Page 19 of The Silent

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Dara said, “If these women aresistersto the free Grigori, it does not explain where this womancamefrom.”

“What woman?” Leoasked.

Rith said, “Angels can sire children from manywomen.”

“It still doesn’t explain where she came from,” the Irina said. “Nothing about her appearance says sistertome.”

Leo frowned. “Who are you talkingabout?”

“Our surveillance,” Rith said, motioning toward a singer at the end of the table, who pulled out a manilaenvelope.

Leo said, “You’ve been watching them?Spyingonthem?”

“As I stated,” Dara said, “we are curious about these ‘free’ Grigori. We will not be caughtunaware.”

Leo had been called to broker contact between the two groups, but it was clear the Irin of Bangkok were far from trusting. He would have to tread carefully. It wasn’t in anyone’s interests to push a relationship if both sides were too suspicious to work together. He’d have to see if their known Grigori contacts in Europe had any relationship with thisgroup.

Rith said, “The Grigori we identified kept to themselves. We didn’t approach them because they didn’t hunt women. We were suspicious. A few did have some human contact, but there were no deaths. No assaults. Mostly they were solitary. Then a few weeks ago, an unfamiliar woman showed up. She’s been seen many times in the company of the one we think is theleader.”

“European,” Alyah said. “Definitely notlocal.”

The envelope was set down in front of Leo. He opened it and slid thepicturesout.

And his heartseized.

“She’s not his sister,” Rith said. “I’m fairly certain of that. But she’s not humaneither.”

Leo’s heart was pounding out of his chest. “These were taken inChiangMai?”

“Yes,” Rith said. “A fewdaysago.”

“How long as shebeenhere?”

“A few weeks,”Alyahsaid.

Leo couldn’t believe it. She’d disappeared. She was inhiding.

Except that shewasn’t.

Kyra walked with the Grigori at her side, smiling as they passed through what looked like a night market. Her hair was piled on top of her head, and she looked tan. She wore colorful, loose pants and a tank top. She was as carefree as he’d everseenher.

Leo stood up, his food forgotten. “I need to go toChiangMai.”

ChapterFive

Though the foodat the temple was simple, it was filling and delicious. One afternoon after lessons, Niran joined Kyra, Intira, Bun Ma, and Kanchana for lunch. Since both Niran and Intira spoke English and could translate, conversation flowed freely. Kyra envied the gift of the Irin and the Grigori, who could learn language with hardly more than a look at the writing and a little bit of conversation. Females of angelic blood did not have such gifts, though the Irina had spells that could spur languageacquisition.

Kyra listened to the flow of Thai with receptive ears, hoping to hear anything that might sound familiar. Every now and then she caught a word, but she was mostlyclueless.

“Intira,” Niran asked. “Would you like to join Kyra and me at the markettonight?”

The girl’s eyes lit up. “Are you sure?” She turned to Kyra. “There are so manypeople.”

Kyra said, “I think you’re ready for it. You’re the most advanced of your sisters, but you won’t be able to progress until we test your shields around someone other than your brothers. Their minds are too calm to challenge youanymore.”

“We will take two cars,” Niran told her. “If you become overwhelmed, one of the brothers can drive you home while we finishpatrol.”

Niran had explained to Kyra that there were few Grigori attacks in the city because he and his brothers had put the word out that they were not welcome. In the previous two years, Chiang Mai had become a haven for free Grigori who wanted to live a quiet life. As long as they kept the peace and kept to themselves, Niran allowed them to live peacefully. Patrolling the night markets and busy areas of the city was crucial to maintaining that control. It was a familiar pattern to Kyra. Kostas and her brothers did much the same inSofia.