Page 66 of Kingdom of Chaos (Creatures of Chaos #2)

Forty-Three

We leave Kerrim’s vampires behind in the reptile house.

I don’t know if they’re dead or alive, and honestly, I don’t care.

At this point, all I want is to get out of this zoo, and out of this park, with all my friends still breathing.

This whole night was a disaster, but at least we have Ensley back.

As far as our mission to get Shadow Striker back from Kerrim, that will have to wait.

I worked as hard as I could to prepare, but Kerrim was stronger.

I need more time. So whether this was a missed opportunity or not, I’m just grateful we’re leaving with our lives, ready to fight another day.

Ensley comes to in Talon’s arms around the time we exit the zoo. Her lashes flutter weakly, her breath shallow and ragged. By the time we reach the clearing where we left Becks and Titus, she’s fully awake, struggling to lift her head and take in her surroundings.

“Easy,” I whisper, brushing a damp strand of hair from her face. “You’re safe.”

Her eyes, dull with exhaustion but wide with panic, search frantically until they land on something in front of us, and then life sparks back into them. She jolts in Talon’s arms, squirming to be let down.

I follow her line of sight and instantly know why: Titus.

He is still slumped on the ground, pale and barely moving, but now there’s a figure crouched beside him, a woman with a halo of dark curls and a satchel of supplies, her glowing hands moving swiftly over his battered body.

Kade stands nearby, issuing clipped orders to his remaining forces, but his sharp gaze turns to us as we approach.

Talon gently sets Ensley down and she stumbles toward Titus, going as far as to push past her shocked brother to fall to her knees at the broken fae’s side.

The healer pauses just long enough to reassure her, “He’s critical, but he’s holding on. He’ll make it.”

Titus’ eyes crack open, glassy but alive; a broken smile twists his bloodied lips. His fingers twitch, reaching for her. Ensley clasps his hand in both of hers, tears streaming down her face.

Becks crouches down beside his sister, pulling her into a fierce hug, his breath hitching.

“You’re okay. Thank the Creator you’re okay.” His voice is raw, breaking on the words.

After a minute, he lets her go and stands. Turning to me, he pulls me in for a tight, almost breathless hug.

“Thank you for getting her back.” His gaze shifts to Talon and Imogen, the gratitude plain in his eyes. “All of you, thank you.”

Talon nods in acknowledgement, and Imogen shrugs like it was no big deal, but even in the low light I catch her cheeks reddening a little.

Kade takes a step toward us, his expression strained. “The fights around the park are breaking up. My teams are pulling back, just holding the barrier as long as they can to keep humans out. We need to leave. Now.”

The healer presses a bandage over Titus’ ribs, securing it tightly. “He’s stable enough to move, but he’ll need help.”

Talon and Becks exchange a look, then crouch to lift Titus carefully between them. Ensley clutches one of Titus’ hands, refusing to let go even as we move. Imogen falls into step beside me, her usual sharpness muted by the exhaustion in her eyes.

But we don’t make it far.

A chilling ripple of power slices through the air. Sharp, electric, and unmistakable. The temperature drops, the ground vibrating beneath our feet. We freeze mid-step, the hair on the back of my neck rising.

Kerrim.

Before we can react, a blast of searing magic erupts from the darkness, slamming into the ground in front of us. The shockwave sends us sprawling, a blinding flash lighting up the night as the air crackles with raw energy.

This night’s not over yet. Not even close.

I start to get to my feet when Talon’s voice cuts through the commotion, fierce and ragged.

“Stay down!” he shouts as a fiery ball streaks over our heads close enough that the heat singes the air and prickles across my skin, making me flinch as it slams into a tree behind us and explodes in a shower of embers.

“Locklyn!” Kerrim booms from somewhere in the darkness, echoing across the night and sinking like a stone in the pit of my stomach. “Come face me so we can end this. I promise not to harm your friends. I’ll even let them return to their world when this is over. You have my word.”

Lying flat on my belly, I exchange a glance with Talon. His eyes are sharp, unyielding. He doesn’t believe Kerrim any more than I do. But it doesn’t change the fact that I still have to face him.

I let Becks go up against Kerrim before, and look what happened.

He was stranded in the human world, stripped of his creature magic.

I won’t let something like that happen again.

I won’t let someone else fight my battle.

Shadow Striker is bonded to me. If anyone has a shot at taking it back from that monster, it’s me.

Breaking eye contact with Talon, I look at Becks. His face is tight with concentration, scanning the shadows for any sign of Kerrim.

“Becks,” I call softly. His head snaps toward me, his eyes wide. “Get Titus and Ensley out of here.”

He bares his teeth in a grimace, shaking his head hard. “No. I’m staying. I can help you.”

“I’m not asking because you’re weak,” I say firmly, holding his gaze. “I’m asking because they need you. If they stay, they die. I know you can protect them. I need you to protect them.”

A trace of frustration slips across his face, familiar and gutting.

I know that look. I know what it’s like to feel like the weakest link, the one without magic, the one who’s always just a step behind.

But I’m asking him to protect those I love, because if there’s anyone who will fight with everything they have to keep Ensley and Titus safe, it’s him.

Another streak of fire tears through the night, hissing past just inches above our heads.

“Move!” Talon barks, his voice sharp, cutting through the mayhem like a blade.

We scramble to our feet, instinct driving us toward the cover of the trees. There’s so many of us to conceal. Not far from us, Kade with the healer and his fighters are running for cover as well.

Becks slings an arm under Titus, who’s barely conscious, while Talon grabs his other side to help support his weight. Imogen shadows them, sharp and fluid, scanning for the next threat.

We hide behind a grouping of trees. The cover is flimsy and won’t last for long, especially with fireballs being hurled at us.

“Becks,” I plead. “You have to go.”

For a heartbeat, he hesitates, torn between staying and going. Then Ensley appears, nudging Talon out of the way and slipping her arm under Titus’ other shoulder. Tears stream down her face.

Becks locks eyes with me, a raw, desperate intensity behind his gaze. “You better come back to me. I’m not ready to lose you again,” he says, his voice hoarse.

With one last lingering look, he nods to his sister and then they vanish into the darkness, Titus barely upright between them.

Another fireball streaks past, slamming into a tree with a crack and a burst of flame.

One of Kade’s men cries out—a searing, guttural scream that pierces my ears—and collapses, smoke rising from his back.

The healer dives toward him, already working to stabilize him as Kade curses under his breath, scanning for more threats.

“Kade!” I shout over the madness. “Hold the line here! I’ll handle Kerrim.”

He starts to argue, but I shake my head fiercely. “I have to do this. Keep the others safe.”

I whirl around, trying to center myself, trying to find that flicker of power inside me, but . . . it’s gone. A hollow echo, a dead weight in my chest. Not even the pendant causes it to spark to life.

Panic rises like a wave, sharp and suffocating.

“Locklyn.” Talon’s voice comes from behind me, steady and low, like an anchor in the storm. I turn to him, wide-eyed, breath ragged.

“I don’t have any more in me,” I whisper, voice breaking. “I can’t fight him.”

Talon reaches for me, cupping my face in his hands. His touch is cool, grounding. “You can. We’re connected. Draw from me.”

“But—”

“Do it,” he orders, his voice rough, urgent.

I close my eyes, focusing on him. Focusing on me. And there it is, a pulse of magic, silver and gold threads shimmering between us, flaring bright as they weave through my veins. The power rushes in like a flood, sharp and sweet, and I gasp as it ignites my skin.

“Talon!” comes Imogen’s alarmed voice. “What are you doing? You know what might?—”

He cuts her off with a sharp look. “It’s fine.”

“What’s wrong?” I ask, glancing between the two of them as the threads connecting Talon and me glow brighter, pulsing like a living thing.

“Nothing,” Talon says, but when I glance at Imogen, she looks away, a deep scowl tightening her face.

“Am I hurting you?” I ask, my concern spiking.

“No,” Talon murmurs, his thumb brushing gently across my cheek. His voice is tight, strained. “But I won’t be able to shift or use any of my magic if you’re pulling from me.”

I nod, swallowing hard. Maybe that’s why Imogen is so on edge.

“I can do this,” I say, because I have to.

“You can,” Talon agrees, his gaze steady and fierce. “Focus on keeping a shield up. Get close, then strike. If you need more magic, draw from me. I have plenty.”

“Okay.” But a prickle of unease skitters down my spine. A ripple of wrongness. I don’t know what it is, or why, and I don’t have time to figure it out.

I raise my faelight shield just as a gust of wind, too strong and sudden to be anything but magical, slams into the trees, branches cracking and leaves swirling in a frenzied dance. My hair whips wildly around me as the world trembles.

Kerrim’s voice rings out from the shadows, cold and arrogant. “Locklyn, I’m tired of waiting. I’m coming for you, and I’ll end anyone who stands in my way.”

No .

I can’t let him make the first move. If I wait, he’ll target Talon, Imogen, and everybody else within striking distance.