Page 34 of Kingdom of Chaos (Creatures of Chaos #2)

Grabbing my backpack, I head toward the bathroom without a backward glance at Talon. The last thing I need right now is a picture of him sprawled out in the bed that we’ve just shared burned into my mind.

After I brush my teeth and take a quick five-minute shower, the others are awake and moving around in the motel room. Apparently, Imogen slept in the back of the SUV last night, preferring to be away from not just me, but everyone.

She pushes past me to get to the bathroom without so much as a, “Good morning,” but even so I’m a little relieved to see she looks in far better shape than she did last night.

There’s color in her cheeks, a sharpness in her gaze, and her movements are quick and purposeful.

The gunshot wound on her arm has healed too, which is also a relief.

As Titus packs up his bag, I notice a bandage wrapped around his forearm and assume that’s where she fed from him. I avert my gaze quickly, not wanting to get caught staring at it. Instead, I grab Ensley’s arm and tug her toward the door.

“We’re going to go grab some coffees,” I say with Ensley in tow behind me.

“We are?” she asks, and I give Titus a pointed look and then nod.

She gives a nervous chuckle. “Oh right. Coffees.”

“Yeah, I noticed a café across the street. We’ll bring back drinks for everyone,” I say, without bothering to take their orders before dragging Ensley out of the room.

I count out half a dozen footsteps and then order Ensley to spill.

She casts me a nervous glance. “What do you mean?”

“Um, how about what’s going on with you and Titus? When I showed up at your house he was there and you both have been very cozy since then.”

She clears her throat, visibly uncomfortable. “Yes, well, I’m glad he’s here with us. He’s a very powerful fae, and has been an asset on this mission.”

“Ensley!” I say, stopping in my tracks. “You were snuggling in bed this morning after you were practically in tears last night over him donating his blood to Imogen.”

Casting a glance behind us, she pulls me around the side of the motel.

“Okay, fine,” she says, throwing up her arms in surrender once we’re out of eyeshot of anyone who might come out of our room.

“I like him. All right? He’s attractive and sweet and attentive, and I hated the thought of him sharing anything with Imogen last night, let alone his blood. Are you satisfied?”

I do my best to cover my smile, but I can tell from the way Ensley is glaring daggers at me that I’m not doing a very good job.

This is big though. Ensley never admits when she likes someone.

For all the years we’ve been friends, I’ve never once seen her act this way over a guy before.

And it’s not because she hasn’t had interest. She’s a beautiful and powerful fae from a wealthy family.

There’s been plenty of interest. Just not on her part.

“I like Titus,” is all I say, and her expression shifts, a small smile tugging at her lips.

“Really?” she asks, vulnerability in her tone.

I nod. “Really. And I think you guys are good together. He obviously cares about you. You should have seen how concerned he was for you when you were hit by that tranquilizer. He wouldn’t let you out of his sight or his arms. I think he has it bad for you.”

A coy smile spreads over my best friend’s face. “You think so?”

“Definitely.”

She straightens her shoulders and fluffs her hair. It’s streaked pink this morning. “As he should be. I’m a catch.”

“That’s right you are,” I laugh.

She places her hands on her hips. “I spilled. Now it’s your turn.”

I furrow my brow. “What do you mean?”

“You and Talon. What is going on there?” The look on her face isn’t exactly judgmental, but it’s not happy either.

“There is nothing going on between us,” I quickly assure her.

“Seriously, Lock? I may have been a little out of it yesterday, but I have eyes. Something is definitely going on,” she says with a frown.

“I’m not lying. There’s nothing going on between us,” I assure her.

Because I won’t allow it.

I think about the powers I’ve only just begun to understand, and how Talon helped me unlock them the other night. Guilt tugs at me for not telling her everything yet.

“At least not in the way you’re thinking,” I say.

She crosses her arms over her chest. “Oh yeah, and what am I thinking?”

“That I’ve forgotten about Becks and how much he means to me.”

Her gaze softens. “No, Lock, I’d never think that. I know how much you care about my brother. I know that you love him, even. But sometimes . . .” She sighs and gives me a pitying look rather than going on.

“What?” I ask.

“Sometimes feelings change.”

I shake my head, refusing to even entertain the idea that my feelings for Becks have lessened.

Have Talon and I had a moment or two over the last few days?

Sure, but that doesn’t have to mean anything.

It’s been Becks for me from the beginning.

He’s my best friend. We’ve already been through so much.

There’s no way I’m giving up on us. Especially not for what I’m sure is just a harmless flirtation and maybe a little trauma bonding.

“He’s teaching me how to control my new magic,” I confess, needing Ensley to understand.

“New magic?” Ensley asks, her brow creased with confusion. “What are you talking about?”

“Remember I told you that when I touched Shadow Striker I felt the power transfer from Talon to me?”

She nods. “Yes, but you said that cut off when the portal closed.”

“It did, but apparently there’s still a connection between us, and it seems like some of his magic is transferring to me. First, it was shadow manipulation, and then fire.”

Her mouth drops open. “You have shadow and fire magic?”

I nod.

She stares at me, clearly lost for words.

As we head over to the café and order drinks, I tell her about the times I lost control and used my new powers by accident. I also tell her about how Talon was trying to teach me to use them the other night, which is how we caught the members of the Order about to attack while they slept.

By the time I get done, we have drinks for everyone—paid with from money Imogen compelled off of someone the day before—and are headed back to the room.

Ensley shakes her head in awe. “This is everything you always hoped for.”

I give a nervous laugh. “Yes and no. I always wanted magic, but not like this.”

She cocks her head at me. “What do you mean?”

“This isn’t really my magic. It’s Talon’s. Or at least the magic he used to have because of Shadow Striker. It kind of feels like I’m stealing them from him.”

“How does Talon feel about this?” she asks.

I take a deep breath. “He doesn’t seem concerned. I was worried I was hurting him, but he said I wasn’t. But every power I develop, he loses.”

A pit of worry churns in my gut. What if I keep taking powers from Talon until he has none left, including his own?

I voice my concerns to Ensley, who then asks, “Are shadow and fire magic even Talon’s original powers, or are you just picking up what he obtained through Shadow Striker?”

“I think just the magic he got from Shadow Striker.”

“Well, there you have it. You’re not actually stealing anything from him, then. Those weren’t his powers to begin with.”

I chew on my bottom lip. “I suppose you’re right, but still?—”

“You have enough on your plate right now. It won’t do any good worrying about things you can’t control. Just take it one day at a time.”

I nod, agreeing with her, but the sick feeling churning in my gut doesn’t disappear.