Page 6 of Kingdom of Chaos (Creatures of Chaos #2)

“When he was talking to Kerrim, Talon mentioned gateways between the worlds. He said they’d been closed for hundreds of years. But if they were closed, then maybe they can be reopened.”

“You’re saying you’re going to try to get to that other world? The human one?”

I nod. “I’m going to find Becks and bring him home.”

Her eyes widen, and even Titus looks taken aback.

“But I need Talon’s help to do it. I don’t know the first thing about these gateways.

Where they are or how to open them. I think whatever secret group or cult he’s involved with was the one who closed them.

As much as I hate to admit it, I think he’s my best chance at finding Becks and bringing him back. ”

“Well then, let’s go ask him,” Ensley says, grabbing her jacket from the back of her desk chair and heading for the door.

I hold up a hand to stop her. “It’s not that easy. I already went to his house. He’s not there anymore. His uncle said he left.”

“He skipped town?” Titus asks, a furrow creasing his brow.

“He did. But I pried the address out of Drake.”

Titus barks out a laugh and then looks at me with respect. “I wish I’d been a fly on the wall for that conversation.”

The memory of the shadows shifting, pulsing, reaching forward, flickers through my mind. If he only knew.

“Talon lives in Grimbrooke,” I say. “And that’s why I’m here. I need to borrow Becks’ truck to get there.”

Ensley shakes her head. “No.”

“But, Ens?—”

“There’s no way I’m letting you go there alone. I’m coming with you.” I start to argue, but she holds up a hand to stop me. “You’re not the only one who wants answers from Talon.”

She has a point. If she wants to confront Talon, she deserves the chance. But with Becks gone, this doesn’t feel like the best time for her to leave her parents. I bring it up, but she brushes it off, saying they barely notice she’s around right now. I’m skeptical, but it’s not my call.

“I’m coming too,” Titus says as Ensley starts tossing things into a small overnight bag.

I shoot him a look, and he holds up a hand too. “Talon’s the one who dragged me into all this. I’m part of it, whether either of you like it or not.”

I don’t argue. He’s right. And while I don’t know him as well as I’d like, having him along might not be a bad thing. The way his eyes keep drifting to Ensley tells me his real reason for coming, but I don’t mind. She’s in a fragile place. She can use all the support she can get.

Titus takes off to grab his things, and we agree to swing by and pick him up on our way out of town.

While Ensley finishes packing, I grab my backpack and duffel from outside her front door and head around to the side of the house to their six-car garage.

I don’t have to wait long. The garage door lifts, and her red sports car rolls out.

She pops the trunk and I toss in my bags, sliding into the passenger seat. “What did you tell them?”

“The truth,” she says as she pulls out of her driveaway and points the car east.

My eyebrows raise. “Seriously?”

She shrugs. “Mostly. I told them I was going to go out of town with you for a couple of days because I needed to get away from everything. They were cool with it. What about your parents?”

I take a deep breath. “They know everything.”

“Everything?” Ensley asks, her eyes wide when she takes a peek at me before focusing back on the road.

“Yep. I told them everything. And so did they.”

Ensley’s brow creases. “What do you mean?”

“Kerrim wasn’t lying. I’m not their biological child. The details around my adoption, if that’s even what you can call it, are sketchy at best.”

Her face falls, guilt flashing in her eyes. “Shoot, Lock, I’m so sorry. I’ve been so torn up over Becks that I haven’t been there for you.”

“No, it’s okay. Yeah, it was a shock finding out I’m not a creature, learning I was adopted, but it’s not the end of the world. My parents are still my parents and I’m still me. Right now, finding Becks matters more than any of that.”

She reaches across the console and gives my hand a squeeze. “Yes, finding Becks is important, but this is huge too. I know you have to be feeling something about it. You shouldn’t feel like you have to bottle it up.”

“Honestly, I just don’t have the bandwidth to deal with it right now. I hear you, but there’ll be time for that later. Once Becks is back and safe, then I’ll unpack that whole can of worms.”

It’s the only way I can function—by pushing it all down. Falling apart isn’t an option.

Ensley’s gaze is full of concern, but she just nods. We turn off the main road and head down Titus’ driveway. His house is on the outskirts of town but still within the Nightlark Academy district.

I wonder why I never met him before Chaos. Maybe he’s a year or two older? Still, if he went to Nightlark, we would’ve crossed paths. Maybe he’s new to the area?

The driveway is long, winding through trees and brush, before finally opening up in front of a large stone manor.

Green and red ivy climb the walls, and purple wisteria drips from the eaves.

The front foliage looks a little wild, but with night fully fallen, it’s hard to make out the details.

The only light comes from two gas lanterns on either side of the front door, casting a warm glow over a home that looks like it belongs in a fairy tale, ancient and achingly beautiful.

“Titus lives here?” I ask, surprised. I don’t know why, but I pictured a more modern place.

“This is the address he gave me.”

Before we even have a chance to get out of the car, the front door swings open and Titus comes bounding out with a black bag slung over his shoulder.

Ensley pops the trunk and he tosses it in.

I step out to let him into the seat behind me, and we quickly realize he’s not going to fit back there.

With a sigh, I crawl into the back instead.

Sometimes, it really sucks to be vertically challenged.

“What did your parents say when you told them you were leaving?” I ask as Ensley turns the car around and heads back toward the main road.

“Nothing,” he says.

I give him a look.

“I don’t live with my parents.”

My jaw drops. “You live out here all alone in that huge house?”

He shrugs. “It’s a family house.”

I twist around, trying to catch another glimpse of the manor through the rear windshield, but we’re already too far away. It’s not quite as massive as Ensley’s or Drake’s, but it’s still enormous. Especially for one person.

As we drive out of Everton and toward Grimbrooke, I start peppering Titus with questions.

“How old are you?”

“Nineteen.”

“Are you going to college?”

“No.”

“Where did you go to school?”

“I had in-home tutors.”

“How long have you lived in Everton?”

“Almost a year.”

“What brought you here?”

“Family obligations.”

And on and on it goes. I may not know much about Titus, but we’ve got hours ahead of us and I plan to use every one of them to figure him out.