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“I like them already.”

“Did Khaosti not tell you about this?” Sheela asks.

“No. Why? Does it involve him?”

“He has been commander of my uncle’s army for a number of years, his most feared general. But we digress. Tomorrow night, Khronus will be away from the palace as will most of the people. A few guards will remain, but we can circumvent them. I think. They are used to me and allow me to visit despite my uncle’s orders. Most of them love Khaosti.”

“Well, there’s no accounting for taste,” Zayne mutters glancing at me, and I only just manage to prevent myself from punching him. I get it—he doesn’t like Khaosti. But these constant gibes are not fucking helping.

“But getting to him is not the main problem. We have to get him out and away from Khronus’s influence. And he is in no state to cooperate.” She puts a hand to her throat, I’m guessing where Khaosti ripped it open. There’s no scar. “But maybe he’ll recognize you—even through the madness. He clearly cares about you.”

She’s frowning as she says this, as though she can’t quite understand it. I don’t understand it myself. But there’s always been a connection between me and Khaosti from the moment we touched. Even though we both fought it tooth and nail for a long time. I’m still fighting it a little. Even when I had no memory of who I was, I still found it hard to let people get close. Now that I do know, it’s almost impossible.

I think over what she’s told me. “So, could you meet me in the Chamber of Mirrors tomorrow night? Show me the way?”

“Don’t you think we should talk about this?” Zayne says.

I think for all of half a second. “No. It’s not negotiable. I’m going to get him out. But I don’t expect you to come with me.”

“The less people involved the better,” Sheela puts in. “You can pretend to be my lady-in-waiting. No one will think anything about me being accompanied. But you”—she stares straight atZayne—“would stand out like a…” She doesn’t complete the sentence. She doesn’t have to.

“You think I’d let you do this alone?” Zayne snaps.

“Yes. You have to.”

He opens his mouth to argue some more, but Sheela interrupts him. “I need to get back,” she says. “Or I’ll be missed.”

“Where do we meet?” I ask.

“I’ll meet you by the mirror that comes from here. Tomorrow. Eight in the evening—your time.”

I nod. It sounds simple enough. Too simple?

Without another word, Sheela rises and leaves the room. Brown follows her, closing the door behind him.

“You really think I’m going to let you do this?” Zayne shouts.

I keep my gaze steady, not letting him see how much this is costing me. “It’s not your choice.”

Chapter 8

Permission Not Required

Zayne’s always had this protective streak. With me anyway. And later with Josh.

His shouted words have woken Josh, and he blinks sleepily. “Are you and Zayne arguing again?” he asks.

“Yes, it’s what brothers and sisters do,” I reply.

“We don’t argue,” he says.

I smirk. “We would if you always thought you were the boss…like Zayne does.”

“He is bigger than you,” Josh says.

Zayne snorts.

And I study him. He’s gorgeous, I’ve always known that but never wanted him that way. And I don’t think he wants me likethat either. It was a momentary aberration. But we’re family. Something I spent a long time denying, because I was fixated on finding myrealfamily. And look how well that's turning out.