Page 96 of Kingdom of Chaos
Twenty-Six
“Don’tyoueverdo that to me again!” Ensley cries, yanking me into a hug so tight it knocks the air from my lungs.
Talon and I walked the rest of the block to the hotel and up the stairs in complete silence, only to find a red-eyed Ensley and stoic-faced Titus awake and waiting for us. Ensley was mid-pace across the room to us when we entered, and she immediately swallowed me in the world’s tightest hug before I had a chance to get a word out.
“I thought you were dead,” she wails, squeezing me harder.
Guilt crashes over me. “So sorry,” I wheeze.
She finally releases me and steps back. Her eyes are glassy with tears, and the sight only makes my guilt worse.
“Where were you? What happened?” she asks, her brow furrowed with worry.
“I saw him, Ens. He’s alive.”
Her hands fly to her mouth as the tears shimmering in her eyes finally spill over. Titus steps in behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and gently pulling her back against his chest. She leans into him, visibly trying to steady herself.
“Tell me everything,” Ensley says, her voice thick with emotion.
I glance at Talon, wondering if he wants to take the lead, but the moment our eyes meet he looks away and crosses the room to sit on the edge of one of the double beds. I wonder what he’s thinking, what he’s feeling, but I push the thought aside. Now isn’t the time. Ensley and Titus have clearly been waiting for hours, likely fearing the worst the entire time. They deserve my full attention.
We spend the next hour telling them what happened at the Order’s headquarters. How we decided to sneak in—Talon is quick to give me the “credit” for that—and then got caught. Meeting Kade and how the vibe changed the moment he realized I was the one who opened the portal between the creature and human world.
We also fill Titus in on everything he didn’t already know about me, namely, that I’m human and have been accidentally siphoning Talon’s powers since the final Chaos trail. He doesn’t seem overly upset that we kept him in the dark. If anything, he seems satisfied to finally have an explanation for why he can suddenly read me now when he couldn’t before.
And of course, I tell them about seeing Becks.
Just like when I told Talon, I hesitate before telling them that Becks has lost his powers, but ultimately I do. Ensley’s eyes fill with sadness, then she straightens her spine and says she’s just happy he’s alive, we’ll find a way to get them back.
By the time we finish recounting everything, the sun has started to rise, and it’s only a few hours until we’re supposed to meet with Kade again. I apologize and tell them I need to get a few hours of sleep. Ensley understands, and Titus agrees, adding that we all need rest before heading back to the Order. He and Ensley insist on coming with us this time.
“Where’s Imogen?” I ask, only now realizing she’s not here.
Ensley and Titus exchange a look. “She never came back,” Titus says, pressing his mouth into a hard line.
I glance at Talon and he shakes his head. “She’ll come back when she’s ready,” is all he says, but I don’t miss the hint of concern that shadows his gaze.
“If anyone can take care of herself in this city, it’s her,” I say, mustering what I hope is an encouraging smile.
Talon returns the small smile and nods, but sadness lingers in his eyes. I have to turn away because it breaks my heart.
I blinkopen my eyes and scream. There’s a face hovering inches above mine.
Talon and Titus burst into the room, and Ensley tumbles out of the bed beside me in a tangle of blankets.
I lay a hand over my chest, my heart thundering in my chest even though I know I’m not in any danger.
“Imogen!” I snap. “What the heck?”
Her face was so close when I woke up, she nearly scared the soul out of me.
“What? I thought it would be funny,” she says as she flops down on the bed next to me.
She is the most annoying creature I’ve ever had the misfortune to meet.
Annoyed, I fling the covers off me as Ensley moans from the ground. Titus walks over to help her up, scrubbing a hand over his eyes and mumbling about how that wasn’t the way he wanted to be woken up.
“Where have you been?” Talon asks his cousin, his voice sharp.
