Kalder nodded.
“And Kalder trained under her as well.”
Cameron’s jaw went slack again at Chthamalus’s words. “What?”
Chthamalus puffed his chest out proudly. “Was one of her best pupils, he was. And youngest. He fought his way into her fortress in record time with the skillsItaught him.”
“Truth?”
Kalder blushed. “Don’t know about record time. But aye. I studied for a year under both her and her daughter.”
“In more ways than one.” Chthamalus coughed into his hand, making Cameron scowl at what he meant by that.
But her expression was nothing compared to Rosie’s deep frown of consternation. “I didn’t think Chthonians could have children.”
“Her daughters were adopted.”
Ignoring their conversation, Savitar struck his staff against the sand. “Leucious!” he roared to the heavens. “Drag your sanctimonious ass here, or so help me, I’m heading into Azmodea and you won’t like what happens to you when I get there!”
The dark clouds parted an instant before a fancy dandy materialized on the beach near Savitar. It took Cameron a moment to recognize their illustrious leader, who was even more ornately dressed than normal in a bright pink brocade and an elaborate court wig.
“Keep your shirt off, surf-nut. I sw—” Thorn’s words came to an abrupt stop as he realized he wasn’t alone on the beach. Lowering his monocle, he straightened. “Oh.”
“Oh?” Savitar mocked the word. “Really? That’s all you have to say? You dump your misfits off on me andoh?”
When Thorn started to speak, Savitar held his hand up. “Just don’t. Because I have one important question to ask you before you say something that makes me gut you where you stand, sullying my sand. Out of curiosity… whose side were you really on when you cut the throat of a Cyphnian and sent him down to Vine and Noir to keep them company? Huh? ’Cause I keep going over the whole thing in my head, and while I’d like to give you the benefit of the doubt, old man, I just can’t make myself believe for one iota of a yactosecond that you’d be that stupid.”
Savitar moved to stand in front of Thorn. “You knew exactly what he was when you did it, didn’t you?”
A tic started in Thorn’s jaw, but he refused to show a bit of remorse or any fear. He met Savitar’s gaze levelly and without flinching or faltering. “Aye. I knew.”
12
Kalder was stunned by Thorn’s unexpected confession. How could the demon bastard have set him free into the world again, if he really knew who and what Kalder was? What he was capable of doing? It made no sense.
“Youknew?” Savitar accused.
“Of course I knew.” Thorn was indignant. “I’m not stupid. I leave that precarious state up to you, surf-for-brains.”
Savitar sent a blast of fire straight at Thorn.
Thorn returned it in full measure. “Don’t you even start with me, Chthonian. Or I’ll wedge your surfboard sideways into a piece of your anatomy you won’t ever forget.”
“You traitorous bastard!”
That sobered Thorn, who stalked Savitar like a savage predator after the beast who’d wounded it. Rage bled out from every part of his body. “How dareyouof all creatures accusemeofthat!”
Now it was Savitar’s turn to be indignant. “I beg your pardon?”
“Beg all you want, but you won’t get it. And you heard me. As ifyourhands are any cleaner in this fight than mine, or that you’d be any less likely to switch sides. If you ever think for one heartbeat that I’d shift loyalties to my father, then you’d best think again, and remember that the day I do, I’d kill my sonandwife in the process. So fuck you, Chthonian! And your suspicions! You can take them both and shove them up your ass and down your throat! My ties to the right side of this fight are a whole lot stronger than yours will ever be!”
“Wife?” The captain gaped.
Thorn froze instantly. Then took a step back as if suddenly remembering that he and Savitar weren’t the only two on the island.
His features paled as he glanced about, and he became acutely aware of just how many had borne witness to his slip of the tongue.
Savitar gave him an evil smirk. “Yes, punkin’, we all heard what you said. Want to keep going? What other interesting tidbits are you planning to let out in the midst of your verbal spewage?”
