“We all know that. They probably know it, too, but they just don’t care for facts,” I said. “That’s the thing with fanatics and murderous cults. They fabricate their own reality to justify their killer instincts, and they never set foot outside that carefully defined area.”

“And now we’ve got the Red Threads, too?” Tristan asked. “I swear, Visio looked really nice in the beginning.”

“With all due respect, I think that goes for all peoples,” Kalon retorted, somewhat offended by my brother’s conclusion. Frankly, I was split between the two as far as Visio was concerned. A beautiful world, yes, but ripe with so much trouble. “There are secrets and there is darkness in all societies. More in some than in others, but I doubt we’re the only ones with such issues.”

“We usually have GASP to intervene and maintain peace,” Tristan said, standing his ground.

“Either way, we’ve got our hands full here,” I interjected. “Worst of all, we’re nowhere close to figuring out who killed Nethissis. We only know it was most likely the Darklings. That’s it.”

“Listen, let’s head back to the palace,” Valaine suggested. “We’ll rest for a bit, drink some blood, talk this through, and put together an action plan for later today or tomorrow. I promise you, Esme, just like I promised Tristan, that we will not rest until we find Nethissis’s killer.”

It felt a little reassuring, though I knew she had no control over the situation. Her intentions were what mattered most, much like Kalon’s. The four of us made our way out of the square, leaving the silver guards to handle the Red Threads. Tomorrow, Kalon and I might have to start asking the survivors some hard questions.

Kalon and I…

How quickly he’d become a fixture in my life here, on Visio. I no longer envisioned going anywhere alone. I woke up looking forward to seeing him again. His smile as I joined him for whatever activity made my heart flutter. How strange to feel such things in the midst of so much mystery and danger.

Even now, he stayed close to me, stealing glances every other minute, whenever he thought I wasn’t looking. I did the same, and our gazes frequently ended up meeting by fortuitous accident. Every time, we both looked away but couldn’t resist peeking again whenever we thought we could. A sweet but vicious circle, in which many words were left unspoken, as we led the way back to the Lord and Lady Supreme’s palace.

Esme

At one point, approximately two miles from the palace, the hairs on the back of my neck began to frizz. I took deep breaths, trying to analyze whatever scent available, while Valaine, Tristan, and Kalon discussed today’s events. We were nowhere close to a plan, since we were understandably tired and somewhat dismayed, but our desire to resolve this had not faded.

I caught a familiar whiff. It wasn’t the first time. I’d sensed it before the square and afterward. Someone was following us, and I knew I wasn’t going to see who it was unless I gave that person an opportunity to get closer.

Giving Kalon a discreet nudge, I decided to part ways with my brother and Valaine. “I forgot, we’ve got one more place to visit before we get back to the palace,” I told them. “You two go ahead, and Kalon and I will meet you there.”

“Where are you going?” Tristan asked. I wished he hadn’t. Now I had to lie some more.

“Just a flower shop I saw in the area a couple of days ago.”

“You’re stopping for flowers?” my brother replied, thoroughly unimpressed.

I grumbled a slew of profanities before raising my voice. “Will you just mind your own damn business and meet us later in your room?”

“Tristan, let’s go,” Valaine said, visibly amused. She hooked her arm around his and pulled him away. She’d used several handkerchiefs to clean the blood from her hands, but the shade of crimson still persisted on her pale skin. It seemed to matter to Valaine, as her gaze darkened whenever she looked down at her hands.

I grabbed Kalon’s hand and jerked him onto the nearest side street, while Valaine led Tristan toward the palace. Kalon was well within reason to be a tad confused about this, but it did not explain that surprised half-smile on his face, until he opened his mouth.

“If you wanted some privacy, you should’ve said so,” he muttered. “There are plenty of prettier alleys in this area for a romantic walk.”

“We just mowed down two dozen Rimians. I can still smell their blood on me. And you’re thinking about romantic walks?”

His smile faded. “I may have misunderstood the purpose of this detour.”

He made it difficult for me not to laugh, sometimes. There were so many facets to Kalon, and he was so quick to change between them, that being around him was a true delight. He kept a certain distance, for the most part, but then he swooped in, either by closing the distance between us or by making an off-handed remark, continuously keeping me on the tips of my toes.

“We’re being followed,” I said, feeling my cheeks rise with a smile. “It’s been going on since before we reached the square, based on the scent, so I know we’re the targets, not my brother or Valaine.”

“And you thought separating us from them would be a good idea?” he replied dryly.

“Whoever is following us is getting closer now,” I whispered as we kept walking down the tight alley. Another street opened up to our right, and I made the turn, swiftly joined by Kalon. “I don’t think this pursuer is out to hurt us. They’d have to be an idiot.”

“Wow, look at you, all fierce and sassy.” Kalon chuckled, but quickly changed his expression when he, too, caught the scent. “I know who it is…”

I waited for him to tell me, but he didn’t. Instead, he positioned himself behind the street corner and brought a finger up to his lips, basically telling me to shut up. I couldn’t help but put my hands on my hips, glowering at him. I’d thought this was my operation, my initiative. I was planning to lead our pursuer on for a little while longer, ideally in a slightly more private setting.

There were still a few people going up and down this street.

But then Trev Blayne turned the corner, and Kalon grabbed him and pinned him against the hard wall, baring his fangs at him. “Why are you following us?” he hissed.

“Oh, that’s what you meant,” I murmured. Kalon had recognized Trev’s scent, having known him for so long. It must’ve come so naturally to him. I hadn’t made the connection, and I was too shocked to make sense of this unexpected situation. “What are you doing here?” I asked Trev.

The Rimian didn’t fight back, allowing Kalon to exert his dominance. He raised his hands in a defensive gesture. “Not looking to hurt you.”

“I would love to see you try,” Kalon said, grinning. “I’m not going to ask you again, Trev.”

An idea shot through my head when Trev refused to answer. Connecting several dots, I searched his pockets while Kalon held him in place. Trev tried to move, but Kalon had a firm grip on him. Seconds later, I pulled out a braided thread from his dark green tunic, and my stomach sank.

Kalon’s face turned pale at the sight of it. “Care to explain, Trev?”

“No.”

“Don’t mess with me!” Kalon growled and grabbed Trev by the tunic, angrily shaking him. “The Red Threads just tried to kill us, so you’d better have a good explanation as to why you’re following us around and why you’re carrying a red thread in your pocket!”

Trev hesitated, further stoking Kalon’s swelling rage. I worried he might lose control, since he was dealing with a potentially treacherous friend who, above it all, had also lied to him earlier with regards to the Red Threads.

“You need to tell us the truth before someone else gets hurt,” I said, hoping the Rimian might do the right thing. Kalon was dangerously close to the tipping point now.

“I didn’t know they were going for your heads,” Trev finally said.

Utterly astonished by his response, Kalon let go and moved back a couple of feet, as if the rug had just been pulled out from under him.

I gasped. “Are you serious?”

“You’re with the Red Threads, then,” Kalon replied, glowering at him.

“I didn’t ask for it!” Trev said. “I’m doing this because I want to take the Darklings down! Don’t think I forgot about what they did to Luna!”

Suddenly, it all seemed to make sense for Kalon. There was a piece of history I was missing here, but he knew exactly what Trev was talking about. Lights flickered in his blue eyes, and the Rimian let a deep sigh roll out from his chest.

“I have spent years trying to figure out a way into the Darklings. It’s why I’ve joined the tournaments. Why I angled for the big prize. It’s all so I can become an Aeternae. So I can infiltrate the Darklings,” he added.

“You told me you wanted immortality,” Kalon murmured.

“What’s eternal life without Luna, huh?”

“Guys, I’m glad you’re not at each other’s throats, but I’m way behind here. What’s going on?” I asked.