“Lo siento, mija,” she whispered. And then she squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head, like she was trying to jar something loose. She stood up, grunting in that grating, harsh Mazikin language and pointing at something.

Tegan screamed.

A sound must have come from my throat, because my mother looked down at me again. “I take her. Good enough for Sil.”

The van door slammed, cutting off Tegan’s shrill cry. All around me, grunts and snarls receded, followed by more doors slamming. The van’s engine roared, and then wheels crunched nearby. I didn’t know how far, exactly. I couldn’t turn my head.

Malachi’s face appeared over mine a few moments later, cutting through the noise and the chaos all around me. His expression was filled with emotions I couldn’t understand. He leaned down, closed his eyes, and touched his forehead to mine, just for a fraction of a second. And then he sat back on his knees as Ian and Levi arrived. They stood over me, staring in horror. I wished I knew why. Or maybe, I should have been glad I didn’t.

“Is anyone else hurt? Bitten or scratched?” Malachi asked.

Levi shook his head. “They grabbed Tegan and went running as soon as Lela got hit. The girls are kind of shaken up. Alexis might have a broken ankle. But everyone else seems fine … except for Greg.” He put a trembling hand to a bleeding gash at his temple. “He hit me. And then he grabbed Lela. He was helping those guys.”

“Laney said she called the police, and I just called an ambulance,” Ian said, his voice shaking as he moved closer. “They’ll be here soon.”

“Lela’s not going to the hospital,” said Malachi calmly.

“What? She’s still alive!” Ian shouted, his face turning red. “They might be able to save her!”

“She needs more than a doctor. Please go take care of the others. Tell Laney I’m sorry,” Malachi said. “I’m taking Lela.”

He started to lean over me again, but Ian shoved him away, his palm hitting Malachi’s chest with a solid thump. Malachi was on his feet with terrifying speed. His hand shot out and grabbed a fistful of Ian’s shirt, and he wrenched him close, so the two of them were nose to nose above me.

Malachi spoke through clenched teeth, his accent emphasized by the cold rage in his voice. “You are very, very fortunate that Lela said you treated her well. If it weren’t for that, I would gladly hurt you. Now. You’ll have her back soon, and I will not stand in your way. But tonight, I am taking care of her, and you will not stand in my way.”