The Silent: Irin Chronicles Book Five(38)

“Yes.” Ginny tapped an ash off her cigarette into a small brass ashtray. “It’s better than rushing into something to save her life and then being miserable for eternity.”

“I don’t want her miserable. I don’t want her trapped,” Leo said. “But I do want her alive.”

She tapped her finger on her knee. “I don’t think your feelings are in question, are they?”

No. The rage-inducing thought of losing Kyra was enough to make Leo near-certain Kyra was his reshon. He didn’t care that she wasn’t Irina. Ava wasn’t technically Irina either. The Creator wouldn’t continue to set them in each other’s path if they weren’t. His touch wouldn’t give her so much comfort and his voice wouldn’t be so clear.

His heart wouldn’t feel raw at the thought of her death if she wasn’t meant to be his life.

“I don’t want her coming to me out of obligation or fear,” he said, his voice rough. “Is there anything you can do?”

Ginny pursed her lips. “I could sing some magic for her. It wouldn’t be anything long term, but it would give her a boost. Give you two some time.”

“Can you teach her the spells to use herself?”

Her eyes went wide. “What?”

“She’s powerless, Ginny. The Irina teach the kareshta to shield their minds, but everything else? They’re on their own. They have nothing.”

“Leo, you’re asking me to give Irina magic to Grigori sisters.”

“I’m asking you to trust Kyra,” he said through gritted teeth. “Are they our allies or not?”

“You tell me.” Ginny’s voice was brittle. “You tell me if they’re our allies, Leo.”

“I can’t believe you’re asking that. You know—”

“I know what?” Ginny stubbed out her cigarette in the grass. “I know… They say the right things. They have sympathetic stories. I’m open to listening. I’m open to believing they could be more.”

“But you don’t trust them?”

“You think I don’t have reason to doubt?” Ginny asked. “Did you see your sisters slaughtered by Grigori? Have you seen whole families wiped out from their savagery? I’ve felt their blood spill hot on my hands after they raped and killed my sister, so you tell me. Should I give them magic that could make them even more powerful? I’m glad it’s so easy for you to know.”

Leo heard movement at the edge of the garden. Sura and Kyra stood near the pond, clearly having overheard Ginny’s devastating words. Sura’s eyes were wet with grief. Kyra’s face was stricken.

Ginny stared at them, then she stood and walked toward the temple without a word.

“Kyra.” Leo stood.

She was shaking her head. “It’s not going to work. It’s not fair for anyone, Leo. We can’t ask them to accept—”

“We can!”

“No.” She turned and walked toward the forest path.

Leo started after her, but Sura grabbed his arm. Leo was surprised at the iron grip of the smaller man.

“Wait,” Sura said. “Think about what she’s saying before you go to her.”

Leo wrenched his arm away. “Do you think she’s right?”

“No. I think union between Irin and Grigori brings healing. But healing can be painful.”

Leo could still hear Ginny’s footsteps on the gravel. He could hear Kyra walking through the bamboo.

“I’ll try to talk to Ginny if you think it will help,” Sura said quietly. “I don’t want to cause her more grief.”

“I don’t know her well enough to know what is right. Perhaps you should talk to Alyah.”

Sura nodded and walked toward the dining room.

Leo took a deep breath and headed toward the cottages. He wasn’t willing to give up. Not when she was finally giving him a chance.



He marched to her cottage and paused before he knocked. He didn’t want to barge in like the tank his brothers joked about, but he wanted to take some action to make everything better. Fight something. Break something. Get everyone laughing. He was good at those things.

Leo knew this wasn’t a problem that could be fixed that way.

Think about what she’s saying before you go to her.

Kyra had lived in secrecy, watching her brothers killed by those of Leo’s kind, often after they had already turned away from preying on humans. By all rights, she should be terrified of him. Irin law had been black-and-white. Irin good. Grigori bad. There had never been any nuance allowed.

With good reason, from the Irin perspective. Grigori had slaughtered their families, wiping out eighty percent of their women and children in the Rending. Irin society had been torn apart for hundreds of years and was changing now only by increments. Layer upon layer of trust had to be rebuilt. Between Irin and Irina. Between free Grigori and wary scribes. And trust between free Grigori and Irina?

Did you see your sisters slaughtered by Grigori? Should I give them magic that could make them even more powerful?

Perhaps they were asking the impossible.

Frustrated, Leo turned and sat on the top step of Kyra’s porch. He sat there, looking at the moon and feeling the weight of Kyra’s sorrow in the back of his mind. He didn’t know how he felt it, but he did. He could feel her pain. Feel her hopelessness.