Page 86 of Kingdom of Chaos
“Like I said, I want to be sure. I’ll need Ares for that.”
Why?I wonder. Is Ares some sort of master torturer?
This situation is going from bad to worse, and as my heart rate spikes, so does my body temperature. Heat prickles beneathmy skin, and the familiar tingle of fire magic sparks at my fingertips. Unlike the time I accidentally burned Talon, I don’t push it away—I embrace it.
Kai sniffs the air, his nose wrinkling. “What’s that smell?”
Kade’s head whips in my direction so fast his locs slap him in the face. But it’s too late, I’m already burning through the ropes wrapped around my wrists, seconds away from freeing my hands.
“Quick, get a cuff before she burns this place to the ground!” Kade shouts.
Kai bolts from the room, slamming the door shut behind him.
Kade lunges for me, but Talon throws his weight sideways, somehow dragging his chair into the path. He slams into Kade, knocking them both to the ground.
Still bound, Talon shouts, “Free yourself and run!”
Kade struggles beneath him, trying to push up, but I’ve already burned through the rope at my wrists.
By the time Kade manages to roll halfway upright, I’m on my feet, fire curling over my fingers as I raise my hand and level it at him.
“Move to the corner of the room. Slowly,” I order.
Kade’s gaze travels from my hand to my face and then back again, before he slowly stands and shuffles toward the corner.
I glance down at Talon, heart still pounding, fire flickering over my hand. “Are you okay?” I ask, unsure how to help him while my fingers are still ablaze.
He nods and then glances at my hand. “Just do it,” he says, wanting me to burn through his bindings, but I shake my head.
If I grab the rope with the hand that’s on fire, it might catchhimon fire as well.
“Freckles,” he growls. “I can take it.”
“I’m not hurting you on purpose.”
“Here,” Kade says, and to my surprise he pulls a pocket knife out of his boot and slides it across the floor to us.
I blink at him in surprise. Why would he help us?
I reach down with the hand that isn’t on fire, grab the knife, and start sawing through the ropes binding Talon while keeping a wary eye on Kade. As soon as I cut through one, Talon twists free and is on his feet in an instant.
“Come on,” he says, and grabs my hand.
“Wait,” Kade calls. I glance over my shoulder to find him holding both hands up in a gesture of surrender. “You want your dragon shifter back? I’ll give him to you.Afteryou’ve cleaned up the mess you made in our world.”
“What are you talking about?” I demand, just as the door slams open and Kai bursts in, a shimmering gold cuff clutched in his hand.
My stomach drops. That’s what they use to block magic.
Before Kai can take a single step toward me, Talon is already moving. He lunges, slamming into Kai and locking an arm around his throat.
The cuff flies from Kai’s hand, skittering across the floor with a metallic clatter. He kicks and claws, trying to break free, but Talon’s grip is like iron.
“Go!” Talon shouts, apparently under the mistaken assumption I’d leave without him.
“Everyone, calm down,” Kade’s voice booms throughout the small room, causing all of us to snap our heads in his direction. He looks straight at me when he says, “Listen, we got off on the wrong foot, but I believe we’re on the same side.”
Talon releases a dark chuckle. “Is that so?”
