Page 19 of Kingdom of Chaos
When her gaze meets mine, I can see she’s torn too. I give her a look that I hope says,It’s your call.
Resolve sharpens her features. She nods once, then turns to Talon.
“You have one day. I want you to remember that every minute you take is another minute my brother is out there, hurt, alone, and with no idea where he is or how to get home. I’m giving you this time, but I expect it to be worth it. If not, you’ll answer to me.”
She lifts her hand and creates a glowing orb. The sphere hovers in her palm, growing brighter by the second. When it’s so bright I have to squint, Ensley cocks her arm back and hurls it.
The ball flies across the room and slams into a practice dummy, punching straight through the lifelike rubber chest like a hot knife through butter. It leaves a hole clean through the target and scorches a black mark at least three feet wide on the stone wall behind it.
Whoa. I’ve seen Ensley use her light magic before, but only while goofing off. I didn’t know she could dothat.
Way to go, bestie.
I resist the urge to start a slow clap, keeping my arms firmly crossed as I arch a brow at Talon, daring him to double-cross her.
He tips his head in a gesture that says,Message received and accepted.
Six
Even though Talonsaid he’d show us to guest rooms, his cousin convinces him to go shower to “wash the stink off,” so it’s Imogen who ends up getting us settled. She puts Ensley and me in a room with two giant beds, and Titus in the one across the hall. She gives us directions to the kitchen and main hall and makes it clear those are theonlyareas we’re allowed to go without an escort. I resist the urge to roll my eyes when she adds a dramatic, “Or else,” before flouncing off, hopefully to put on more clothes.
“This place gives me the creeps,” Ensley says, running a hand over the blood-red duvet on one of the four-poster beds.
Besides the beds, the only furniture is a massive mahogany armoire in the corner and a single vanity with a mirror. No nightstands. No lamps. The red-and-black woven rug does nothing to fight off the early morning chill. The castle seems to absorb cold and moisture and trap it. It’s definitely colder in here than it was outside. There’s a fireplace opposite the beds, but it’s unlit and empty.
I have to boost myself up just to sit on the bed. The duvet on mine is black, and when I peek under it, I find matching sheets.
I thought Drake’s place was creepy, but Talon’s castle takes the cake.
“So, what do you think?” Ensley asks from her spot on the bed across the room.
“I think you’re right. This place is crawling with creepy vibes.” I glance toward the one window, but the warped, grimy glass makes it almost impossible to see out.
“No, I mean about Talon. Was it the right move to give him this time? Or did we just hand him a chance to string us along?”
I sigh. Who really knew with Talon? If I could read him correctly, we might never have gotten into this mess to begin with.
I spend a few minutes recounting everything from my conversation with him before they arrived. By the time I finish, Ensley looks deflated.
“So we’re probably just wasting our time?”
“I don’t know,” I say, thinking back to the way Talon reacted to my pendant. There was something in that look. “I think part of him wants to help.” At least, Ihopeso. “Talon’s the only chance we’ve got right now. I’m not ready to give up on him. Let’s wait out the next twenty-four hours and reassess.”
Despite insisting she’s not tired, Ensley is out cold the moment her head hits the pillow. What sleep I got in the car wasn’t exactly quality, but now that I’m lying down, I feel wide awake. After an hour of tossing, turning, and mentally spiraling about how all this with Talon might play out, I finally give up and slide out of bed.
Moving quietly so I don’t wake Ensley, I slip on my shoes and tiptoe out of the room.
I have no real plan as I step into the hall. I remember Imogen’s directions to the kitchen—down to the left, right at the end of the hallway, left at the end of the next, and then keep going until I get there—but I’m not hungry. Even so, I probablyshouldeat, to keep up my strength if nothing else since I’ve hardly eaten since losing Becks.
Outside the room, I head left, like Imogen said. The long hallway is lined with a red-and-black runner.
I’m sensing a theme here.
When I reach the end of the hall, I’m supposed to turn right, but muffled voices sound from the left, piquing my interest.
It has to be Talon and Imogen. And there’s no way I’m passing up the chance to eavesdrop.
Staying tucked against the wall, keeping my footsteps light, I pass several closed doors before reaching one that’s slightly ajar. Talon and Imogen’s voices are coming clearly from inside, and I take a chance to peek through the opening.
