Page 41 of Lucifer's Mirror

He frowns.

Grrr.“Look, we came here to find this man Thanouq, didn’t we? And we’ve found him. Why the grumpy face?”

“I don’t trust him,” Khaosti answers.

Chapter 20

Khaos

Shefrownsatmeas if I’m crazy. I do actually feel a little crazy. Inside, Fury is clawing to get out. He didn’t like the way this Thanouq looked at her. Neither did I. “He just saved our asses out there,” she says. “What’s not to trust?”

I grit my teeth and hold back a growl. “Our asses would have been fine. I would have done the job.”

She bites back a smile at my words, and the growl rumbles in my throat. Anyone else would have had the sense to back the fuck off.

Not her. Instead, she reaches out and pats my arm. “Of course you would have.” Her words are so clearly condescending that they break my bad mood. She’s not afraid to joke with me. In fact, she’s not afraid of me at all. “Anyway,” she continues, “let’s go see what he has to say.”

She takes the lead and follows Thanouq inside.

How come I never came across this place when I was here before? How come no one ever came to greet me?

I glance back before I enter, to the fallen statue of my father, sprawled in the dirt. He would not be happy. I bite back a smile.

Thanouq is waiting for us at a set of double doors, with guards standing at attention on either side. He has an army here, and I wonder whether I’ve made a tactical mistake. I trusted that Khendril would not send us into danger. Maybe I was wrong.

The guards make no move as Thanouq opens a door and gestures for us to enter the room. It’s big, square, with high ceilings. Cushions have been set out on the floor, and a rug at the center, adorned with food and drink. Thanouq crosses the room to where a soldier stands, and they speak quietly for a moment. Then they both turn to look at us.

“This is Therion,” Thanouq says. “He’s the commander of the army here.”

Therion gives us a nod but says nothing. Dressed like the guards, in leather pants and a tunic emblazoned with a griffin, he doesn’t appear particularly pleased to see us.

Thanouq heads toward us, pausing briefly as he passes Zayne. Then he stares into his eyes. The boy twitches.

“When were you bitten?” Thanouq asks.

Amber translates for him. Zayne looks away, and I think he’s not going to answer. Then he gives her a nod.

“It was three nights ago,” she says.

“What is he?” Thanouq asks.

“Basilisk,” I say. I’ve never known a basilisk shifter. They are rare.

Thanouq’s eyes widen. “Really? Interesting.”

He turns his attention to Amber, and Fury instantly becomes alert, ready to defend her. I’ve never known him to act this way. Keeping people alive has never been his priority.

Thanouq’s gaze drops from her face down over her body, and I have to hold onto my control with everything I’ve got. If I rip this guy to pieces, we may never find the Crone or get out of here alive.

“Who are you?” Thanouq asks her.

She frowns and then sighs in obvious disappointment. “My name’s Amber.”

“You’re the girl Khendril spoke of?” he asks, as though he’s unsure. “He told me to help you.”

“I think so,” she replies.

He raises a brow in question.