Page 94 of Kingdom of Chaos
I rub my temples, feeling a headache brewing as exhaustion weighs down my limbs. “Fine, let’s get on with it, then.”
Twenty-Five
Talon is leanedup against the wall waiting for me when we leave the room. He takes one look at me and declares that we’re leaving and will come back tomorrow for that talk. I try to argue with him, but he reminds me how late it is and that Ensley is probably going out of her mind with worry right now. It would be cruel not to go back and let her know we’re okay and that we found her brother. I agree, but we set up a time later in the morning to come back and talk to Kade.
Kade doesn’t seem concerned about letting us go, confident that with Becks still here, I’ll come back. Before we leave, he even hands over five of their cell phones, each one already programmed with his number. When I stare back at him in confusion, he tells me that whether I believe it or not, we’re on the same side. I’m not about to argue with him; having a way to communicate with the group when we’re in different locations will be invaluable.
By the time we step outside, it’s well past midnight and the city has quieted to a low hum.
We walk in silence except for the whoosh of passing cars and the steady fall of our footsteps against the pavement. It isn’t until we’re halfway back to the hotel that Talon finally speaks.
“How’d it go with Becks?”
I glance over at him but he doesn’t look my way. His eyes stay fixed ahead, scanning the quiet street as if searching for something. Danger, maybe, or just the right words to follow up with.
“It was . . .” I struggle to find the right word. Seeing Becks again was a tangle of emotions. Relief. Heartbreak. Guilt. “Overwhelming.”
Talon casts a sidelong glance at me. “Overwhelming?”
I nod slowly. “He’s alive and on the mend, which is a huge relief. But he’s trapped in that room. And . . .” I’m unsure if I should tell Talon about Becks losing his powers. It feels like Becks’ secret to share, not mine.
“And?” Talon asks gently, his voice careful, but curious.
He’s going to figure it out sooner or later, if he hasn’t already. I feel a little foolish for not questioning it myself sooner. Of course Kerrim stole his powers.
“He’s lost his magic,” I admit, hoping Becks won’t be angry with me for sharing something so personal.
Talon’s head snaps toward me, surprise flashing across his features. Looks like he hadn’t considered that either. Maybe I’m not the only one who missed such an obvious detail.
“When Kerrim stabbed him with Shadow Striker,” I explain. “He says he can’t even shift.”
Talon’s brow furrows. “He can’t shift into his dragon?”
I nod. “That’s what he told me. Shadow Striker steals abilities?—”
“Magical abilities, sure,” he interrupts, his tone troubled. “But shifting, that’s who he is. It’s not just magic, it’s in his blood.”
He falls quiet for a moment, thinking. “Maybe it has to do with the dagger being here in the human world. It’s said to be more powerful on this side.”
“Maybe,” I agree, and we fall into silence again until Talon quietly asks, “Did you tell him the truth about us?”
My first instinct is to say yes. But the word sticks in my throat.
Did I really tell Becks the truth? Or did I just tell him the version of the truth I was ready to admit? The part that served my purpose, not the whole of it?
“I told him how I asked you to help me trick him into thinking we were together,” I say, my voice low.
Talon nods once. “He should know that.”
There’s a beat of silence before he adds, “So, are you planning to pick up where you left off with him?”
When I glance over, he’s still not looking at me. His jaw is tight, his posture guarded.
“We didn’t talk about that,” I answer honestly.
“But that’s what you want.”
It’s not a question, it’s a quiet conclusion he’s drawn on his own. And maybe if hehadasked, I still wouldn’t have known how to answer, because suddenly, I’m not so sure.
