Page 62 of Kingdom of Chaos
I shake my head. No way am I just sitting out here and waiting. Ensley is my best friend, and Titus has had my back more than once. I won’t go as far to say that Imogen has grown on me, but I can reluctantly admit I don’t want her to get hurt either.
Talon scowls at me, but then in the silence we hear a familiar mechanical click, just like the sharp snap of the weapon that Noah pointed at us. That seemingly innocuous click causes my heart to jump into my throat. I don’t know what kind of damage that human weapon can cause, but I certainly don’t want to find out tonight.
Abandoning trying to convince me to stay put, Talon silently opens the kitchen door wide enough for the both of us to squeeze through. We stay crouched low as we move through the kitchen, keeping our steps light as we rush to get behind the island for cover.
When I peek out from behind the cabinet, I make out the silhouettes and hazy features of six figures, two more than I thought there were. Four male, and two female. I recognize Noah and Tobias right away, but I don’t see Violet. The other four are unfamiliar, but they all have similar looking weapons to the one Noah pointed at me in their hands.
At least one of the humans stands over each of the three sleeping members of our group, pointing their weapons at them. Tobias is nearest to where Talon and I are hiding, his profile clearly visible.
“Two of them are missing,” he whisper-hisses to the large male beside him. “Take Noah and look for them outside. If you find them, neutralize them.”
Neutralize them? What doesthatmean?
Nothing good, that’s for sure.
The male nods, then gestures for Noah to follow him. I hold my breath as the two of them pass within feet of where Talon and I are crouched behind the kitchen island. It’s a miracle they don’t see us. Our only cover is the slight overhang of the counter.
But after they slip out through the kitchen door, I notice that without meaning to, I’ve shrouded us in deeper shadows, concealing us from view.
I turn to Talon, eyes wide, a little shaken by how easily I just used my powers.
He takes my hand, gives it a quick squeeze, and mouths, “Good job.” He doesn’t speak. Tobias and the three remaining humans are too close, but he starts gesturing with his hands. I think he’s trying to tell me he’s going after Tobias and that I should stay hidden.
This isn’t the moment to argue, so I give him a short nod to show I understand.
At least, I hope I do.
“Take out the male first,” Tobias says in a low voice. “Then we’ll question the females. I don’t want?—”
Dropping the shadows I’ve inadvertently called, Talon springs from our hidden position. Moving like a striking snake, he twists Tobias’ wrist. I hear a snap and Tobias cries out in pain. The weapon drops from his grip, and then Talon puts him in a chokehold, using Tobias as a shield. It all happens so fast that the three remaining humans don’t even realize what’s happened until their leader is already incapacitated.
“Drop the weapon or I’ll break his neck,” Talon says in a voice so deadly it even gives me chills.
I peek around the island to find the humans all pointing their weapons at Talon, and fear spikes through me. But what I realize that the humans don’t because their focus is on Talon is that Titus, Ensley, and Imogen are all awake.
Imogen’s gaze locks on the female human standing above her and the girl’s jaw goes slack just before she drops her weapon.
The thud of it hitting the ground startles the other two, but it’s already too late.
Titus has leapt to his feet and is grappling with the meaty human in front of him.
Ensley begins forming a ball of faelight, but before she can throw it, the female closest to her swings her weapon toward my friend.
She takes aim?—
Then a sharp, percussive crack splits the air, making me flinch.
Ensley jerks, her eyes going wide in shock as she falls back onto her air mattress. I pop out from my hiding spot and rush toward her as the female who discharged her weapon runs toward Talon to help save Tobias.
Shadows swirl in the air around us as all hell breaks loose.
Still in Talon’s chokehold, Tobias forces out an order to his group to take us out.
Faelight explodes, lighting up the room, and the male battling Titus screams and doubles over, holding his face.
The female who had been standing above Imogen is now crumpled on the ground and twitching. Imogen grabs a handful of her hair and yanks her head back, raising her other hand to punch her in the face.
I’ve almost reached Ensley when a series of loud whip cracks ring out, hot and sudden, cutting through the chaos like a blade through the night. The explosive bursts remind me of fireworks on steroids, and I instinctually duck, throwing myself over my best friend to protect her. I brace for some sort of impact, but after a few seconds and nothing explodes, I move off of her to check for injuries.
