Page 25 of Scion of Chaos

“Whoareyou?” I whisper, staring at him.

“Remember those hounds I mentioned that Chaos controls? He’s the worst of them,” Stuart says, advancing on him. The other five dragons have surrounded him, but he doesn’t seem the least bit nervous about the level of hostility in the air. “He’s the reason the barrier was created in the first place. How did you get through it, Vesh?”

I push my chair back and slowly stand, unable to tear my eyes away from his gaze but acutely aware of the low, aching throb between my legs. Iknowhim, but I can’t remember how.

“Vesh,” I whisper. “Have we met?”

“Impossible. He’s not allowed on this island,” Cassandra says, striding over to plant herself right in front of him. “And he’s going toleavebefore we summon Deva. You know she’ll come if we inform her you’ve invaded again.”

Vesh smirks and holds up both hands. “Now, now, Cassie, a visit by one man hardly counts as an invasion. Besides, doesn’t the fact that I made it through your flimsy barrier suggest I’mmeantto be here? What is it you all love to say so often… ‘You can’t fight Fate’? Well maybe Fate’s the one who brought me here. Who am I to argue?”

He pins me with another look that makes my stomach turn a flip. I lick dry lips, dimly regretting the earlier accident with the glasses. I could use a big glass of ice water right about now. Hell, an ice-cold shower wouldn’t hurt.

“I don’t give a fuck how you got here,” Cassandra snaps, a dark glow emanating from the fists she has clenched at her sides. “You’re going to turn around and leave now or regret it.”

“Mom, don’t antagonize him, please,” April begs. She stands against her father’s side, his big arm curled protectively around her. Benedetta stands at my side, her skin incandescent with her inner fire.

“Why do they all hate you?” I ask.

“We just explained it to you,” Cassandra says.

“Well, I want to hear it fromhim,” I snap, striding closer. I push through two of the dragons to face the newcomer. “What did you do to them?”

“Nothing they couldn’t recover from.” He studies my face for a beat, sees my determination, and sighs. “I was following orders. My boss isn’t exactly someone you can defy without serious repercussions. He wanted her.” He points in April’s direction. “And now he wants you.”

I blink. “And you’re here to take me to him, is that it?”

“Not a fucking chance. He can’t have you because you’remine.” His gaze bores into mine so fiercely I feel it down to my toes.

My eyebrows lift and I open my mouth, but I’m almost breathless from the intensity of his look and my words come out in a near-whisper. “The hell you say.”

“Someone needs to go get Deva,” Cassandra says, glancing around at the dragons.

“He’s kind of blocking the only way out, in case you missed it,” Razik replies.

The dragons remain silent, but thelooksflying back and forth suggest they’re talking up a storm among themselves. The fact that Razik showed up with my things after I’d informed Errol I wanted them tells me they can communicate across distances. Are there other dragons in residence at the school? I think one of the guest artists might be one. Surely they can get a message out if they want to.

Vesh tuts when he catches the volley of looks. “I didn’t want to have to do this, but you guys are giving me no choice.” He lifts both hands, and Cassandra lets out a yell, raising hers at the same time. She unleashes twin bolts of black that merge into a pointed projectile aimed at Vesh’s head.

But it doesn’t reach him. Vesh brings his hands together in a clap that reverberates through the cliffside. The resulting echo leaves me quivering and breathless, but the silence after it fades is what stuns me the most.

Cassandra’s magic spear remains suspended in mid-air about a foot from Vesh’s head. Her hands are still outstretched, but she is as still as stone. I glance around at the others, and none of them are moving either, not even to breathe.

“What did you do to them?”

Vesh’s shimmering purple bubble dissipates and he steps past me, pushing through the wall of dragons surrounding him. I follow.

“Just a little temporary petrification. It’ll wear off soon, so we need to hurry.” He carefully steps past Cassandra, frowning at her. “I’d hoped we could have areasonablediscussion—there are things they need to know—but getting you someplace safe is more important.” He glances around and sighs. “Not a paper and pen in sight.”

“Kind of difficult to keep stuff like that in the home of a phoenix,” I say, crossing my arms. “What makes you think I want to go with you? I should be plenty safe right here.”

He scrutinizes the carnage on the table and raises an eyebrow at me. “I would venture that you have no understanding of what’s happening to you, no idea how to use the power awakening inside you. Which means you’re a danger to anyone until you learn. No matter how many platitudes they blew up your pretty ass, they’re still terrified of you.”

I press my lips together, not sure how to respond, mostly because he’s right. “And I supposeyoucan actually deliver on that promise? What place is safer than an island protected by a fate bubble?”

“One second,” he says, holding up a finger. Then he waves a hand at the broken glass and puddles covering the table. The shards lift into the air, then come back down, pointed ends scratching grooves into the stone tabletop while the water glides back and forth, washing away the grit left behind.

I stare in wonder while words begin to appear in the stone surface. But when I read them, a prickly chill works its way up my spine.

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