Page 53 of The Silent
Thiswas why Barak had kept Kyra and Kostas together. Her father had been a Guardian of Heaven, the bearer of a Guardian’s blade, and Kyra and Kostas were the strongest of his children, the most gifted when they listened for danger. When the twins held hands, Kyra’s range was nearly as powerful as their father’s had been. Alone, she could still hear formiles.
“What are you doing?” Leo’s voice came to her as if he were talking from beneaththesea.
Kyraignoredhim.
Voices of humanity. Voices she’d never understood. The same, everywhere in the world. Over hills. Throughforests.
There.
Kyra focused on the familiar voice andtrackedit.
Prija’s soul was spiked with anger. She was headed north. Directly north. Her thoughts were blood-red and wavering on the edge of violence. Kyra tried to listen to the voices closest to her. One Irin. Two…Grigori?
What diditmean?
She opened her eyes and grabbed Leo’s hand. The weight of silence made her head swim, and she took a deep breath. “Prija is with an Irin scribe and two Grigori. She’s headed north. Fast enough that I think she must be in a car. She’ll hurt them if we don’t find her soon, and I doubt she’ll stop with herattackers.”
Leo’s eyes went wide. “How can you hearthatfar?”
“My father was a cardinal angel,” she said. “I am not without power ofmyown.”
“I’m going to have more questions about that later, but for right now, we need to get back and let Niran and Sura know. Are you steadyenough?”
She squeezed his hand and began reciting the spells Ava had taught her. Her battered walls clicked into place. The door she’d flung open in her mind eased shut. After a few moments, she nodded. “I’mfine.”
His brilliant blue eyes were wide. “That isamazing.”
“I’m sorry I collapsed before.” She swallowed, trying to rid herself of the tightness in her throat. “Intira’s voice was so panicked, and thememories…”
“Do you want to talkaboutit?”
“No.” She could tell by the set of his mouth that the answer didn’t please him. “Maybe…notnow.”
He nodded, and the tight set of his mouth eased. He was so open. So expressive. But he hid deep feelings behind that happy facade. She was beginning to seehimnow.
As they walked, Leo kept her hand in his, and Kyra remembered the words she’d heard from him when he held her, the voice of his mind that sang like acrystalbowl.
“Leo?”
“Hmm?”
“What doesslemaamean?”
He frowned. “Slemaa? It meanspeace.”
“Peace.” She smiled. “You were thinking that when you werecarryingme.”
He smiled. “That’s not what I remember thinking, but I’m glad that’s what youheard.”
“And what doesreshonmean?”
He stopped in histracks. “What?”
“Reshon. Your voice was very, very clear, and you were thinkingthattoo.”
Leo’s jawdropped.
Kyra was adept at reading expressions, but she couldn’t read his. The closest she could come was picturing a paper lantern glowing from the inside. She’d seen people lifting them into the air at the lantern festival in the city. That’s what Leo’s face remindedherof.
