Page 41 of Kingdom of Chaos (Creatures of Chaos #2)

“Apparently, the dragon council knew about us all along. Kerrim made sure of that to give me motivation to enter Chaos,” I say bitterly, my hatred of the hawk shifter swirling in my gut.

“The council was worried you’d mate with a magicless creature, which is what spurred them to pick a life mate for you so much earlier than expected.

They wanted you settled with a mate of their choice, not yours.

I worked out a deal with Drake that if I promised to stay away from you, forever, you’d get to choose your own mate someday. ”

Becks stares at me, stunned into silence. The air between us is heavy, until suddenly he lets out a laugh. Stepping back from the bars, he turns away, running a hand through his hair and gripping the strands tightly as his laughter grows louder, echoing off the cell walls.

At first, I just blink at him, bewildered.

Did I break him?

What could possibly be funny about this?

But then small embers of anger start to ignite. I went through hell to give him the freedom to live the life he deserved, made impossible choices, and he’s laughing?

“What about any of this is funny?” I snap.

Becks pulls himself together and turns to face me again, but there’s a lost, hollow look in his eyes that doesn’t match the erratic edge in his voice.

“You want to know what’s funny?” he says, letting out a breathless laugh. “It’s that none of it even matters. Forget the fact that I’m locked in here.” He gestures vaguely around the cell. “Ever since I was stabbed and woke up in this place, my magic’s been gone. I can’t even shift.”

I gasp, my hand coming up to cover my mouth as my gaze drops to Becks’ wrists to notice only now that he’s not wearing a cuff.

In my mind’s eye, I see it all over again: Shadow Striker plunging into Becks’ chest just before the portal snapped shut. Of course, the dagger didn’t just wound him, it stole his magic and gave it to Kerrim.

Becks was never boastful about his powers, but they were a part of him, woven into his identity. Losing them must feel like losing a piece of himself.

Becks shakes his head, his gaze hardening. “They were so concerned about losing control over their heir. Well, in the end they lost me anyway. I’m as weak and powerless as one of these humans .”

I know he doesn’t mean to hurt me, but his comment feels like a blow because it reveals his true thoughts about humans.

About me.

That they’re weak. That I’m weak.

“I’m sorry,” he says, dragging a hand through his hair again. “None of that matters right now. What matters is getting out of here and getting home. You still haven’t told me how you got in. Please tell me you’re not a prisoner too.”

“I’m not,” I answer, trying to shake off the yuck from Becks’ careless comment. “At least, not yet. They let me see you because they want something from me.”

Genuine concern flickers across Becks’ face as he steps closer to the bars again. “What do they want from you?”

“I’m not exactly sure,” I admit. “But I think it has to do with Kerrim. Kade wanted to talk, but I told him I wasn’t saying a word until I saw you. Until I knew you were okay.”

Becks grips the bars tightly, his jaw tightening. “You have to stay away from Kerrim. That shifter is unhinged.”

“I’m aware, but if I help Kade and the Silent Order, he said they’d release you.”

Becks is shaking his head. “Don’t do it, Lock. You could get hurt, or worse. With that dagger, you’re no match for him.”

His words shouldn’t sting—he’s just looking out for me—but they do. I hold up my cuffed wrist. “I’m not as powerless as you think. At least not anymore.”

“What are you talking about?” he asks, eyeing the cuff.

“I have magic now.”

His eyes widen in surprise. “You do? But I thought?—?”

“That I was weak?” I cut in, sharper than I intended.

“No. Never,” he says quickly, shaking his head. “It’s just that they told me a human had to have opened the portal, and humans aren’t supposed to have magic. So I figured . . .” He falls silent.

Sadness creeps into his eyes. “Lock, you have to know I’ve never thought you were weak.

You’re the fiercest creature I’ve ever met.

You’re strong, and brave, and so beautiful it hurts just to look at you sometimes.

Especially when I can’t touch you.” He reaches through the bars and gently strokes my cheek.

Some of the fight drains out of me as I look at Becks. My Becks.

Am I letting my own hang-ups trigger me? Maybe. I’ve spent so much of my life hearing creatures call me weak that even the suggestion of it feels like a slap.

I lean into Becks’ touch. “Well, just for the record, I’m not actually a creature. I’m just a human who happens to have magic.”

He chuckles. “Truly one of a kind.”

His hand slides to the back of my neck, drawing me closer until our foreheads touch. “Thank you for coming for me,” he whispers.

“You came for me first,” I remind him. “If you hadn’t broken through the barrier during that last Chaos trial and fought Kerrim, I don’t think I’d even be alive. I’m going to get you out of here. I promise.”

He exhales a heavy breath. “I believe you. Just, please be careful.”

I lean back just enough to meet his eyes, and the plea in them nearly undoes me.

“I will,” I whisper.

“Lock,” Becks says, his voice rough as his gaze drops to my mouth. “I thought I’d never see you again. And that—” He swallows hard, emotion tightening his throat.

“I know,” I whisper, because I do. Even though I tried not to let my mind go there, there were moments I truly believed I’d never see him again, and the pain of that almost broke me. Just remembering it now makes my eyes sting with unshed tears.

His thumb glides gently across my cheek in a soothing rhythm. “I never want to go through that again,” he murmurs.

His hand slips down, tilting my chin up, and he presses the softest, most heart-wrenching kiss to my lips.

It’s not like the other kisses we’ve shared.

This one doesn’t ignite a spark of passion, it wraps around me like a blanket, warm and steady.

Comfort. Safety. The two things Becks has always been to me, and probably always will be.

And even though there’s a small voice in the back of my mind whispering that things aren’t the same anymore, I shove it aside, choosing instead to lose myself in the way this kiss feels like coming home.

When Becks pulls back, there’s a hint of turmoil in his expression.

A furrow creases his brow, and his eyes sweep across my face like he’s trying to find an answer I don’t know how to give.

He opens his mouth to speak, but before he can, Kade knocks sharply on the door, signaling that my time is up.

My shoulders sag. “I have to go.”

Becks nods and steps back.

“Are you really okay?” I ask, gesturing to his wound.

He glances down at the bandages wrapped around his chest. “What, this? It was barely a scratch,” he says with a lopsided grin.

A shudder runs through me because I can still clearly see Shadow Striker punch a hole in his chest.

He must see the distress on my face because he says, “Hey, truly. I’m fine. I won’t lie, it was touch and go there for a while, but I still have accelerated healing. In a few days I’ll be like new. Promise.”

I pull in a big breath of air to steady myself. “And they’re treating you all right?”

He shrugs. “They’re the ones who patched me up, so I can’t say they’ve treated me badly.

I don’t exactly trust them, but without their med team I might not be standing here.

” He glances around the cell with a wry smile.

“Still not thrilled about being locked up like a criminal, but yeah, they’ve been decent. ”

“I’ll get you out of here as soon as I can,” I promise.

He nods, and I turn toward the door, my heart squeezing tighter with every step I take away from him.

My hand is on the knob when he says, “Tell Talon if you get hurt, I’m holding him responsible.”

I glance over my shoulder at him, thinking of how Talon threatened Kade.

These guys . . .

“I’m responsible for myself.”

He smiles, but there’s sadness behind it. “I know. But still, the thought of beating the ever-loving crap out of him brings me a little comfort.”

Despite myself, I laugh. Shaking my head, I turn and step back through the door, where Kade is waiting.

“Content that we haven’t hurt your friend?” he asks.

I purse my lips, a pulse of irritation running through me, but also confusion. If what Becks said is true, they saved his life. So why lock him up?

“Why are you keeping him down here?” I ask, crossing my arms.

Kade lets out a slow sigh. “There’s a lot you don’t know.

For thousands of years, we’ve been preparing for the day a great evil would enter our world.

When Becks came through the portal, we had no idea who—or what—he was.

We couldn’t risk releasing him until we were sure he wasn’t the threat, or aiding it. ”

I throw my hands up. “Well, he’s clearly not! So why is he still locked up?”

Kade crosses his arms. “Because now we need him for other reasons.”

“As leverage, you mean?”

He dips his head in a subtle nod. “Yes.”

“Is what you need me for really that important? Is it really something you and the other members of the Order with all your resources can’t take care of yourself?”

“Like I said, there’s a lot you don’t know.”

I rub my temples, feeling a headache brewing as exhaustion weighs down my limbs. “Fine, let’s get on with it, then.”