The Silent: Irin Chronicles Book Five(15)

“They would likely have the same father,” Leo said. “Most free Grigori communities we know of were formed by Grigori trying to protect the female offspring of their sires. They live communally in family groups. The women need to be protected as most can’t function well in the human world.”

“Why not?”

Alyah said, “We shield our minds from the humans, Rith. Constantly. Have you forgotten this? If these kareshta cannot do that, they are mentally handicapped.”

Her tone made Leo’s hackles rise. “Handicapped implies that they are incapable. If they are taught to control their magic—”

“But they are not,” Dara said.

Leo didn’t try to explain Ava. His watcher’s mate had Grigori blood and more than a little skill with magic. With training, Leo knew kareshta were as capable of performing magic as Irina were. However, it wasn’t his place to instruct a singer of Dara’s status unless he was asked a question.

Dara said, “If these women are sisters to the free Grigori, it does not explain where this woman came from.”

“What woman?” Leo asked.

Rith said, “Angels can sire children from many women.”

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

Leo frowned. “Who are you talking about?”

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

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

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

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 this group.

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 the leader.”

“European,” Alyah said. “Definitely not local.”

The envelope was set down in front of Leo. He opened it and slid the pictures out.

And his heart seized.

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

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

“Yes,” Rith said. “A few days ago.”

“How long as she been here?”

“A few weeks,” Alyah said.

Leo couldn’t believe it. She’d disappeared. She was in hiding.

Except that she wasn’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 ever seen her.

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





Chapter Five





Though the food at 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 language acquisition.

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 mostly clueless.

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

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

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 you anymore.”

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

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 in Sofia.

Of course, many free Grigori were coming to Chiang Mai to obtain the tattoos that Niran and his brothers wore. As far as Kyra could tell, only a few outside their family were granted the privilege. She hadn’t even seen the monk who performed the ritual. In the three weeks she’d been at the temple, only one Grigori had come to get tattooed, and that man already wore extensive marks.