The Silent: Irin Chronicles Book Five(22)

No, but he did have a few questions. “Why don’t you come in?” He held the door open and Alyah walked inside.

“Did you find her?”

“Yes.”

“Was she safe?”

“Apparently.” How to broach the topic without having Alyah clam up? She was highly loyal to her watcher. She practically worshipped Dara, and Leo understood why. “I spoke briefly to the Grigori you’ve been watching. There are some interesting things about him.”

“Oh?” She sat on the bench in the small living area. “We have been watching for some time. It’s apparent he’s not feeding on humans.”

“When we first spoke, you were skeptical about the existence of the kareshta. You didn’t know if this group of Grigori were protecting any sisters or not.”

“Are they?”

“It would seem so,” Leo said. “It would also seem that two or more scribes—I wasn’t able to get specifics—attempted to abduct one of their sisters recently.”

Alyah wasn’t prone to strong reactions, but that got her attention. “What?”

“Two scribes. He said they tried to grab one of his sisters from a temple.”

“I know nothing about this.”

“Then this Grigori said: ‘Watchers know best, do they not?’ Alyah, are you sure that Dara has no knowledge of the kareshta this Grigori is protecting?”

She frowned and leaned forward. “I told you we were skeptical they truly existed. Why would Dara lie about them if she knew they were there?”

“Why would scribes try to abduct a woman praying at a temple?”

“Maybe they thought she was human,” Alyah said. “Maybe they thought they were protecting her from Grigori.”

“We’re not supposed to touch humans,” Leo said. “It can be harmful to them.”

Alyah gave him another skeptical look. “Do you truly think all scribes are as honorable as that? Besides, Dara doesn’t command every scribe in Thailand. Perhaps they were independent and believed this woman was kareshta. Maybe they believed they were saving her from an angel.”

“Or perhaps they were eager to find an available female,” Leo said quietly.

Alyah’s lip curled. “They wouldn’t—”

“They would,” Leo said. “They have. It’s happened in Europe.”

“Scribes have kidnapped these kareshta? Abducted them?”

“They dress it up,” Leo said. “Say they’re rescuing them from the Grigori. Or the Fallen.”

“Maybe they are.”

“And maybe they want a grateful female who looks to them for protection,” Leo said. “A kareshta in debt to them for their freedom. If that’s happening in Thailand, you must put a stop to it. The mandate from the council is clear: the protection of the kareshta, not their exploitation. Sometimes protecting them might mean protecting the brothers they depend on.”

“Grigori?” Alyah said. “Leaving them alone is one thing, but protecting them?”

“Some of these men have given everything—given their own lives—to keep their sisters safe. Many love their families just as much as Irin love theirs. Taking a kareshta away from brothers who have been her caretakers and protectors only traumatizes them again.”

“Unless they want to go.” Alyah stood. “Who says these Grigori aren’t keeping their sisters under their thumbs just as much as the Fallen did? Irina have options. We have power. We have independence. We have magic.”

“You have independence because you have magic. You want the kareshta to have that too?”

Alyah fell silent.

It was one thing to rail at the Grigori. It was another thing to offer magic to a race that had very recently been the enemy. Alyah’s reaction was not unexpected.

“We wait for Kyra to call me,” he said. “At this point, it’s all we can do.”





Chapter Seven





The ride back to the temple was completely and utterly silent. At least on the outside. Two Grigori sat in the back of the pickup truck, watching for any hint of a tail as Kyra sat in the front seat next to Niran and Intira sat in the back with Sura.

Niran was furious. His soul voice raged, and Kyra had a difficult time blocking him. Most of his anger felt like it was projected outward, but some sounded like it went within.

Kyra glanced over her shoulder and saw Intira’s jaw clench. If Kyra was having trouble blocking Niran, she could only imagine what Intira was feeling.

Very calmly, she said, “Just because you’re silent doesn’t mean we can’t hear you.”

Sura said something Kyra couldn’t understand, but whatever it was ratcheted down the tension in the truck. The atmosphere still wasn’t pleasant, but it was better.

Once they arrived at the temple, Intira fled to her cottage, and Kyra waited by the vehicle. Niran barked orders at his men, then turned to Kyra.

His eyes flashed, and Kyra saw the predator he was bred to be. A frisson of fear worked its way down her spine, but she stood straight.

“We need to talk,” he said.

She shook her head. “Not when you’re like this.” She started back toward her cottage, and Niran grabbed her elbow. Kyra twisted under his arm and brought her fist down hard on the inside of his elbow as Sirius had taught her. Niran hissed and dropped his hand.