Knights of Light (The Conjurors Series Book 2) by Kristen Pham Read Free Book Online Page A

countered, and messed up Chisisi’s hair with his hand.
    Valerie was both
startled and amused to see the usually put-together Chisisi rumpled. But by now,
even Chisisi was having trouble fighting a smile. Zaki seemed to have that
effect on everyone.
    Less than an hour later,
they had left the city of Denver far behind them and were driving through a
winding, bumpy highway up a mountain.
    “Is this place far?”
Thai asked.
    “We can only get so close
by car,” Chisisi said. “After that, we must travel on foot. It is not an easy
path. But for tonight, we will stop at a hotel, young ones.”
    “It is not Mena House,
but things could be worse,” Zaki assured them.
    After another hour, Zaki
turned into a long drive that led up to a small but elegant hotel that was
nestled in the hills. It was like an oasis in the middle of the wilderness, she
thought, seeing the lights beckon them. She couldn’t wait to get into a warm
bed.
    “We know there’s no way
we were followed. We’ve been the only car on the road for miles and miles,”
Henry said, and she was happy to hear that the anxiety had finally left his
voice.
    The group entered the
cozy hotel, which had a huge fireplace surrounded by comfy leather chairs. They
sat down and waited as Zaki checked them in.
    “There is a surprise for
you, Henry,” Chisisi said with a glint in his eyes. “I have arranged—”
    “Henry?” a silver-haired
man with sad brown eyes stood up from a wing chair by the fire. “I was afraid
I’d never see you again.”
    “Dad!” Henry said, and
gave the man a fierce hug. “I’ve missed you so much.”
    Valerie suddenly became
shy. Her brother’s father was much older than she had imagined.
    “You must be Valerie,”
he said, and gave her a hug. “I hope you won’t think I’m forward, but I have
thought of you as an adopted daughter since I found out Henry had a sister.”
    She was touched, and her
eyes filled with tears. In less than a year, she had doubled the size of her
family. “I’m so honored,” she said, her voice hoarse.
    “And I’m Thai. Nice to
meet you, sir.”
    “Please call me Joe.”
    Chisisi shook his hand. “Good
to meet you in person at last, Mr. Jenkens.”
    “I must thank you for
bringing me to my boy one last time.”
    “It is our pleasure.”
    “The rooms are ready,”
Zaki said.
    Zaki handed out the
keys. “Valerie, you are with Henry and his father, and Thai will stay with
Chisisi and me.” Zaki turned to Thai, pressing his lips together to keep from
laughing. “I’m sure you’re honored as well to be bunking with such suave and
skilled men of mystery, instead of Valerie. I heard she snores.”
    In the elevator, Joe
rested one hand on her shoulder and the other on Henry’s. “If only your mother
could have met Valerie,” he said.
    “I know, Dad. I wish it, too.”
    Valerie fell asleep
quickly to the sound of Henry’s and his father’s even breathing, but she woke
up a few hours later, restless. It reminded her of her days in the hospital,
when she had insomnia after being sick and asleep for too long. Quietly, she
left a little note for Henry so he wouldn’t worry if he woke and slipped out of
the room. She wished that she could stop by Thai’s tent like she had for
months, but with Chisisi and Zaki sharing his room, she didn’t dare to even
knock.
    Instead, she headed
downstairs and out the back doors of the hotel, breathing a sigh of relief when
she was outside. The crisp mountain air was refreshing, and steam rose off of
the swimming pool, which was gently lit and glowed aquamarine. Without
overthinking it, she kicked off her shoes and jumped in. The water was warm,
and she swam underwater as far as she could until she had to surface for air.
    “Hard to believe you
couldn’t swim until a few months ago. You’re a natural.”
    “Gideon!” she said with
glee, seeing her mentor standing at the edge of the pool, projecting from the
Globe.
    “Cyrus lent me your
charm. I hope you