which tells me someone’s been maintaining the place. We step through the arched entry and into the courtyard, the cobblestones echoing underfoot. There’s no single front door to knock on, just several smaller stone buildings ringing the yard.
No lights. No voices. No clue where to start.
“Should we split up?” Ensley asks.
Normally, I’d say no. It’s smarter to stick together. But I’m too antsy. Ineedto find Talon. We’ll cover more ground this way. Besides, this isn’t one of the Chaos trials. It’s not like we’re in danger . . . right?
We each choose a different part of the castle grounds and head off in separate directions. I start toward the southwest tower but get the sudden urge to veer off. A minute later, I find myself in front of a black metal door just to the left of the corner tower. I test the handle, and finding it unlocked, I ease it open.
The thumping of fists pounding a punching bag hits me the second I step inside.
The building is two stories tall but narrow and long, a single open space filled with a chaotic mix of workout equipment: weights, machines, sparring mats, and target dummies. But at the far end of the room, it’s not the gear that holds my attention.
