The Silent: Irin Chronicles Book Five(4)

“What?”

“Bangkok,” Max repeated. “Thailand.”

“I know where Bangkok is.” Leo pushed open his own bedroom door and walked to the closet. “I’m just not sure why I need to go there.”

“I’ve cleared it with both Malachi and Damien. The scribe house is expecting you.”

Leo pulled open his closet door. The first thing he checked was his weapons cabinet. Locked, as expected. One couldn’t be too careful. “Matti?” He bent down but didn’t see anything under his clothes.

“What are you doing?”

“They broke a lamp. There are probably shards. I haven’t seen any blood, but you can’t be too certain.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The children, of course. What’s in Bangkok?”

“What do you think? The usual. You’ll meet your contact at the airport.”

“I still don’t understand—” Leo walked backed to the hall. “Geron? Matti?” He heard giggling from Ava and Malachi’s room. “I know it was an accident, but I need to check your feet. I don’t understand why I need to go to Bangkok, Max. There’s an active scribe house there, and as far as I know they have an excellent reputation. Why is Damien involved?”

“Just get there. I have to go.” Max chuckled a little. “And good luck with the little ones.”

Another crash came from downstairs.

Leo shoved his phone in his pocket. “You have got to be kidding me.”



Matti giggled as she watched Leo’s feet walk away from her. She loved her uncles, especially Leo. He was like a giant bear with yellow hair and beautiful drawings all over his skin. His drawings were different than her baba’s. When she looked closely, she could see little animals playing in Leo’s writing, which made his talesm much more fun.

Her uncles played with her every day, even when they were very tired from hunting. Leo never got impatient like her mama or baba, but sometimes he didn’t understand her games. She crouched in the closet and turned to the black cat who watched her with gold eyes as brilliant as her own.

Matti pointed at him. “You’re not a kitty.”

The cat opened its mouth and spoke clearly. “You are very perceptive, small singer. And very magical to have seen me. Your parents and your uncles do not.”

“My name is Matti.”

“I know your name. You should be careful not to offer it so freely.”

Matti narrowed her eyes. This creature didn’t sound like it wanted to play with her. How rude.

“Do you want to know my name?” the cat asked.

“We can play.”

“Yes, I’ve seen your play.” The cat hissed words that Matti had never heard before. Special words like Mama and Baba warned her about. At his words, the shoes in the closet began to tap their toes, dancing in the low light from her parents’ bedroom.

Matti clapped for the dancing shoes. This was a fun game! It was much better than making the flowers dance when she sang their colors. She imagined making all the shoes in the house dance. Her mama’s and her baba’s. All her uncles’ big boots. She could make them dance down the stairs and into the street. Or up onto the roof where Baba grew his vegetables!

Matti opened her mouth to say the cat’s words but felt Baba’s magic holding her back. She growled in frustration.

“Soon, small singer,” the cat said. “You are still growing into your power. One day I think you will make all of them dance.”

Matti played with her toes and watched the cat that was not a cat. “I like to sing.”

“I know you do. And I think I should like to hear your song,” Vasu said. “One day.”





Chapter One





Chiang Mai, Thailand



Kyra stepped off the airplane, the loaded carry-on bag heavy on her shoulder. Sirius had told her what to expect, but she’d been wary to leave Europe without bringing most of her belongings. She didn’t own much, but what she’d kept over the years was precious to her. A lock of her mother’s hair and a book she’d found in her meager belongings. A picture of her and Kostas. Another picture Ava had sent her from Istanbul with all the scribes and singers there. A locket. None of these were things she was willing to risk to the vagaries of checked baggage.

It was her first time out of Europe. Her first time on a long international flight.

Her first time traveling alone. Anywhere.

She’d already muddled through the visa lines in Bangkok where her flight from Istanbul had landed. Now she headed toward the baggage claim and hoped her bag would show up. And her ride. And someone who spoke English, Bulgarian, Serbian, Turkish, or French.

Kyra wasn’t used to being alone. From the time she’d been born, her brother had been with her. Now Kostas thought she was visiting Istanbul where she was familiar with the streets and the language and the customs. Sirius hadn’t told their brother he was driving Kyra to the airport.

She put her hand in the pocket of her loose pants and touched the phone Sirius had given her. It was prepaid and loaded with the names and numbers of his contacts for the small city in Northern Thailand.

Kostas would be furious.

Kyra took a slow breath and tried not to panic. She was a grown woman, far older than even the oldest humans on her flight. She was powerful and trained in self-defense against both human and supernatural opponents. She was well versed in Thai history after the crash course she’d taken in the previous two weeks, and well shielded thanks to multiple meditation sessions and a last-minute call to Ava for advice.