The Silent: Irin Chronicles Book Five(25)

His perspective humbled Kyra. “I’ve never thought about it that way.”

“I’m sure Leo sees what I see,” Sura said. “A gifted woman with a generous heart. That is the most beautiful thing of all.”

“I’m sure he sees—”

“You.” A voice came from the other end of the garden. Leo stepped out from the shadows. His face was glowing. “I see you.”

Her heart seized again, just like it had at the market the previous night. Would he ever stop having this effect on her? It was very disconcerting.

“Sura,” Kyra said, “this is Leo. Leo, please meet Sura, Niran’s brother.”

Leo blinked and tore his eyes from Kyra. “Sura,” he said, walking toward them with an outstretched hand. “It is a pleasure to meet any friend of Kyra’s.”

“I feel exactly the same way,” Sura said. “Join us for a beer?”

“You must be the calm one.” Leo grinned. “I’d love to.”



“That’s the reason I came,” Leo said, talking loudly to shout over the band playing at the end of the street. “They knew you were here and they knew you were patrolling the city regularly. They want to open a dialogue. See if you’re open to cooperation.”

Sura nodded. “And this is something you have practice in?”

“Leo and his cousin Maxim have coordinated with my brothers for years now,” Kyra said, leaning over the table. “They seem to work well together.”

“Not that Kostas can stand me,” Leo said. “He doesn’t like anyone who is too interested in Kyra.”

She blushed, but Sura answered as if Leo had said nothing extraordinary. “Kyra’s brothers reached out to us asking for information. We wanted something in return.”

“Which was?”

Kyra said, “They have sisters of their own. Four of them. The youngest is only thirteen. They’d heard that I could teach them to shield their minds.”

Leo said, “An exchange?”

“It seemed like the fairest way,” Sura said. “Our sisters needed help that Kyra could give. We have practices that could help Kostas and his brothers control their magic more. She would come here first. If she proved trustworthy, her brothers could be sent.”

Leo raised an eyebrow. “Kostas didn’t approve this, did he?”

“Sirius did,” Kyra said. “Kostas is furious with both of us right now, but I text him regularly. He knows I’m safe and that I’m doing something important.”

Leo smiled. “Guts. Ava would say you have them.”

Kyra shook her head. “That phrase has never made sense to me. Everyone has intestines.”

Sura raised his hand for another beer. “I’d like to know who you’ve brought with you, scribe.”

“Excuse me?” Leo finished off his bottle. “Who I’ve brought?”

“I see two women watching us from the noodle stand,” Sura said, waving. “Can I assume they are both Irina?”

“What?” Kyra blinked. She thought she had good instincts, but she hadn’t spotted either woman. One appeared Thai and the other European. They disappeared by the time she’d looked twice.

Leo shook his head. “You’ve got good eyes. Yes, they’re Irina. One from Bangkok and one local.”

“I thought I recognized the taller girl,” Sura said. “She’s come up to the village before. She trains in one of the gyms here in Chiang Mai.”

“Trains for what?” Kyra asked.

“Muay thai,” a cheerful voice called in an American accent. “I’m Ginny. What’s your name?” She stuck out her hand.

“Kyra.” She took the woman’s hand, somewhat cowed by her energy. “I’m Kyra.”

“Nice to meet you.” Ginny sat down next to Kyra and raised her hand to get the waiter’s attention. She held up two fingers and motioned to the table.

“And I’m Alyah,” the other woman said, sitting next to Leo. “From Bangkok.”

“From the scribe house,” Sura said.

“Yes, but don’t hold that against her,” Ginny said. “She’s still okay.”

Superficially, the two women couldn’t have looked more different. Ginny looked more human than any Irina Kyra had met. She didn’t have the reserve or formality and reminded Kyra more of Ava’s easy manner. Maybe it was an American thing. Her skin was suntanned, and she had gold streaks in her long brown hair. Her smile was easy and bright. The Thai woman was shorter, her body compact and strong. Kyra could see defined muscles in her arms and shoulders. Her hair was cut in short layers around her face, and she didn’t smile easily.

But both women moved with the innate confidence Kyra associated with the Irina. They were warriors. Survivors. Women with centuries of history and an extensive command of magic. Kyra could feel it surrounding them. Feel the warmth and energy they projected. Without even trying, Irina always made Kyra feel small.

Sura nodded at Ginny. “I know you.”

Ginny smiled. “And I know you. Nice tattoos.”

“Thank you. I did most of them myself.”

“I thought so.”

Leo clapped his hands together once. “That’s what it is. The tattoos. I’ve been trying to figure out what Kostas and Sirius want. It’s the tattoos. They’re human, but you’ve found a way for them to help you with your natural magic. That’s why Kyra is here.”