“That’s not fair.” She tried to keep up with him. “Leo, you need to tell me now.”
He lifted her in his arms, picking up the pace as if she weighed nothing. “After we get your sister. I promise you.”
Leo’s elation had been tamped down by the time they reached the others. Someone had cleared the dining table and a map spread across it. Alyah was talking on the phone in rapid Thai while Sura, Ginny, and Niran examined the map.
“Kyra found Prija,” Leo said. “She listened for her and heard her.”
“How?” Sura didn’t look anything like a laid-back college kid anymore. His expression was blank, but Kyra could feel the slow-burning anger in him. She could even see his tattoos lighting up like Irin tattoos sometimes did. They had a silver tinge she’d never seen before.
“When I focus my mind, I can hear very far,” Kyra said. “When I heard Prija, she was heading north. I’m almost sure she’s in a car because she was going too fast to be walking.”
Ginny looked at the map spread out on the table. “This road, maybe?”
Niran nodded. “If she’s heading directly north, that would be the only path. It’s a good road. Very clear. Winds through some small villages, but it’s all paved.”
“It’ll take them straight into Burma,” Ginny said. “How long?”
“Two, two and a half hours perhaps?” Sura said.
Niran asked, “Any reason why Irin would take Prija into Burma? You don’t have any scribe houses there.”
Ginny shook her head. “That whole area is controlled by Arindam.”
Sura looked up. “You know of Arindam?”
Ginny said, “The Fallen who controls most of Myanmar? Of course we know about him. He’s been making attacks into Irin-controlled areas of northern India. It’s a huge problem.”
Niran was staring at the map. “We don’t have fast cars. They’re taking the most direct route. There’s no way to cut them off. I’ll take the motorbikes with two others and see if I can catch up with them.” He nodded to Sura. “Keep your phone on. I’ll call if I find them.”
“Wait!” Kyra said. “There were three of them. One Irin and two Grigori.”
Every eye turned toward her.
“What?” Niran said.
“Only one Irin has her. There are two Grigori with him.”
Sura said, “One Irin and two Grigori?”
Everyone was silent for a moment.
“It doesn’t matter,” Niran said. “We have to go after her. We won’t go into Burma, but until they reach Arindam’s territory, they’re fair game.” He nodded at two of his men. “Let’s go.”
“I’ll go with you,” Leo said.
“You don’t know the roads and you’ll slow us down.” Niran was nearly out the door. “Stay with Sura and protect the temple.”
Leo looked like he wanted to argue, but he nodded.
Ginny asked, “Leo, do you know of any other Irin who are looking to cooperate with Grigori?”
“No,” he said. “Or not in this area. There are smaller-scale alliances being made in Europe. One that I know of in South America and two that already exist in sub-Saharan Africa. But in Asia, our meeting is the first I’ve heard of.” He pulled out his phone. “This warrants a call to Damien and Sari. If there are any other rumored alliances among the council, they’ll know.”
Kyra noticed Ginny staring at the map. “What are you thinking?”
“We knew.” Ginny looked up. “We’ve always known. There are Irin who work with Grigori. There has to be. It never made sense otherwise.”
Sura asked, “What didn’t make sense?”
Alyah walked back to the table. “How we were so thoroughly betrayed. How our retreats were compromised. How our hiding places were found. It wasn’t just the Rending, you know. It’s been happening for years.” Her face was bleak. “Anytime we found a safe place, it would be compromised. Who were we telling? Not the Grigori.”
“But word got out to our brothers,” Ginny said. “To the scribe houses. To the council.”
“And then word got to the Fallen and the Grigori eventually,” Alyah said. “And we’d be hunted and killed.”
Ginny placed a hand on Alyah’s shoulder.
Sura said, “I am sorry that happened. No one should have to live in fear.”
“One Irin, two Grigori,” Ginny muttered. “Arindam’s children?”
“Most likely,” Sura said. “They are the only ones who would dare come this close to us. Most of the Grigori we find in Chiang Mai—”
“Are wanderers,” Ginny said. “I know. That’s what I’ve observed too.”
“We need to find out who tried to grab Prija the last time,” Alyah said. “If they’re not working with Grigori themselves, then they told someone who is.”
Kyra said, “Can you call your watcher in Bangkok? Is there any way of knowing?”
“Yeah, there is.” Ginny walked to the door. “Tell Leo I’m taking his car.”
“But he’ll have no way of getting back to the city,” Kyra said.
Ginny offered a droll look. “You really think he was going back to the city with you here?” She slipped out the door, leaving Alyah, Sura, and Kyra in the dining room, a giant map on the table and Sura’s quiet rage permeating the room.
Kyra walked to him and put her hands on his shoulders. “Slemaa.”
At once, his shoulders relaxed.
Alyah’s eyes went wide. “Where did you learn that?”
“I heard it in Leo’s mind when he carried me,” Kyra said. “He said it means peace. I was just trying to comfort Sura.”
Sura squeezed her hand. “It worked. Thank you, sister.”
Alyah fell quiet, and Kyra knew the Irina probably didn’t approve of Kyra using the Irin language. She hadn’t thought about it. It had been instinctual. She had felt Sura’s anger overwhelming the quiet man, and she’d wanted to help.
In a blink, a dark man appeared before her, leaning his elbows on the dining room table, staring at Kyra.
“Such familiar energy I feel on the wind,” the dark one said. “Hello, Barak’s daughter.”
The Fallen smiled, and Kyra screamed.
“He is not allowed to be here!” Alyah said, her silver blades drawn on the Fallen angel sitting at the dining table.
Leo stood between the Fallen and the rest of them, his hands up. “He’s not an enemy! Not… precisely.”
“I don’t need you to defend me,” the angel said. He was picking at the fruit on the table. “Do you have any sticky rice? I love sticky rice.”
Kyra stared at him. “Who are you?”
“I’m Vasu. I felt you when you went looking for the other one,” he said. “You’re Barak’s daughter.”
“How do you know that?”
“His power was distinctive,” Vasu said. “Can anyone find out about the sticky rice?” His eyes darted up to Sura. “You’re not what you seem. You’re interesting.”
“I don’t consider that a compliment coming from a Fallen,” Sura said quietly.
Vasu cocked his head, reminding Kyra of a curious bird. The Fallen had taken the form of a tall, handsome man with Northern Indian features. His skin was the color of cinnamon and his eyes were a vivid gold rimmed with black lashes. His lips were full and sensuous, and his hair was streaked black and amber. The angel exuded an erotic allure that was alien to Kyra, but there was something innately familiar about him at the same time.
Vasu’s eyes turned toward her. “You remember me.”
“I don’t think so.”
“I am a friend of your father’s. I was with him often when you were young, but I was likely in a different form.”
“My father is dead.”
“No.” Vasu shook his head. “We don’t die, you see. Barak is merely… returned.”
“Is that supposed to comfort me?”
Vasu frowned. “Why would I want to comfort you?”
Leo said, “Put your daggers away, Alyah. You won’t be able t
o kill him anyway.”
“That’s true,” Vasu said.
Leo spun and faced the angel. “You’re not helping.”
“Again, why would I want to help?”
“Why are you here, Vasu?” Leo asked.
Vasu nodded at Kyra. “Because of her.”
“What?” Kyra asked. “Why?”
“You’re surprisingly powerful. I no longer wonder why he had such patience with you and your brother.”
Fear stabbed Kyra’s heart. “What do you know of my brother?”
Vasu waved a hand and continued picking at the fruit. “I don’t care about your brother. But why are you here?”
“Why are you?”
Vasu rolled his eyes. “We’re going in circles. This is boring. Maybe I will go.”
“Wait,” Leo said. “What do you know about Arindam?”
The flare of anger was fast and frightening. In the blink of an eye, the lazy man with hooded eyes vanished, and in his place, a giant of seven feet appeared. Every trace of humanity was gone from Vasu’s visage. His eyes flashed, and the air around the table heated.
This, Kyra realized, was a hint of the angel’s true power.
Alyah drew her blades again, but Vasu flicked his wrist and they flew from her hands, sinking into a palm tree bordering the garden.
“Why do you ask about Arindam?” Vasu said, his voice low and lethal.
Sura stepped forward. “Because he has taken one of my sisters.”
Vasu looked at Kyra. “Is this true, Barak’s daughter?”
“We think so. That was the kareshta I was looking for when you… heard me.”
“I felt you.” Vasu’s form became more stable, but he didn’t shrink. “Why would Arindam take your sister? Is she powerful?”
“Yes,” Sura said. “But very uncontrolled. She can be quite violent.”
“He admires that,” Vasu said. “Did he take her himself?”
“No. His sons did.”
Vasu shrank back to his tall but still human-sized form. “Then she is probably an offering. Once he has her, he won’t give her back. But you might be able to trade her for another sister if there is one you like less.”
Kyra gaped at Vasu. “She’s the daughter of an angel.”
Vasu shrugged. “I’m not saying I’d want her. But these Grigori slew their father, did they not?”
Sura said, “Yes.”
“Then he’s not violating anyone’s territory. If his sons want to collect kareshta from other angels, then I doubt Arindam would stop them.”
Leo was fuming. “Jaron said there were prohibitions against things like this. That the Fallen wouldn’t take other angels’ daughters.”
“Not to mate with her.” Vasu shuddered. “Most of us considered Volund quite aberrant in that regard.”
“So why—”
“You said she was powerful. He probably wants some talent she has.”
Niran and Sura were both deadly quiet.
Sura finally spoke. “Prija is too uncontrolled for anything but rage.”
“Liar.”
“It’s true,” Niran said. “She takes after our father in that way.”
“Does she?” Vasu’s eyes gleamed. “It all becomes clear.”
Leo said, “Explain.”
Vasu sat back at the table. “If you want me to explain, get me sticky rice.”
Kyra said, “Are you a child?”
Another blink, and a beautiful child sat on the bench, swinging his legs. “When I want to be.”
Kyra shook her head and turned away. “Come on.” She put a hand on Sura’s arm. “Let’s get him some sticky rice so he’ll stop speaking in riddles.”
Sura said, “Why do I get the feeling that will probably never happen?”
Chapter Twelve
Leo watched the child eating the mango sticky rice. As Vasu ate, he grew. And grew. Until the man who had first appeared sat before them again, licking sweet coconut milk from his fingers.
“That was delicious.”
“Talk,” Leo said.
“You used to be more amusing,” Vasu said. “Though I see a slight glow around you, scribe.” His eyes darted to Kyra. “Does she know yet?”
Kyra said, “Know what?”
“I’ll tell you later,” Leo said. “Tell us why Arindam would want an uncontrollable kareshta.”
Vasu turned to Sura. “Was she young?”
“One of the younger ones, yes. Around forty years, but she looks much younger.”
“And she’s powerful?”
“Yes.”
“How? Her voice?”
Sura said nothing.
“But she doesn’t speak, does she?” Vasu asked. “She can wound the mind in other ways.”
“If she’s angry enough,” Kyra said.
Alyah sucked in a breath. “What? She doesn’t need to speak to use magic? That’s unheard of.”
“Well, you’ve heard of it now,” Kyra said. “Half our blood comes directly from the angels. Did you think we had no power of our own? It’s not having the power, it’s controlling it.”
Vasu turned to Kyra. “She hurt you.”
“Yes.”
“Then why do you care about helping her?”
Kyra said, “Because I was her once.”
Vasu shook his head. “You were never her.”
Kyra paused. “No, I suppose not. Because I had my brother Kostas. But Prija has brothers too. Sisters who care about her. It’s not always about a person’s usefulness or threat level, Vasu. Sometimes you just care.”
“You and your brother were very powerful. Barak spoke of it often.”
“He despised us.”
“No,” Vasu said. “You’re wrong. Also, you should know your father would be very pleased with you and this scribe. He was… fond. I think that is the closest word.”
Leo asked, “What are you talking about?”
Alyah’s phone rang. She picked it up and walked away from the table.
Vasu turned back to Sura. “Your father was skilled in mental combat, even from a distance. It’s why he retained power for so long, even though he wasn’t as old as many of his enemies. Including me. It’s why you and your brothers can exist as peacefully as you do. It’s why your sisters are such bright stars. This sister who has been taken is powerful, and Arindam wants to use her as a weapon. He is trying to expand his territory now that Tenasserim is gone. Thank you, by the way. I found your father very annoying.”
“You’re… welcome?” Sura looked confused. A common problem with Vasu in Leo’s experience.
“So now that Tenasserim is gone,” Leo asked, “Arindam is looking to expand into Thailand?”
Vasu said, “No, the Irin are too powerful here. Anurak and his mate rule in Bangkok, and now they’ve made an alliance with these Grigori. He’s not interested in going east. He’s looking west.”
“Is Arindam expanding into your territory?”
Vasu’s eyes cut to Leo, but Leo did his best to appear innocent.
“That doesn’t work with me,” Vasu said.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Leo knew exactly what he was talking about. He also knew—or he suspected—why the mention of Arindam’s name had provoked such a reaction in Vasu earlier. Ginny had said Arindam was making attacks in northern India. According to Ava, who knew Vasu as well as any of them did, Vasu made his home in an ancient city in Rajasthan, which was northwestern India. It was likely that Vasu, who didn’t have many sons after years in hiding, was feeling the pressure of an enemy near his territory.
“That was Niran.” Alyah walked back to the dining table. “They rode up to the border, but they couldn’t find any trace of them.”
Kyra shook her head. “They should have taken me with them.”
“No, they shouldn’t have,” Leo said.
“Don’t be overprotective,” she said. “You’re not my brother.”
“No, I’m your…” He shut his m
outh. It wasn’t the time. Not with a Fallen angel and an audience. “They wanted to ride as fast as possible. I’m sure that’s all they were thinking.”
Sura said, “They won’t go into Burma without more people. Once you go that far north, Arindam’s Grigori are everywhere.”
“So what are we going to do?” Kyra said. “We need to get Prija back.”
“We will,” Sura said, “but it’s better to be prepared than fast. Don’t forget, Prija can defend herself. Like the Fallen said, they want to use her as a weapon. They won’t harm her.”
Vasu pointed at Sura. “He has a plan. They both do.”
Leo asked, “What is he talking about?”
Sura sat at the table and folded his hands. “We’ll wait for Niran.”
Vasu rested his chin on his hand. “Boring.”
“I don’t care.”
Vasu disappeared.
Everyone froze, but the Fallen didn’t reappear. Not even when Kyra reached over and took the bowl of sticky rice.
“Vasu?”
Nothing.
“Huh,” she said. “I guess he’ll come back when it gets interesting again?”
Leo said, “With Vasu, you never know.”
Alyah said, “My country was boring until you came to it, Leo. Tell me why I shouldn’t put you on a plane and send you far, far away.”
“Because I think I know what Vasu was talking about.” Leo looked at Sura. “And so does he.”
“When we killed our father, we didn’t do it alone,” Niran said. “There was no way we could have managed it. We had help.”
The two Grigori brothers, Alyah, Leo, and Kyra were sitting at the dining table again, the map still spread in front of them. Niran looked exhausted and angry. He’d ridden for two and a half hours, up to the Burmese border, trolling through the villages and side roads for an hour in the middle of the night before he returned. There was no sign of Prija or her captors. Niran was certain they’d crossed into Arindam’s territory.
Leo said, “Sura said he used his father’s enemies in the plan to kill him. Were they Arindam’s sons?”
Niran hesitated, then nodded.
“I am the one who made the connection,” Sura said. “I’d performed Sak Yant on several of them. I was living away from our father in the mountains along the border. There were like-minded Grigori there, trying to live quietly. After some time, trust built between us. We knew we would never be free if our fathers lived. As long as they ignored us, we could live as we wanted. But the minute our fathers called us, we would come.” Sura’s face was bleak at the memory. “We would answer their call and do whatever they asked.”