Page 21

Khaos

S he frowns at me as if I’m crazy. I do actually feel a little crazy. Inside, Fury is clawing to get out. He didn’t like the way this Thanouq looked at her. Neither did I. “He just saved our asses out there,” she says. “What’s not to trust?”

I grit my teeth and hold back a growl. “Our asses would have been fine. I would have done the job.”

She bites back a smile at my words, and the growl rumbles in my throat. Anyone else would have had the sense to back the fuck off.

Not her. Instead, she reaches out and pats my arm. “Of course you would have.” Her words are so clearly condescending that they break my bad mood. She’s not afraid to joke with me. In fact, she’s not afraid of me at all. “Anyway,” she continues, “let’s go see what he has to say.”

She takes the lead and follows Thanouq inside.

How come I never came across this place when I was here before? How come no one ever came to greet me?

I glance back before I enter, to the fallen statue of my father, sprawled in the dirt. He would not be happy. I bite back a smile.

Thanouq is waiting for us at a set of double doors, with guards standing at attention on either side. He has an army here, and I wonder whether I’ve made a tactical mistake. I trusted that Khendril would not send us into danger. Maybe I was wrong.

The guards make no move as Thanouq opens a door and gestures for us to enter the room. It’s big, square, with high ceilings. Cushions have been set out on the floor, and a rug at the center, adorned with food and drink. Thanouq crosses the room to where a soldier stands, and they speak quietly for a moment. Then they both turn to look at us.

“This is Therion,” Thanouq says. “He’s the commander of the army here.”

Therion gives us a nod but says nothing. Dressed like the guards, in leather pants and a tunic emblazoned with a griffin, he doesn’t appear particularly pleased to see us.

Thanouq heads toward us, pausing briefly as he passes Zayne. Then he stares into his eyes. The boy twitches.

“When were you bitten?” Thanouq asks.

Amber translates for him. Zayne looks away, and I think he’s not going to answer. Then he gives her a nod.

“It was three nights ago,” she says.

“What is he?” Thanouq asks.

“Basilisk,” I say. I’ve never known a basilisk shifter. They are rare.

Thanouq’s eyes widen. “Really? Interesting.”

He turns his attention to Amber, and Fury instantly becomes alert, ready to defend her. I’ve never known him to act this way. Keeping people alive has never been his priority.

Thanouq’s gaze drops from her face down over her body, and I have to hold onto my control with everything I’ve got. If I rip this guy to pieces, we may never find the Crone or get out of here alive.

“Who are you?” Thanouq asks her.

She frowns and then sighs in obvious disappointment. “My name’s Amber.”

“You’re the girl Khendril spoke of?” he asks, as though he’s unsure. “He told me to help you.”

“I think so,” she replies.

He raises a brow in question.

A resigned expression crosses her face. I’m guessing she’s getting fed up with repeating the story, but she goes through it quickly, finishing up with, “Then four nights ago, you could say I bumped into Khaosti, and so here we are.”

“Khaosti?” His sharp gaze settles on me. “Would that be Khaosti del Aurion?”

I give a curt nod, but I don’t like his tone. Neither does Fury.

“You are not welcome here,” Thanouq says. “None of your kind are.”

His words come as no surprise.

Up until the last three years, I spent my whole life on Astrali. I grew up believing that my people were revered as gods on the other worlds. And maybe they were once, but that was thousands of years ago. Since the great wars, we have stayed away from Earth and Valandria—at my father’s command.

When I finally ventured there in search of Khendril’s girl, it quickly became clear that I was gravely mistaken. On Earth, we are all but forgotten; just remnants of us appear in the myths and legends. On Valandria, they remember us, but not with any reverence. I think the fallen statue of my father is evidence of that.

But I shrug and say the one thing that might prevent him from throwing us out, or worse: “Khendril is my half-brother.”

Thanouq is silent for a while. I get the impression he would like to call me a liar. But the similarities between the two of us are beyond doubt. “Khendril never spoke of his past or his family,” he finally says. “Probably with good reason.”

He doesn’t look happy, but he does wave a hand to the cushions. “Sit.”

Amber sinks down onto the cushion nearest her. Now that we have stopped moving, I can see that she’s exhausted. I follow more slowly, then Thanouq and Zayne. Only Therion remains standing; he’s alert for any threat to his boss.

“Khendril sent me a message three years ago,” Thanouq says. “Telling me that a girl would come in the company of a young man.” He looks at me. “He described you but failed to mention your name. He asked that I help her in any way I could. We don’t get many strangers here and—"

“Actually, I’ve been here before,” I interrupt. Those other times I visited, he could have shown himself. I’m guessing nothing happens in this city that he doesn’t know about. “More than once,” I add.

He gives me a cool look. “Maybe you were of no interest to us without the girl.” Then a smirk. “And maybe you’re of no use now that we have the girl. Maybe you should go back to your father before we decide to rid our world of one more useless Astrali.”

“Your world?” I sneer. “Only as long as my people allow it.” My skin feels tight, as though it will burst at any moment, releasing destruction on us all. “So go ahead and touch me. My father will have you all slaughtered.”

“He could try. I think—”

“Er,” Amber interrupts, turning to glare at Thanouq. “You don’t actually ‘have’ the girl. And if Khaos goes, then I go.”

Fury settles a little at that, and I slump down, taking a deep breath. Much as I’d love for Fury to rip the arrogant asshole’s throat out, I realize we’re outnumbered. If Thanouq decides to kill me and do what he likes with Amber, he has a whole army to ensure that happens. Caution has never been my strong point, but she is changing me. Is that a good thing?

I take a deep breath. “I’m here, like you, at my brother’s bidding,” I say. “Khendril gave me the same message. He told me he was sending me a girl. I was to come here, and you would be able to tell me where to find the Crone.”

Thanouq tugs at his beard as he studies us all. “Khendril saved my life. I owe him, and for that reason, you keep yours.”

And just like that, I’m back on the knife’s edge. “Just try and take it,” I growl.

Amber leans across and elbows me in the gut. “Stop being a complete idiot,” she mutters. “Nobody is taking anybody’s life.”

“You think you would have made it through the city alive if I wanted you dead?” Thanouq asks. “You live only because I allow it. And because I find your companion”—he casts Amber a glance and a smile—“interesting.”

“And you—” Amber points a finger at Thanouq—“stop trying to wind him up. Not that I blame you; he can be really annoying, but it’s not getting us anywhere.” She sighs. “I really can’t take any more fighting at this point. Please, can we just talk like rational human beings?”

I feel I should point out that we aren’t actually human, maybe with the exception of Zayne, and possibly Amber herself. I don’t know what she is.

“Please,” she says again. “Just tell me what’s going on, and then I can go to bed.” She turns to Thanouq. “I get that you’re supposed to help me, but who are you?”

“My name is Thanouq Del Aurion.”

I frown at that.

“Hey, are you two related?” Amber asks.

“No!” we both snap at the same time.

She grins.

“Del Aurion, as in the ruling family of Valandria,” I tell her. It’s believed that they are descended from my father’s line, hence the name. I’m surprised they haven’t changed it, considering how much they hate us.

“I’m directly descended from Caspar Del Aurion, the last king to actually sit on the throne of Valandria,” Thanouq says.

“Wow.”

Amber sounds impressed. But it’s not that impressive. And I wonder if my father is aware that there is a living heir to the Valandrian throne. “You’re all supposed to be dead,” I say with more than a hint of regret.

Thanouq raises a brow. “I’m afraid the tales of my family’s demise were greatly exaggerated.”

Amber sighs. “So can you tell us the way to this crone?”

I can almost see her holding her breath, waiting for an answer. So am I. This is a dead end if Thanouq can’t help us.

“No,” he replies. “I will do better than that. I’ll take you myself. That way, I can decide on the journey if you—or your friends—are a danger to her.”

I really don’t like this idea.

“And then what?” she asks.

“Then I won’t take you any farther.”

I suspect there’s more to it than that.

“How can we trust you?” I ask.

Thanouq casts me a look of acute dislike—it’s mutual—and shrugs. “Like me, you’re going to have to decide for yourself.”

There’s silence while we all take this in.

Therion takes a step closer to his boss. He talks quietly, and I have to strain to hear the words. “This isn’t a good idea,” he says. “The shadowguard are at large. We can’t risk you.”

“They are?” I ask. “Have they been seen?”

It’s Thanouq who answers. “We’ve had word they’ve been sighted at various locations. They might even be on your trail. Though at the moment, their movements look random, as though they are searching for something… or someone,” he adds, casting Amber a look.

“How are they getting here?” I ask. “I closed the mirror at Abossmere.”

Thanouq shrugs. “I'm not sure how the shadowguard get here from Hell, but they don't use the mirrors. Maybe they were already here." He turns back to Therion. “I must do this. It’s a matter of honor.”

“Then take your guard,” Therion answers.

“I’ve considered it, but we’ll be better off with just a small group. We’ll be able to travel faster and with less likelihood of being seen.”

“I’m not letting you go alone.”

“I wouldn’t try to leave you behind.” He turns back to us. “We ride at dawn. Now, I must say goodnight. There’s much to be done to safeguard my people before I go. My steward will show you to your rooms once you have eaten.”

None of us moves as he leaves the room, Therion close behind.

“Is one of you going to tell me what’s going on?” Zayne asks.

Amber quickly recaps the conversation.

“Well, this is going to be interesting,” he says when she falls silent.

I’m not sure “interesting” is the right word, but no doubt we’ll find out. I turn to Amber. “Don’t trust him.”

“Really?” She shakes her head. “You are so freaking predictable.”