“There may only be a few,” Leo explained. “There are far fewer kareshta than there are Grigori. But I suspect if your free Grigori are creating a safe haven, it is in part to protect their women and girls.”
Dara asked, “And these women are now under the official protection of the scribe houses?”
“As per the mandate of the Elder Council, yes.”
Dara nodded and fell silent.
Rith asked, “And these women would be Grigori sisters, correct?”
“They would likely have the same father,” Leo said. “Most free Grigori communities we know of were formed by Grigori trying to protect the female offspring of their sires. They live communally in family groups. The women need to be protected as most can’t function well in the human world.”
“Why not?”
Alyah said, “We shield our minds from the humans, Rith. Constantly. Have you forgotten this? If these kareshta cannot do that, they are mentally handicapped.”
Her tone made Leo’s hackles rise. “Handicapped implies that they are incapable. If they are taught to control their magic—”
“But they are not,” Dara said.
Leo didn’t try to explain Ava. His watcher’s mate had Grigori blood and more than a little skill with magic. With training, Leo knew kareshta were as capable of performing magic as Irina were. However, it wasn’t his place to instruct a singer of Dara’s status unless he was asked a question.
Dara said, “If these women are sisters to the free Grigori, it does not explain where this woman came from.”
“What woman?” Leo asked.
Rith said, “Angels can sire children from many women.”
“It still doesn’t explain where she came from,” the Irina said. “Nothing about her appearance says sister to me.”
Leo frowned. “Who are you talking about?”
“Our surveillance,” Rith said, motioning toward a singer at the end of the table, who pulled out a manila envelope.
Leo said, “You’ve been watching them? Spying on them?”
“As I stated,” Dara said, “we are curious about these ‘free’ Grigori. We will not be caught unaware.”
Leo had been called to broker contact between the two groups, but it was clear the Irin of Bangkok were far from trusting. He would have to tread carefully. It wasn’t in anyone’s interests to push a relationship if both sides were too suspicious to work together. He’d have to see if their known Grigori contacts in Europe had any relationship with this group.
Rith said, “The Grigori we identified kept to themselves. We didn’t approach them because they didn’t hunt women. We were suspicious. A few did have some human contact, but there were no deaths. No assaults. Mostly they were solitary. Then a few weeks ago, an unfamiliar woman showed up. She’s been seen many times in the company of the one we think is the leader.”
“European,” Alyah said. “Definitely not local.”
The envelope was set down in front of Leo. He opened it and slid the pictures out.
And his heart seized.
“She’s not his sister,” Rith said. “I’m fairly certain of that. But she’s not human either.”
Leo’s heart was pounding out of his chest. “These were taken in Chiang Mai?”
“Yes,” Rith said. “A few days ago.”
“How long as she been here?”
“A few weeks,” Alyah said.
Leo couldn’t believe it. She’d disappeared. She was in hiding.
Except that she wasn’t.
Kyra walked with the Grigori at her side, smiling as they passed through what looked like a night market. Her hair was piled on top of her head, and she looked tan. She wore colorful, loose pants and a tank top. She was as carefree as he’d ever seen her.
Leo stood up, his food forgotten. “I need to go to Chiang Mai.”
Chapter Five
Though the food at the temple was simple, it was filling and delicious. One afternoon after lessons, Niran joined Kyra, Intira, Bun Ma, and Kanchana for lunch. Since both Niran and Intira spoke English and could translate, conversation flowed freely. Kyra envied the gift of the Irin and the Grigori, who could learn language with hardly more than a look at the writing and a little bit of conversation. Females of angelic blood did not have such gifts, though the Irina had spells that could spur language acquisition.
Kyra listened to the flow of Thai with receptive ears, hoping to hear anything that might sound familiar. Every now and then she caught a word, but she was mostly clueless.
“Intira,” Niran asked. “Would you like to join Kyra and me at the market tonight?”
The girl’s eyes lit up. “Are you sure?” She turned to Kyra. “There are so many people.”
Kyra said, “I think you’re ready for it. You’re the most advanced of your sisters, but you won’t be able to progress until we test your shields around someone other than your brothers. Their minds are too calm to challenge you anymore.”
“We will take two cars,” Niran told her. “If you become overwhelmed, one of the brothers can drive you home while we finish patrol.”
Niran had explained to Kyra that there were few Grigori attacks in the city because he and his brothers had put the word out that they were not welcome. In the previous two years, Chiang Mai had become a haven for free Grigori who wanted to live a quiet life. As long as they kept the peace and kept to themselves, Niran allowed them to live peacefully. Patrolling the night markets and busy areas of the city was crucial to maintaining that control. It was a familiar pattern to Kyra. Kostas and her brothers did much the same in Sofia.
Of course, many free Grigori were coming to Chiang Mai to obtain the tattoos that Niran and his brothers wore. As far as Kyra could tell, only a few outside their family were granted the privilege. She hadn’t even seen the monk who performed the ritual. In the three weeks she’d been at the temple, only one Grigori had come to get tattooed, and that man already wore extensive marks.
Niran touched the back of her hand. Like Intira, Grigori were hesitant to touch, even with casual contact.
“Kanchana said Prija attacked you a few days ago.”
“It’s nothing I can’t defend myself from.”
Niran frowned. “I do not approve of this risk.”
“Intira said her rages are improving.”
“But at the cost of your safety?”
Kyra smiled. “I’ve defended myself against worse.”
“I gave my word to your brother that you’d come to no harm here.”
“Sirius understands the reality of dealing with our sisters,” Kyra said. “We have our own damaged ones. We care for them even if they are dangerous.”
He nodded. “You are very patient.”
Kyra laughed a little. “I try to be. I’m not always successful.”
Niran smiled and cocked his head, watching her.
“What is it?” Kyra asked. “Do I have something in my teeth?”
“Not a thing,” he said. “I am enjoying how you shine.”
She lost her breath for a second. “Oh.”
“You do, you know. Since you’ve come here, you shine more each day.”
Kyra ran a hand over her hair. “I think it’s getting lighter with all the sun.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about.” Niran leaned forward. “When you first came here, you were like a bird just pushed from the nest. Now you are flying. You are a good teacher, Kyra.”
“Thank you.” Her chin lifted. “I’ve only taught my sisters and one other group—mostly children—but the majority of them are leading successful lives now.”
“As you are.”
Her life was slipping away a little more every day, but she forced a smile. “I like to think so.”
“Are you comfortable here?”
“Very comfortable. Thank you.”
“Not too bored?”
This time, her smile came freely. “Not bored at all.”
It was exhilarating to experience so many new things. Every night that Kyra went to the market with Niran and his brothers, she learned a little more. How to bargain. How to cook new foods from the street vendors. New music. New ways of walking and talking and living.
Kyra had never felt more alive.
“Good.” He folded his hands. “Would you like to see a tattoo this afternoon?”
Her mouth dropped open. “Yes! Sirius would be grateful. He might even stop texting me every morning.”
Niran’s smile was devastating. His teeth were straight and white. He had a dimple in his left cheek. “Your brother has been far more patient than I would be. You are both to be commended. But I don’t think it’s Sirius’s texts that make you scowl.”
“No, those would be from Kostas.”
“He’s still calling?”
“It’s every other day rather than every day now. I texted him daily at first. He seems to be relenting.”
“We brothers are protective,” Niran said. “It is our nature to protect our sisters. As for the tattooing, I’d planned to let you observe a ritual last week, but the Grigori requesting the tattoo was not comfortable with an audience.”
“But this one is?”
Niran nodded. “He is an older Grigori who has sisters of his own. He is comfortable around women and not tempted.”