Page 34 of The Silent
“Yes,” Ginny said immediately. “And those Grigori were killed by Sura and the Grigori I assume are hisbrothers.”
“How do you know it was them?” Leoasked.
“Dude, the tattoos are pretty distinctive. The Thai scribes use a similar style, but the letters are Old Language, one hundred percent. The tattoos these guys were flashing were allSak Yant. Hardtomiss.”
Alyah turned to Ginny. “Why must you use ‘dude’ sooften?”
“It’s a great word. Don’t hateon‘dude.’”
Kyra asked, “Are you fromCalifornia?”
“Yes,Iam.”
Kyra smiled at Leo. “Like Ava,” she said. “Ava says thatwordtoo.”
Leo was staring at her. Alyahnudgedhim.
“Hmm?What?”
“You’re staring,” Alyah said. “Don’tstare.”
“I’m… concentrating.” Leo cleared his throat. “So there have been Grigori attacks, but Sura and his brother Niran have defended the city. Sounds very much like Kostas and hisbrothers.”
“I agree,” Kyra said. “I’ve been with them for three weeks. And if my opinion means anythinginthis—”
“It does,” Leo saidquickly.
“—then I would say that though their methods differ, their objective is the same as my brothers’,” Kyra continued. “Sura and Niran obtained their freedom at great cost; now they are trying to live their lives and protect their community from other Fallen and the Grigori who might try to exploit thehumanshere.”
“And protect our sisters,” Sura said. “And try to engender discipline within our kind for those who choose topursueit.”
Ginny’s eyes shone. “So you do havekareshtaupthere.”
Sura said, “Wedo.”
Ginny and Alyah exchanged a look that made Kyra want to question them alone. Before she could suggest the three go for a stroll through the market, Leo spokeagain.
“So now we know,” Leo said to Alyah. “They havekareshta.” He turned to Sura. “The mandate of the Irin council is thatkareshtaare to be protected. So what do you need? And how can we help yougetit?”
ChapterEight
Leo triedto keep his eyes on the road as Ginny drove over the twisting mountain paths that led to the temple where Sura and his Grigori lived. He had no problem letting Ginny drive, but the blank space before him where the steering wheel should be was disorienting. He kept his eyes on the road as she swerved around potholes and dodged motorbikes andscooters.
Sura and Kyra had left the night before, but not before giving Ginny directions to theircompound.
She’d left. And Leo had not a single minute alonewithher.
“I know what you’re thinking,”Ginnysaid.
Alyah was sitting in the back seat. “That you’re a terribledriver?”
“No, I’m an excellent driver, and I wasn’t talking to you.” She elbowed Leo. “He’s thinking, ‘How do I get some of that fine Kyra of myveryown?’”
Leo raised an eyebrow. “How old did you sayyouwere?”
“Old enough to know what a lonely, lonely scribe is thinking when he goes allquiet.”
“Who said I was lonely?”Leosaid.
