Page 105 of Kingdom of Chaos
Titus pulls her into his arms, holding her close, and I’m struck by an unexpected, sharp pang of jealousy. Not over Titus, but over the fact that Ensley has someone to lean on.
There’s a part of me that aches for that kind of connection. I used to have it with Becks. But Becks isn’t here right now, and even if he were, things feeloffbetween us.
“Come on,” Talon says, suddenly appearing at my side. “Let’s take a break and pick up dinner for everyone.”
It’s a little early for dinner, but I think he knows I need a mental reset.
“Ugh,” Imogen moans. “So now I have to decide which third wheel I want to be? Just shoot me.”
“You can come with us,” I offer, feeling magnanimous. “You won’t be a third-wheel.”
Imogen shoves out of her chair. “Whatever. I’m going out again.”
Talon steps in front of her before she can breeze out of the room. “Where are you going?” he asks.
“Wouldn’t you like to know.”
“Yes. That’s why I asked.”
She purses her lips. “I’m goingout,Dad.”
With a sigh, he runs his hand through his hair. “At least take one of the phones so we can reach you.”
“Fine,” she says, snatching the one he pulls from his pocket and slipping it into her jacket.
“And can you please get back at a reasonable time tonight?” Talon asks, folding his arms.
She shrugs, already halfway to the door. “No promises,” she tosses over her shoulder, then disappears down the hall.
“So, is she, like, your favorite cousin?” I ask, glancing at him.
Talon laughs, the tension in his shoulders easing. “Actually, she is,” he admits.
I arch a brow. “You have a weird family.”
“You have no idea,” he says with a grin.
After grabbing a coat, I ask Ensley and Titus what they want for dinner and they tell me to just get whatever looks good.
I’m about to follow Talon out when I catch Ensley’s eye. “Whatever happens, we’re getting your brother back. You believe me, right?”
She nods. “I do. But at what cost? I don’t want to bring my brother home just to lose my best friend.”
“That won’t happen,” I say, trying to make myself believe it.
“I hope you’re right,” she says, and then looks away.
By chance,we stumble across a place called Chelsea Market not far from our hotel. It’s an indoor market inside a warehouse-style building, and we quickly discover it is a veritable food cornucopia. Without Imogen around to use compulsion on the vendors for freebies, we use up what’s left of the money Titus pickpocketed for us, buying clam chowder, lobster rolls, tacos, even cookies and the fattest, fudgiest brownies I’ve ever seen for dessert.
Walking back, arms loaded with food, when I joke to Talon that I’m going to have a delicious last meal, he doesn’t laugh. I clear my throat to fill the silence, the awkwardness suddenly heavy between us.
“Are you going to try to stop me?” I ask when the silence becomes unbearable. I don’t bother specifying what I mean. He already knows.
To my surprise, he chuckles. “As if I could, even if I tried.” He glances at me out of the corner of his eye. “You’re a force, Freckles. But even so, this is your decision, not mine. We came all this way for your princeling, and I’m going to see it through with you. One way or the other.”
“Do you mean that?” I ask, a little in awe.
“With all my heart.”
