Page 121 of Kingdom of Chaos
“I’m not letting him go, I’m baiting the trap,” I say, and everyone goes still.
“They took Ensley to draw me out,” I continue, my voice steady despite the ache tightening in my chest. “So let’s give him what he wants. We release this guy, let him crawl back to Kerrim with a message that I’ll turn myself over tomorrow. No tricks. No backup. Just me in exchange for Ensley.”
Titus crosses his arms, jaw clenched. “You want to walk straight into his hands? You really think he’s going to honor that kind of deal?”
“Hasn’t this been the plan all along?” I ask and then cast a wary glance at the creature, not wanting to divulge any secrets in front of him.
“Don’t worry. He’s definitely out,” Imogen confirms, which gives me the green light to speak freely.
“Just this morning we talked about drawing Kerrim out so I can get Shadow Striker away from him. This just moves the timeline up. I won’t be walking straight into his hands. He’ll be walking right intomine.”
There’s a beat of silence before Talon steps closer. His eyes search mine with an emotion that’s dangerously close to fear.
“You’re not seriously doing this alone.”
“I won’t be alone,” I say. “Not really. He thinks he’s playing me, but we’ll set the terms, not him. We control the location, the timing. And we’ll be ready.”
Talon still doesn’t look convinced. His jaw works as he tries to find the right words.
“It’s not that I don’t believe in you, Locklyn,” he says finally, his voice low. “But this is fast. You haven’t had enough time to learn how to use everything you’ve got. Facing Kerrim now, it’s like stepping onto a battlefield with armor you haven’t finished forging.”
The words land in my chest like stones, but there’s no doubt in his eyes. No disbelief. Only concern.
“I’m not saying you can’t take him,” he adds quickly. “I’m saying you shouldn’t have to do it unprepared.”
“I know,” I say quietly. “But if we wait, he’ll have more time to hurt her. And I can’t live with that.”
Kade grunts softly, arms folded as he leans against a nearby tree. “Sounds risky as hell.”
“It is,” I agree. “But it’s the only shot we’ve got to get Ensley back before he breaks her. Or worse. Can you pull together the Order members this fast?”
“It doesn’t look like you’re giving me a choice,” he says gruffly.
I look to Talon next. “Tomorrow, you take the kid gloves off. You’ll have the day to teach me what I need to know to face Kerrim.”
Talon exhales slowly, his expression tight as he studies me for a moment.
“One day’s not enough,” he says. “But I’ll use every second of it.” He steps closer, his gaze steady. “You listen. You push. And you don’t hold back. Because I won’t. Then when it counts, you’ll know how to survive. Because I won’t let you walk in blind.”
I meet his gaze without flinching. “Just to be clear, I don’t plan on dying tomorrow.”
He nods once, like he’s making a promise to himself as much as to me. “Just so we’re clear, I don’t plan on letting you.”
With that settled, I look to Titus. He stares at the bound creature for a long second, then lets out a breath and gives a grudging nod. “Fine. But if he so much as blinks wrong, I’m ending him.”
“He’s barely blinking at all,” I murmur. “But fair enough.”
Talon lingers beside me as Titus uses his magic to loosen the binds around his captive. His gaze is shadowed as it meets mine.
“One day,” he says. “Let’s make it count.”
Thirty-Three
Kade leavesto start rallying his forces for tomorrow’s battle just after we release Kerrim’s lacky with a message for his boss. It’s not five minutes after we watch the bloodied creature stumble into the trees and out of sight that a frantic Becks barrels into the small clearing, breathless and wild-eyed. There’s a sheen of sweat on his brow; his hair looks like he’s run his hands through it a dozen times too many. His phone is clutched tight in one hand, screen still lit up with missed calls.
His gaze darts from face to face, desperate. “Where is she?” he asks, but I can see in his eyes that he’s terrified of the answer.
“Kerrim has her,” Titus answers.
