Chapter 010
He swung the door open, a smile already stretching across his face. Russell beamed back, arms spreading wide. Kaelen didn't hesitate. He stepped into the embrace, letting out a breathless laugh as Russell squeezed him hard enough to pop a vertebrae, lifting him clear off the floor.
For a second, the world felt steady. Then Russell set him down, and Kaelen stepped back to usher him inside. That was when he saw her.
Standing just behind Russell’s broad shoulder was a woman Kaelen had never met, though he felt an instant, inexplicable spark of recognition. He paused, hand on the doorframe. Why would Russell bring a stranger into a safe house?
Then it clicked.
"Elara?" he asked, the name coming out as a gasp.
She grinned, sharp and bright. "Hey, Kaelen. It’s nice to finally meet you in person."
Kaelen hoped she wasn’t the type to punch civilians, because he bypassed a handshake and threw his arms around her. She caught him with a startled laugh, hugging him back with a grip that was surprisingly firm. It felt like he already knew her. They had spent hours on the phone—her voice a calm anchor in the chaos of Voren’s world—and somewhere along the line, Voren’s friends had become Kaelen’s lifeline. He prayed to whatever gods were listening that he wouldn’t lose any of them to Helena.
He pulled back, keeping his hands on her arms to get a good look. "You’re incredibly gorgeous," he blurted out. "I don’t know why Voren and Russell didn’t tell me."
Elara laughed again, a warm, throaty sound, and pulled him in for a second, quick squeeze. "Thank you. You’re not half-bad yourself."
Kaelen knew he was cute—he relied on it—but Elara was stunning in a way that commanded attention. She had long, dark hair that tumbled over the shoulders of her puffy winter jacket, framing a face defined by intelligence and grit. But it was her eyes—warm, deep brown—that struck him most. They seemed to look right past his defenses and into his soul. Kaelen had always had a weakness for warm brown eyes.
Even through the bulk of her jacket, Kaelen could tell she was fit. She might be a handler, the voice in the ear, but the way she stood—balanced, weight on the balls of her feet—suggested she was just as lethal as the men she managed.
"Are we allowed to come in, then?" Russell asked from the hallway, sounding amused.
Kaelen rolled his eyes, finally stepping aside. "As if you need me to tell you that you can."
"True." Russell strolled past, leaving Kaelen and Elara to follow.
Kaelen gestured for her to go ahead. Her smile widened when she spotted Voren rising from the sofa in the living room. Voren’s guarded expression melted into a genuine grin as he crossed the room to greet her. They hugged, a silent exchange of relief passing between them. They spoke in low tones, words too soft for Kaelen to catch, but the body language was clear: You’re here. We’re okay.
"I brought the cavalry," Russell declared, dropping onto the arm of the sofa and looking incredibly proud of himself.
"I think we’re going to need it," Kaelen said, closing the front door and locking it. The heavy thud-click of the deadbolt felt insufficient against what was coming. "I really don’t like Helena."
"None of us do," Elara said, turning back to the room. The warmth in her eyes hardened into something like steel. "I won’t let her hurt anyone I care about. I might usually stick to a handler’s job, but I’ve been trained as well as Russell and Voren."
Kaelen looked at the three of them. Three professional assassins in his living room. It was a terrifying thought that somehow made him feel safer than he had in days. It might not be enough to defeat the Organization, but it gave them a fighting chance. And right now, a chance was all Kaelen had. He couldn't let his mind wander to the alternative. They would defeat Helena. Everything would be okay. He refused to accept any other outcome.
"Drinks," Kaelen announced, needing a second to steady his hands. "I'll get drinks."
He stepped into the kitchen, the hum of the refrigerator grounding him. He gripped the edge of the counter, inhaling deeply. The air in the apartment felt charged, heavy with the scent of violence waiting to happen. He grabbed water and sodas, taking a moment to compose his face before returning.
By the time he set the glasses down on the coffee table, the reunion was over. They were in business mode. Elara sat on the edge of the sofa, a laptop open on her knees, her face illuminated by the cold blue light of the screen. She wasn't smiling anymore. She looked fierce, competent, and dangerous.
"From what I was able to find out, she’s working with a group of three to four people with abilities," Elara said, her fingers flying across the keys.
"We can take that many people," Russell said, cracking his knuckles.
"Normally, I’d agree, but they’re not like us, Russ." Elara didn’t look up.
"They’re like Kaelen."
"They are. And Helena knows how to use them." She stopped typing and looked around the circle. "I was only able to find concrete intel on one of them. A woman. She controls darkness."
Russell shrugged. "Then we’ll fight her during the day. Problem solved."
Elara shook her head, her expression grim. "You don’t understand. She doesn’t need it to be night. She controls the light. She can strip it away. She can make it pitch black around you, even in the middle of the day at high noon. You won't be able to see your hand in front of your face, let alone a target." She paused, letting that sink in. "Furthermore, she’s as well-trained as you and I are. The Organization doesn’t take risks with its assets. It’s going to be hell to take them down."
A sharp knock at the front door made them all freeze.
Kaelen’s heart hammered against his ribs. He frowned, glancing at Voren, whose hand had already drifted toward the small of his back. Before Voren could protest, Kaelen moved toward the door. It was dangerous, yes, but logic cut through the panic: Helena wouldn't knock. She was a hunter, not a guest. And even if she did, she needed him alive. If she was here, she was here for Voren.
Kaelen checked the peephole and let out a long, ragged exhale.
He opened the door to find Silas and Robbie standing in the hallway. They were eyeing each other with a curiosity that Kaelen clocked immediately. There was a spark there—interest in the way Silas looked at Robbie, a tilt of the head that suggested intrigue. Under different circumstances, Kaelen would have filed that away to tease them about later. Maybe he could play matchmaker once they weren't all under threat of execution.
"Robbie?" Kaelen asked, confused. "Were we supposed to meet?"
He was sure he’d cleared his schedule. He had put all his jobs on pause. After Helena had threatened Robbie, the last thing Kaelen wanted was to drag his friend into the crossfire. The best way to keep Robbie safe was for him to stay home, far away from Kaelen.
Robbie shook his head, shifting his laptop bag on his shoulder. "We didn’t, but I know Russell’s here."
Kaelen’s eyebrows shot up toward his hairline. "You’re here to see Russell?"
Robbie’s cheeks flushed a faint pink. "I’m here because I want to be involved in whatever you’re up to."
Silas grinned, stepping forward. "So do I."
Kaelen looked from one to the other, seeing the stubborn set of their jaws. He sighed, shoulders slumping. "I’m not going to be able to change your minds, am I?"
"You won’t, so you’d better give in now," Robbie said, stepping past him. "I’ll help, whether you like it or not."
Kaelen waved a hand in defeat. "Come on, then."
They followed him into the living room. Voren was still standing, his gaze fixed on Kaelen, checking for threats, for fear, for anything out of place. Russell and Elara had returned to the screen, but they looked up as the new arrivals entered. Silas seemed delighted to see the gathering of lethal talent and made a beeline for the assassins. Robbie hung back slightly, eyes scanning the room.
Kaelen watched them settle in. If Helena was working with three powered people, plus herself, that was four combatants. Right now, four professional assassins sat in Kaelen’s living room. Even if Kaelen didn't count himself and Robbie—and he didn't, not really, not when bullets started flying—the odds were leveling out.
But there were no guarantees. They could win, or they could die. The thought sent a spike of cold panic through his gut. They couldn't afford to lose. If they lost, Voren would die.
Kaelen looked at Voren’s profile, the sharp line of his jaw, the scars hidden beneath his shirt. It wasn’t an option. He wouldn't let it happen. He didn't know how he’d do it, didn't know what lines he’d have to cross, but he would make sure Helena didn't get what she wanted.
Even if that meant he had to kill her himself.
"What are you doing here?" Voren asked, his voice low and flat.
He eyed Silas with open suspicion. There was no tactical reason for the man to be here. Silas was a loose cannon, an amateur who had gotten lucky, and his presence was a variable Voren couldn't account for. Voren didn't think Silas was working with Helena—the kid was too transparent for that—but Voren needed absolute control over the environment to keep Kaelen safe.
Silas grinned, unbothered by the hostility. "I heard that you’re going to fight the Organization, and I couldn’t miss that."
Voren cocked his head, studying him. He truly didn’t understand this man. Silas claimed to be a professional, but he moved like a tourist in a war zone. Voren would never understand why Silas had taken a hit for him back then, but the kid had been in over his head. Voren had kicked his ass, and yet, here he was. Like a stray dog that didn't know when to stay down.
"You do know that this isn’t a game, right?" Voren asked.
"I know," Silas said, the grin faltering just a fraction. "I know the Organization is dangerous and all of that. I looked into them. While I’m sure I’m not as good as your handler, I was able to find some information. They’re not good people."
"And you still want to fight them?"
"I think someone should. If they can threaten someone like you, the rest of us don’t stand a chance if they turn their attention to us." Silas shrugged, glancing toward the kitchen where Kaelen was hovering. "Besides, I wouldn’t miss the chance to work with you guys." He turned toward Russell and Elara, eyes widening. "Do you know how famous you are in the forums?"
Elara snorted, not looking up from her screen. "Is that why you’re here? Because we’re famous and you want to work with us?"
"And because Kaelen and Voren helped me when I needed it and didn’t ask for anything in return," Silas added, his voice dropping the bravado for a second. "Besides, I like them. I don’t want anything to happen to them."
Elara looked around the room, assessing the mismatched group. "Well, it looks like we have a team."
Everyone fell silent for a moment. The gravity of it settled in the room like dust. Of course, Silas had to be the one to break it.
He grinned like an idiot, vibrating with energy. "We’re like superheroes."
Voren felt a muscle in his jaw twitch. He had to physically resist the urge to throw the nearest heavy object at Silas’s head. He turned his attention back to Elara, the only person in the room besides Russell who seemed to grasp the reality of their situation. "What’s next?"
"I’ve been trying to locate Helena, but they’re constantly on the move," Elara said, tapping a key with emphasis. "They’ve taken out another target since they arrived in town. Unless you’re aware of more of their old employees working in the area, I think it’s clear that you’re next."
Voren nodded. "We have to find out more about the people she works with. I already know what Helena’s capable of. I have no idea what her team can do, though, and that’s a problem."
"If she recruited them the way she’s trying to recruit me," Kaelen offered from the doorway, "there might be a way to get them to turn on her."
Elara hummed, a thoughtful sound. "That’s actually a good idea. I don’t think she’d keep hostages because it would be too much of a bother, but I can look into it. If she’s kidnapped someone close to one of the people on her team, we might be able to get them to flip on her by helping those people. That’s gonna be hell to find, though."
Kaelen smiled, and it was that soft, sweet expression that made Voren want to burn the world down to protect it. "I have faith in you," Kaelen said. He looked around the room. "I have faith in all of us. I’m not going to deny that I’m terrified, but I know that the people here will keep me safe. I know that you’ll do everything to keep Voren alive. We can do this if we work together."
Voren wished he had Kaelen’s optimism. He had no idea if they were going to make it out of this mess alive. He had every intention of fighting until his last breath, but he was a pragmatist. He had made plans for the worst-case scenario.
He exchanged a brief, heavy glance with Russell. Russell met his eyes and gave a microscopic nod. He knew the plan. He hadn’t been happy about it—had cursed Voren out for ten minutes when he first suggested it—but he hadn’t been able to deny the logic. If Voren went down, Kaelen needed a protector. Russell was the only other person Voren trusted with that burden.
Voren knew for sure that if he’d been on his own, he wouldn’t have won this battle. Helena was too strong, too well-resourced. But surrounded by this chaotic, loyal group, he knew he had a chance. And a chance was all that mattered.
"I’m going to call my mom," Kaelen said suddenly, stepping closer to Voren and resting a hand on his arm. "I hope I can convince her to go visit her sister out of town for a bit."
Voren frowned. "I don’t think Helena really plans to grab your mom. She’s not who Helena’s interested in."
"Maybe not, but I’d rather be safe than sorry, and she did threaten to do it to get me to work for her." Kaelen bit his lower lip, worry etching a line between his brows. "That’s one of the few threats that would work. If Helena has someone I care about, I’ll have to do what she wants. I don’t want to, but I wouldn’t have a choice."
"Tell your mom to leave town, then," Voren said firmly. "If you know she’s safe, you’ll be able to focus on what’s happening."
It was a tactical necessity. If Kaelen was distracted by fear for his mother, he would be vulnerable. And if Kaelen was vulnerable, Voren would be distracted.
Voren glanced at Robbie, who was setting up his laptop on the coffee table. He half-wanted to tell the kid to leave, too, but he already knew Robbie would tell him to fuck off. He wasn’t going anywhere if they weren’t. They were stuck here because Helena would find them wherever they ran.
Getting Kaelen’s mother out of town was the one variable they could control.
"Guys," Robbie called out, his voice sharp. "I think I found her."
Voren moved instantly, crossing the room to look over Robbie’s shoulder. On the screen was a map of the city, dotted with pins.
"I mean, it could be someone else," Robbie said, typing rapidly, "but I cross-referenced some of the information Elara just gave me with hotel bookings. I focused on the high-end ones and didn’t find anything, so I moved to rental houses. I still didn’t find her, so I checked the cameras in areas we knew she was in since she and her team killed three people." He pointed to a cluster of data points. "I think she’s staying in the house of one of them. A previous victim."
"That would be just like her," Voren grumbled. It was efficient. Cruel. "We know where she is now. We need to start planning."
"What are you going to do?" Robbie asked, looking up.
Voren stared at the map, the red pin glowing like a target. "Take the fight to her before she can bring it to us."
Kaelen heard that Robbie had found Helena just before he stepped into the bedroom to call his mom. The news sent a jolt through him that was equal parts thrill and terror.
They knew where she was. They could take the fight to her, like Voren said. They could catch her off guard. If they waited, she would dictate the terms, and Kaelen knew enough about this world now to know that if Helena set the board, they would lose.
And losing wasn't something Kaelen could think about. If they lost, his life was over. Voren would be dead. Kaelen would be a tool in Helena’s collection. He knew Russell and Elara would try to protect him, but without Voren...
He sighed, pushing the door shut and flopping onto the edge of the mattress. Marrow had been curled up on Kaelen’s pillow, a small heap of polished bone, but the construct skittered toward him the moment he sat down, sensing the distress radiating off him. Kaelen reached out, dragging the skeleton into his lap.
He ran his hand over the smooth curve of the skull. It was warm to the touch, humming with a faint, necrotic energy. It felt nothing like petting a cat or a dog—it was harder, stranger—but Kaelen didn’t care. Marrow was his. He had created him. The clicking of Marrow’s joints was a familiar, comforting sound in the quiet room.
He dreaded this conversation, but he dialed his mother’s number anyway. He would feel better once he knew she was miles away from the blast radius of his life.
"Honey," his mother said when she answered, her voice light. "Are you calling to reschedule our lunch again?"
The guilt twisted in his stomach. She didn’t know anything about Voren’s past. They’d never told her, and Kaelen still wasn’t planning to. How could he explain that her son was dating a retired assassin and was currently being hunted by a shadowy organization?
"Mom, do you trust me?" he asked, skipping the pleasantries.
The line went silent for a beat. "Of course, but what’s this about? I don’t like your tone of voice."
Kaelen swallowed past the lump in his throat. "If you trust me, I need you to listen to me. I know you have questions, but I can’t answer them right now."
"You’re scaring me, Kaelen."
"Sorry. I just... I need you to pack some stuff and go visit Aunt Emma for a few weeks."
"What? Why?"
"Just trust me, please. I can’t explain it, but it has to do with my job." It wasn't entirely a lie. Helena wanted him for his ability, after all. "I need you out of town."
"You can’t tell me what’s going on?"
"No. I wish I could, but it would only make things more dangerous for you."
He knew her. She would insist on staying. She would want to come over, to bring soup, to help. Kaelen wasn't sure how she would react to the truth about Voren, but he knew she was loyal to a fault. She would stick around for Kaelen, even if the truth horrified her. He couldn't let her make that choice.
"Are you in danger, Kaelen?" she asked, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"I am," he admitted. "And this person... she threatened to hurt you. Voren is taking care of everything, and he’ll protect me, but I need to know that you’re safe. Please, Mom. Just tell me you’ll go to Aunt Emma."
He could hear her breathing on the other end, the hesitation heavy in the air. But she was his mother, and she trusted him.
"I’ll go if that’s what you need me to do," she said finally. "Are you sure there’s nothing I can do to help, though?"
"I’m sure. The best thing you can do is to get out of town."
"You’ll call me? I need to know that you’re safe as much as you need to know that I am."
"I promise I’ll call you every day."
She chuckled, a wet, shaky sound. "Several times a day would be great, if you can. Now that I know that you’re in danger, I’m going to be anxious."
"I’ll do what I can."
"Please." She hesitated again. "You’re going to win this, right? I’m not going to get a call telling me that you’re gone?"
Kaelen closed his eyes, his hand tightening on Marrow’s ribcage. "I’m going to do everything I can, and so will Voren and the others. I just can’t promise it’ll be enough."
She sighed, a long sound of resignation. "I wish I could force you to accept my help, but I know how that would go. I’m going to have to let you do this, as little as I like it."
"I’ll be fine." He hoped it wasn’t a lie. He would fight like hell to make it true.
"Well, I guess I should start packing. I’ll be waiting for your call tonight and tomorrow morning."
"Maybe I’ll get Voren to talk to you, too."
"Please do. I worry about him almost as much as I worry about you."
Kaelen smiled, though his eyes stung. It was one of the reasons he loved her so much.
"I love you, Mom. Go. Now."
"I love you too, honey."
He hated having to hang up, but he pressed the button, severing the connection. He put his phone down on the bedspread and wrapped both arms around Marrow, burying his face against the smooth bone. He really, really hoped this wasn’t the last time he’d talked to his mother.