Chapter 31

31

T he next base comes pre-exploded, a wreckage of charred wooden beams and melted rebar, nestled in the middle of the woods.

It still smolders.

It takes Chloe over an hour of piecing through the detritus to find the slag of a cage that still pings with traces of the spirit fox, all the while Killian nudging his way through the leftover magic, teasing out the same strand of power, now so familiar that it’s annoying.

“Same person?” Chloe asks, sitting back on her heels, and even her sweat smells like ash.

He nods, staring down at it, a wrinkle across his nose.

MAISON (8:05 PM): Do you two destroy a base in Russia?

CHLOE (4:05 AM): No, but we saw the aftermath.

CHLOE (12:32 PM): Hey, how are you doing? It’s been a few weeks? How’s Ambra? Everyone settling in?

AMbrA (1:46 PM): He says he’s still not talking to you.

The scrolls take them to a remote office building in Australia, empty but for the pristine row of stasis chambers, and Killian destroys them one by one as Chloe ties the new trace to her compass.

That night, he shakes in bed next to her, his muscles trembling from something between fear and rage, and Chloe wraps her arms around him and tucks her head against his shoulder.

They’re leaving a base—a still thriving one, one they snuck in and out without tripping any alarms—and tromping back to a safe distance away, when Killian tenses, his shoulders tightening, and he swings Chloe behind himself with barely a warning.

And there, right on the other side of the teleportation barrier, stands Ambra, her chin tucked down and her brows raised. She’s wearing the round sunglasses, but they’re tipped down low enough on her nose that her eyes flash red.

Killian and Ambra stare at each other, long and hard, before Chloe tugs herself out of Killian’s grasp, joy bubbling up unbidden in her chest.

“Are you safe?” Ambra blurts out, before Chloe has a chance to say anything. “Is he hurting you?”

Killian bristles, but Chloe can’t help but smile at her friend.

“No, I’m fine, see?” Chloe says, opening her arms wide, and Ambra just squints at her, and Killian makes a noise deep in his chest before Chloe takes the last few steps and wraps Ambra into a hug.

Ambra freezes, just like she’s done the last three times Chloe’s tried to hug her, her spine locked straight, before she awkwardly pats Chloe’s back and pulls her arms out from the embrace.

The hair on the side of her head is longer now, almost an inch and a half in length, and sticks out at an awkward angle, and she still has circles underneath her eyes, but her shoulders are straight and her mouth twitches into the familiar almost smile.

“Why are you here?” Killian asks, his voice deep, and even Chloe can’t miss the thin thread of a threat.

Ambra eyes him, then deliberately turns to Chloe. “First, everyone’s okay, Gurlien’s fine, nobody’s hurt.”

Chloe nods, familiar with Ambra’s way of giving information, and Ambra briefly grips her by the shoulders.

It’s as close to a hug back that Ambra will ever give with anyone but Gurlien, and even as tired as she is, even as prickly as she feels she might be, it warms Chloe’s heart.

“What is it? Chloe asks, dipping her voice down in case it’s something that nobody wants to divulge to Killian. “What is it that you couldn’t text me?”

Ambra absentmindedly pats her on her arm, like she’s being reassuring but hasn’t quite grasped it yet, leaving Chloe feeling an awful lot like she’s a child being managed.

“Ambra…” Chloe starts, before Ambra’s eyes snap back over to Killian and it’s an instant glaring contest.

Killian’s also glowering, his arms crossed, a crease between his eyebrows, but neither of them say anything.

Neither is there power swirling around the small clearing, so they’re not attacking each other.

Chloe swallows, attempting to read Ambra’s face, but she’s still, her mouth set in an unhappy little scowl.

Killian glances at Chloe, once, a quick flicker of his eyes, and in that flicker there’s frustration, fear, and something far deeper, something she’s not quite seen on his face before.

Almost by instinct, Chloe steps away from Ambra, one big giant step in the middle of the clearing.

“Woah, okay,” Chloe says, and both the demons look to her, finally, to the wind fluttering her jacket amongst the leaves. “You said you knew each other.”

“Did he now,” Ambra says, voice sweet, and Chloe’s never heard that tone from her before.

“She said she knew abominations, and one that was with a dud, I asked,” Killian throws out there, a quick defense that Chloe didn’t anticipate. “She gave up nothing that would endanger you or yours.”

Ambra grins, her baring of teeth, but at Killian, not at Chloe. “And you thought it best to keep her isolated away?”

“Hey,” Chloe interrupts, but neither of them pay her attention. “I’m perfectly capable of making my own decisions here.”

“She’s safe,” Killian says, and this time, there’s a threat in his tone.

“Chloe,” Ambra starts, but still only stares at Killian, “how did you hurt your ribs?”

Killian glowers at the other demon.

And Chloe’s ribs are so much better it takes her a few blinks to remember they were even injured.

“Taking down a base,” Chloe answers, and Ambra doesn’t even glance at her. “I mean, there was a battle, I got away with some bruises.”

“Hmm. Battle,” Ambra says, matter of factly.

“Oh, hey, we knew I’d probably face some fights in all of this,” Chloe says, shifting, and her shoes squelch in the mud. “That’s the entire reason for me bringing the gun.”

“Another demon was helping them create another Terese project, they tried to blanket the room,” Killian says, and it’s only knowing Ambra so well that Chloe can catch the surprise flickering over her face. “Chloe shot them, but she—and the three other humans in the room—also sustained injuries while I tried to fight it off.”

“Why were you there?” Ambra asks, finally turning to Chloe. “You could’ve sent in the demon, made him do your dirty work, and stayed out of harm's way.”

“I can’t ‘make’ him do things,” Chloe says, and she’s not quite sure what she’s prickly about, but she sure doesn’t like this conversation. “Also, the place was full of demon traps, and we had my goals, too.”

“He didn’t shield you?” Ambra asks, voice dipping down but unbothered by Killian overhearing.

“I did,” Killian responds, disgruntled. “Blanketing the room took priority, she would’ve died with just a shield.”

Chloe glances back over to him, and he’s squinting at Ambra, barely disguised frustration over his face.

And the entire conversation is ridiculous.

“Okay, stop,” Chloe says, taking another step away, until she’s right in the middle of the two demons. “I’m not understanding what weird demon confrontation is going on right now, but something is. Killian, Ambra’s not gonna hurt me and she’s not gonna force me to stop.” At that, Killian’s shoulders relax, just a bit. “Ambra, can you tell me why you needed to check up on me? Is there something critical?”

Ambra obviously absorbs that, frowning as she thinks Chloe’s statement through, before she rubs her face. “Everyone is worried,” she says, finally, and it’s softer. Less posturing. “You haven’t checked in; when you do, you’re usually saying something bad or terrifying, and Delina keeps on getting this feeling that you’re in danger of dying.”

Killian and Chloe exchange glances.

“Alette keeps on hearing about this mysterious other group taking down bases, she thinks you’ll be caught up in that. The Half Demon is worried you’re going to get captured, he’s stressing Gurlien out, and Zoel—” There, Ambra makes a face, and Killian mirrors it. “Says that the Wights think you’re being held captive by the ‘insane demon.’”

“Am I the insane one in this situation?” Killian asks, but at least his tone is less confrontational.

“Yes,” Ambra replies briskly.

“Why would I be the one considered insane between the two of us?” Killian shoots back, but there’s a glimmer of something nicer in him, and Ambra smirks in response.

Another odd demon interaction, one that flies right over Chloe’s head.

“So…you’re worried,” Chloe summarizes, and Ambra takes a beat, before nodding.

“I wasn’t sure if you would answer honestly in a text,” Ambra says, and this time, she looks away, like the amount of emotional honesty is a bit too much. “Gurlien says you try to deflect too much to know if it’s true.”

“Hey,” Chloe says mildly.

“That is accurate,” Killian says, and his face is less tense, less wary. “I’ve seen those texts.”

“Exactly,” Ambra says, and Chloe gets the distinct sensation that Ambra would be shooting Killian a thankful look if it wasn’t for whatever the hell is going on. “So I came here. To actually check. See for myself. See if you need to run away.”

Despite that last bit, Killian doesn’t react, his face still, solemn, like he’s understanding what Ambra’s saying this time. Like the posturing wore off.

And, with how much Ambra’s staring directly at the mossy ground, Chloe has no reason to doubt just how truly awkward she feels.

“I’m okay,” Chloe says, swallowing down a lump. “It’s no big deal, I’ll text more.”

Killian scoffs at the no big deal, but he hangs back.

“How’s the Boltiex girl?” Ambra asks, cutting, and Killian’s frown deepens. “Did you follow your promise?”

They regard each other, and Chloe gets the distinct impression that this is a test. That Ambra has laid something in front of him and is waiting to find out if he passed.

“I set up a safe house close to her mother’s,” he says, finally, like it’s been unwound from him. “And the mother’s house is well protected.”

Seanna.

Ambra’s talking about Seanna.

In Gurlien’s halting story of the final battle with Ambra’s handlers, there had been a child kidnapped by a demon. That the demon had been held captive and helped them both escape.

The pieces slot neatly into place.

“I’m teaching her how to break demon traps,” Chloe interjects, and Ambra’s brows flick up. “She’s well taken care of. Likes pizza.”

Ambra hesitates, then nods, curt. “Good.”

So that’s why so many people want Seanna. That’s why she needs protection.

That’s why Killian hates the idea of the abominations. They wanted him to be one.

“The Necromancer who brought her back can sense her in danger?” he asks, mild, and Ambra squints at him once more. “She’s off limits, I know, Necromancers have killed too many demons for me to even want—”

“That’s what we mean by insane,” Ambra interjects, and he cuts off with a scowl. “Only…a bit. Just enough to be uneasy.”

“I’ll check in after, I dunno, periods of danger?” Chloe suggests, and Ambra nods, like that’s enough.

Killian shifts, and there’s something thoughtful on his face, something almost pondering, as he meets Chloe’s eyes. Like he’s evaluating something, finding it good.

“And be honest about it?” Ambra asks, and it would be cutting from anyone else. “Gurlien can tell when you’re not honest and it’s been a lot.”

“He’s the one not talking to me,” Chloe protests.

“Have you even apologized?” Ambra asks, narrowing her eyes at her, and Ambra’s still a hell of a lot scarier now that Chloe can see her demon self. “You scared the shit out of him, have you even apologized for that?” As if punctuation, Ambra gives Chloe another once over, checking for injuries, then teleports away.

Because if there’s anything Ambra can do, it’s teleporting out of awkward situations.

Chloe rubs her face, but Killian’s still. “Well, that went great.”

He tilts his head, and despite all the posturing and the pseudo combat, there’s something thoughtful in his gaze.

“I like that there are people who care about you,” he says, voice soft.

Chloe has no rebuttal to that.