Grace sat in a small waiting area outside the trauma room at Realm headquarters as the doctors worked to remove the bullets from Adare’s body. Benny sat on one side of her, while Ronan took point on the other.

“It’s a miracle we survived the trip here,” Ronan growled, his head in his hands. “Where the hell did you learn to pilot a helicopter?”

“Who said I ever learned to pilot?” Benny growled right back. “How hard can it be? I got you here, didn’t I?”

Grace pressed her palms against her eyes. How was any of this happening? She turned toward the television quietly droning in the corner. The screen showed a newscaster in front of several burning buildings with snow starting to fall on them. “Was that from you guys?”

Benny turned and grabbed the remote, turning up the volume.

“We have a developing story here, Martha,” said a blond guy with earnest blue eyes. “Apparently the women were kidnapped from different western states, their ages ranging from thirteen to thirty-two, and they were kept here for days. None of them saw their captors, who always wore masks.”

Martha, the anchor in the studio, tapped her earpiece. “Did they say anything about their rescuers?”

The guy on the scene shook his head. “No. So far, all we’ve been told is that a special force went in to rescue them and then disappeared. It might be some sort of vigilante justice, because nobody has claimed credit for the daring rescue that destroyed this entire encampment. According to my sources, nobody was apprehended. By the time the local police force made it out here, everyone was gone.”

Martha shook her head. “Sources say it was some kind of trafficking ring. Do you have any more information on that?”

The snow billowed around the blond guy’s head while the fires behind him sent dark smoke into the dusky sky. “Not yet, but this is a developing story. I’ll keep you up to date.”

Benny set the volume on mute. “Well, there’s at least that.”

Ronan sat back, wiping dirt off his hands. “Why weren’t any Cyst there? You had them on satellite up until the day before. They had to know we were coming.”

“I’m sure it has something to do with the explosives not working,” Benny muttered.

Grace started. “Are you serious? The explosives were faulty?” She knew they shouldn’t have trusted that damn shifter.

The door opened, and Faith walked out in scrubs, taking the hat part off her head. Her eyes were tired and her movements slow.

Grace stood along with Benny and Ronan. “Faith?”

Faith reached her. “We got all of the bullets out and have patched him as best we can to stop the bleeding. He’s hooked up to an IV with saline and blood, so he’s covered there.”

Ronan towered over his mate, his gaze uncertain. “He still hasn’t regained consciousness?”