Page 39 of Kingdom of Chaos (Creatures of Chaos #2)

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?”

Kade’s gaze shifts to him and he nods slowly. “Yes. And if you give me a few minutes to explain, I think we can come to an agreement that will benefit all of us.”

“You’re crazy if you think we’re trusting you now,” he says, his arm tightening against Kai’s throat, making the male claw at his throat, releasing a choked gasp that makes me wince.

I want to tell Talon to let him go, but there’s a darkness in his gaze that tells me he’s not in a merciful mood.

Kade presses his lips into a straight line, his nostrils flaring.

He digs into his pocket and pulls out a small key.

“This will unlock the magic blocker on your wrist. With magic like you’re packing, you can easily overpower us.

I just ask you give me a few minutes to explain, and then if you want to walk out of here on your own, we won’t do anything to stop you. ”

“What about Becks?” I ask. I’m not leaving without him.

Kade’s dark gaze shifts back to me. “I’ll let you leave, but I’m not giving up all our leverage.”

“With my powers back, I can just make you give us the dragon shifter,” Talon says.

Kade looks him dead in the eye. “You can try. But I won’t promise not to fight back if you do. And if that happens, we may not be the only ones getting hurt.”

Kade’s gaze drifts to me in a clear warning. Talon makes a noise low in his throat that’s as close to an animalistic growl as I’ve heard from him.

“But it doesn’t need to go down like that. We can all sit and have a civilized conversation.”

Kade extends his hand, the small key pinched between his thumb and forefinger. I hesitate for a beat before cautiously taking it, then make my way over to Talon. Kai’s eyes go wide when I approach, the flames still curling around my fingers.

“How do I turn this off?” I whisper to Talon as I wiggle my flaming fingers.

“Unlock my cuff and I’ll take care of it,” he says.

The cuff blocking his magic is clamped around the same arm he has pressed to Kai’s neck.

Talon eases the pressure just enough for me to unlock it, and Kai immediately gulps in air.

As soon as the cuff is off, Talon presses his fingers to Kai’s temple.

His eyes roll back, and his body goes limp in Talon’s hold.

Keeping a wary eye on Kade, Talon lowers Kai’s body to the ground, and then, before I realize what he’s doing, he grabs my burning fingers.

I gasp and try to yank my hand away, but Talon holds firm. A cooling sensation spreads from my fingertips, enveloping my hand and trailing down my arm, raising goosebumps in its wake. When he finally lets go, the flames are gone, replaced by a thin coating of frost.

I look up at him in surprise. That’s not a kind of magic I’ve ever seen him use before. Sure, I’d suspected he’d messed with the temperature a time or two, but this makes me wonder if it’s part of his original abilities he’s kept hidden, just like Imogen said his family tends to do.

“Thanks,” I say, a little breathless.

He gives a single, silent nod.

“Is he okay?” Kade asks, and I flinch, his voice startling me. I’d somehow forgotten we weren’t alone.

Talon’s sharp gaze tracks to Kade. His face hard and devoid of warmth. “He’ll wake up in a couple hours, unscathed.”

Kade nods.

Talon takes my hand and tugs me toward the door. “Come on, Freckles. Let’s get out of here.”

“Wait,” I say, and turn back to Kade. “Becks. Where is he?”

Kade crosses his arms, his chin lifting with defiance. “Like I said, we need to talk. Now that you’re both free, we can do that as equals.”

Talon scoffs, and Kade narrows his eyes. “What? You don’t consider humans equals? You one of those creatures who looks down on anyone without powers?”

Talon’s not like that. If anyone knows that, it’s me.

I’m about to come to his defense, but he sets Kade straight himself.

“No,” he says, voice steady. “I don’t look down on anyone for not having magic. Powers don’t define your worth or prove your strength any more than your guns do.”

He glances at me, and the words he once spoke during Chaos echo in my mind.

“What’s inside is more powerful than any magic.”

“It’s not magic that makes the creature powerful, it’s the strength of their character and the depth of their soul. And you, Freckles, are the most powerful creature I’ve ever met.”

Just remembering his words warms a hollow place deep inside me. Talon never treated me like I was less-than, even before I had magic. Not for a single moment.

Looking back at Kade, Talon says, “So no, I don’t look down on you because you are magicless. I look down on you because you’re an ass who didn’t even give us a chance to explain before you attacked us, and now you’re asking us to give you what you didn’t afford us.”

Kade’s nostril’s flare, but to his credit he doesn’t snap back at Talon.

He nods once and concedes. “That’s fair.

Like I said, we got off on the wrong foot.

In my defense, things have been pretty hostile around here lately.

Something is brewing, something dark and evil.

It’s no longer so clear who’s friend or foe.

Maybe I don’t deserve it, but I’m asking for it anyway.

If you don’t like what I have to say, we can still part on amicable terms.”

That makes me snort a laugh. Does he consider this amicable?

One of his men is lying unconscious at our feet. Three more are in the hospital, and Talon’s a bruised and bloody mess.

“If we agree to talk, will you release Becks to us?”

Kade shakes his head and my anger spikes.

“No, but if you want him back eventually, you’re going to have to talk to me now.”

This guy is driving me nuts. “Fine,” I bite out. “We can talk. But not before you bring me to see Becks.”

Kade opens his mouth, and I can tell he’s about to argue. But I’m done listening.

I round on him, every ounce of fear, frustration, and desperation I’ve been carrying pouring into my words: “I’m willing to hear you out, but not until I see Becks with my own eyes.

You have no idea what I’ve been through to find him, or how far I’ll go to bring him home safely.

You say we’re on the same side? Then prove it.

Because if you don’t take me to him, I’ll consider you an enemy.

And believe me when I say you don’t want me for an enemy. ”

As if summoned by my fury, the shadows in the room stir and darken. I know I’m the one calling them, even if the magic is responding more to my emotions than my command. But that’s a problem for another day.

When they slither up the wall, I catch the first flicker of fear on Kade’s face, a crack in the calm, controlled exterior he’s worn since the moment we met. He quickly schools his features, but it’s too late.

I step closer, tilting my head back to meet his gaze. He’s taller, but I don’t let that intimidate me.

“Do you understand?”

Kade is silent. His stare is hard and assessing, and for a moment I worry that he’s going to refuse, forcing me to raze this building to the ground to find Becks, but then he nods slowly.

“All right,” he finally says, and relief runs through me like a healing balm. “But on two conditions. You agree to be cuffed when you see him, and your guard dog stays here,” he says, nodding his chin toward Talon.

“No way,” Talon says firmly. “We’re not separating.”

“Talon,” I say, turning to him.

Talon frowns at me. “Separating is a bad idea,” he warns.

I don’t disagree. But the truth is, I’d agree to even harsher terms if it meant I could finally see Becks. To make sure he’s truly okay and let him know I’m here for him.

“I’ll be all right,” I say, trying to sound more confident than I feel.

Talon scowls. “You don’t know that. This could be a trap.”

I glance over at Kade, remembering how his demeanor changed the instant he found out I opened the portal that let Kerrim into this world.

“This isn’t a trap,” I say, suddenly certain. “He needs us for something. He’s going to play nice until he gets it. Isn’t that right?”

Kade quirks a brow, but nods. “You have my word I won’t hurt either of you.

To be blunt, I want to ensure I keep my leverage.

” He crosses his arms over his chest, making his biceps bulge.

“We have safeguards in place so your dragon shifter doesn’t escape, but I’m not taking the chance of sending anyone in there with powerful magic.

If you’d like,” he says, looking at Talon, “you can be cuffed again and go in with her.” He shrugs.

“I assumed you’d rather keep your magic though. But it’s up to you.”

“You’re not cuffing me again,” Talon growls, his voice hard as ice.

“That’s what I figured.” Kade shifts his attention to me. “So, what will it be?”

“Fine,” I reply. I can practically feel Talon tense beside me. “But the cuff comes off after.”

Kade nods. “Agreed.” He tries to move forward but Talon blocks him.

“If you hurt even a single hair on her head, I swear you won’t live to regret it. You’ve only gotten a taste of what I’m capable of.”

“Oh, my friend,” Kade says. “I’ve seen enough from both of you to know that.”

“I’m not your friend,” Talon growls, and for the first time since meeting him, Kade smiles, and it takes me aback.

“Not yet.”