Page 120 of Kingdom of Chaos
One breath in. One out.
The shadows unravel from around me, slithering back into the darkness where they belong, and the scent of smoke blows away with the next gust of air.
“See?” he murmurs. “You’ve got this.”
I nod again, this time more sure of myself.
“Okay,” I whisper. Every time Talon helps me rein in my magic, I feel a touch more in control. “Let’s go find Titus.”
When we find Titus,he isn’t alone. Imogen and Kade have beaten us there and are standing in a loose semi-circle around someone bound to a tree with thick vines and ivy. Titus’ handiwork, probably. As we approach, I have to choke back a gasp when I lay eyes on Titus.
One of his eyes is swollen completely shut, his lip split and crusted with blood. His shirt hangs in tatters, splattered red and torn across his chest. Through one of the rips, I catch a glimpse of a deep gash still oozing blood down his ribs.
He looks wrecked.
And the worst part? Titus is one of the strongest among us. Ensley is a powerful fae as well, but she’s not a trained fighter. Under normal circumstances I believe she could hold her own, but if they could dothisto Titus, then what kind of shape is Ensley in?
I try to push the thought away, but it claws at the edges of my mind. Whatever happened here wasn’t a scuffle. It was a message. And if they have Ensley, I’m terrified of what they might do to her now.
We’re met with matching grim faces when we join them, and I know instantly there’s something I don’t know. Something bad.
“What’s happened?” I ask, the words barely leaving my mouth before Titus answers.
“We know who has her,” he says, his voice rough.
He nods toward the figure bound to a nearby tree. I follow his gaze and have to stifle another gasp. The guy is barely conscious, slumped forward against the vines holding him in place. I’m assuming he’s a creature and not a human, because otherwise I think he would have died from his injuries already. His face is a ruin of blood and bruises. Both eyes are swollen shut, his nose clearly broken; his jaw is jutting to the side at an unnatural angle. Deep gashes crisscross his chest and arms, and what’s left of his shirt is soaked in blood. His shoulder looks dislocated and one boot is missing. He looks like he got hit by a truck made of fists and claws.
Talon lets out a low whistle and raises his brows at Titus. “You look bad, but now that I see the other guy, it’s clear you didn’t lose the fight.”
Titus doesn’t smile. No one does. Because whatever the bound creature knows, it cost something brutal to get it.
“Who has her?” I ask, and Titus and the others share a look. I’m surprised when it’s Imogen who finally answers.
“Kerrim,” she says, and my entire body goes cold.
I should have suspected, but even so, the news hits me like a shockwave.
“Why? How?” I ask, searching for someone to make sense of this for me.
“He took her to get to you,” Titus says, a touch of bitterness in his voice that makes me flinch.
Seeing my reaction, he sighs and runs a hand through his hair, tinting the white strands pink with either his or his victim’s blood.
“Sorry,” he mumbles.
But I don’t blame him. Once again, it’s my fault one of my friends is hurt. The guilt coils low in my stomach, thick and sharp, like it’s trying to eat its way out.
No matter how many times I tell myself I didn’t ask for this, that none of this was my choice, it always circles back to me.
Kerrim wantsme. And those I care about are paying the price.
My resolve hardens. No matter what happens to me, I’m going to end this one way or another. If it’s me he wants, then that’s who he’ll get.
“Let him go,” I order Titus, and he stares at me like I’ve just suggested we hand over the keys to the kingdom.
“Hell no,” he says flatly. “I’m not letting this slime just walk out of here.”
I glance at the creature and think that it would be a miracle if he could walk anywhere right now. We may actually have to carry him out of here ourselves to get him back to Kerrim.
