Chosen - Kiersten White Page 0,55
if he’s staying. I never asked.
“I’ll make a decision. But it won’t be the cells. I can get chains from storage.”
“That’s so excessive.”
“His mother preyed on people during their sleep. If it’s night, Leo is secured. That’s the trade-off.”
I remember the handcuffs from Cillian’s shed. The ones we used on Doug after we found him last year. “I’ll get a pair of handcuffs from Cillian’s. That should be enough. Leo can barely stand.”
“Fine. It’s a good compromise.” She squeezes my shoulder, then takes the keys from Cillian. Everyone from the castle but Cillian and Doug go in that car. They transferred Leo while I was distracted. The Rover pulls out into the darkness, the taillights staring at me like burning eyes.
“So, about the kitten!” Cillian rubs his hands together, excited.
“You mean Trouble?” Doug sounds innocent. That’s when I realize his Coldplay CD is playing on the car speaker, and the song is called “Trouble.” What an absolute nerd.
“You named it without me!” Cillian’s never looked this angry. “I can’t believe this.”
I put my hand on his arm. It’s my fault for not vetoing the name as soon as I heard it, like I did with Chewie. But I was a little distracted. “I promise, the next time we save a kitten from being eaten by a demon, you get to name it. And I’ll try to get one that isn’t orange, to make things easier on you.”
“Fine, whatever.” He sulks, full lips in a pout.
In all the drama, no one even got introduced. “Cillian, Slayers and also Oz. Slayers and also Oz, Cillian. We’re going to Cillian’s place first,” I say to the remaining group. “Gotta get something from his shed. Maricruz and Taylor, do you want to ride with Oz now? I’ll tell you how to find the castle; that way you can get settled in.”
“Fine by us.” Maricruz and Taylor climb out. Cillian takes the kitten from them. It looks more like a tense hostage negotiation than a friendly feline transfer. I’m going to have to get another cat or two for the castle at this rate. I give Oz directions.
Chao-Ahn gets in the van last. “Is it safe?” she asks. “The castle? Or more weapons?”
“Oh, loads of weapons. But they won’t be directed at you. I promise. That was a misunderstanding. Ish. I mean, they shouldn’t have done that. But they had a reason to. It’s complicated?”
“Yes.” Her tone is flat.
I lean close to Doug. He didn’t bring Artemis up, but I need to make sure he knows not to going forward. “What happens at demon conventions stays at demon conventions, okay? I have my reasons.”
He nods and relief floods me. I’ll deal with Artemis on my own. We get into our car so they can follow us to Shancoom and the turnoff to the castle.
Cillian takes the passenger seat. “What do we need from my shed?”
Doug looks quizzical, catching my eye in the rearview mirror. Realization dawns on his face. “They’re not bad,” he says, his voice gentle. “Really. I’ve even thought of getting a pair of handcuffs to wear decoratively.”
Cillian passes me Trouble, unbuckles, and climbs back in a jumble of elbows and knees and exclamations of dismay from Doug. “We have doors!” Doug says.
Cillian puts his arm around me. “Rough day.”
I can feel the tears threatening, but I refuse to cry over Leo Silvera. Not again. And I won’t cry over Artemis. I’m still too hurt and confused to even be sad. I lean my head on my friend’s shoulder. “A little, yeah.”
“It’ll come out right.”
“How do you know?”
“Because it’s you. You’ll figure it out.” He kisses the top of my head.
Tsip pops into existence in the passenger seat. I put a hand over my racing heart. “Sweet hellmouths, Tsip, you have got to stop doing that. One of these days I’m going to hit you, and I’ll be sorry, but it’ll be your fault. I thought you left with the other car.”
“Did you bring me a souvenir?” Her voice drops into a conspiratorial whisper. It whistles around her tusklike fangs. “If you took the eyes, can I have them?”
I rub my forehead against the exhaustion pressing there. I’m not looking forward to this drive or what we have to do at the end of it. Miles to go before we sleep. “I didn’t take the eyes, Tsip. And I didn’t exactly go shopping. All we brought is betrayal, a broken half-demon boy, and a kitten.”
She frowns at me, clicking her teeth together in