They sat against the back wall, their clothes still damp from the fire hoses. Gabriel was freezing, but he couldn’t ask his twin to warm the air. Nick looked exhausted, as if it were a good thing the wall was there to hold him upright.

“You sure Layne will be all right?” Gabriel said.

Nick didn’t even open his eyes. “For the fifteenth time, yes. I’m sure.”

She’d been loaded onto a stretcher while cops were handcuffing them. Gabriel had tried to tell them Nick wasn’t involved, but they’d ignored him. Calla Dean had disappeared.

And what would he say about her anyway?

He glanced at Nick. “I bet an arrest record will help the college search.”

“I’ll use it as my learning experience for the application essays.” Nick looked over, and Gabriel could read the worry in his eyes. “What do you think’s going to happen?”

“You’ll be fine. I think I’m screwed.” Gabriel considered what had happened in the hallway, the way Hunter had pulled a gun on a fireman—though he’d lost the weapon in the water. “I don’t think I’m the only one, either.”

Hunter sat a few feet down the wall, damp hair trailing into his eyes. He hadn’t said a word since they’d been arrested.

“I can say it was me,” said Nick. “We can switch—”

“No,” said Gabriel. “I know what I did. I don’t need you to cover for me anymore. I can take it.”

But he kept thinking about Calla Dean. He should have been worried about other Elementals in town, about her threats of war, her purposeful attempts to draw the Guides near. He should have been worried about how she was the real arsonist, but he’d never be able to prove it.

Instead, he kept thinking about what she’d said to Hunter.

So we can destroy them. I think you might know about the last two we killed.

The last two. Hunter’s father and uncle.

He opened his mouth to say something, but then remembered that Hunter had never been his friend. Not really.

Gabriel shut his mouth and faced forward.

A policeman came to the gate, a ring of keys jingling in his hand. “Hunter Garrity?”

Hunter got to his feet, his expression resigned. “Yeah.”

“You’re out. Your grandfather is here to pick you up.”

Hunter’s eyebrows went up. “I’m what?”

“Turns out the fireman who reported you with a gun changed his story. Said he made a mistake in all the smoke, and since we didn’t find one at the scene . . .” The officer paused. “He also said you helped pull half a dozen kids out of that library.”

Hunter stood there staring at him, like he wasn’t sure if he should trust this stroke of luck.

“Go,” said Gabriel. “Get out while you can.”