In its place sat Emersyn with her knees pulled up to her face, rocking back and forth with her arms wrapped around her legs. She was a little ball, just like the fire had been. Bentley was still rocking that charred look of his, but otherwise he seemed uninjured from the fire. He rubbed Emersyn’s back as he sat there crouched next to her. He must’ve said something to her that I couldn’t hear because her head lifted off her legs—everyone choked on gasps and cries.

Emersyn’s face was as raw as Savannah’s hands. Her eyes were closed, but I wondered if she could open them. There was so much blood. It looked like the skin around her eyes was completely . . . gone. My stomach turned. My whole body cringed at the pain she had to be feeling. Tears of literal fire ran down her cheeks as she shook.

Hunter and Cooper took a step forward, but Bentley shook his head.

“I’ve got you, Emma. I’m going to pick you up now, okay?” Bentley waited for her to nod, then he scooped her up. “Nobody touch us⁠—”

“Tyce, get them back to Headquarters and come back for us,” Tim ordered. Then he frowned and looked around. “Haven? Haven, can you lend a hand? Where are you . . .? Who is that? Who’s hurt?”

The others jumped and spun around, but I already knew. It had happened so fast when we arrived. I shouldn’t have been surprised the others had missed it. I heard their cries and curses. Heard their footsteps rushing away from me. I slowly turned, not wanting to see what I’d already seen, and yet my heart still sank.

Kessler’s big body was lying there in a puddle of his own blood. Unmoving. His eyes were closed. His soulmate Mona was on her knees at his side, her hands pushing into his wounds as she applied pressure. Tears streamed down her face. Her jeans were soaking up his blood. Tenn was crouched with Kessler’s head in his lap. His magic billowed around his fingers as they dug into Kessler’s shirt.

A strangled cry left Hunter’s mouth. He pushed through the group and raced over to his brother. “Kessler⁠—”

Tenn’s gaze snapped up, his face sickly pale and green. “He took the hit for me. That should’ve been me.”

“Uncle Kessler . . .” Cooper leaned into Hunter’s side, his face scrunched. Then he glanced over to where Bentley stood like a statue just holding a still trembling Emersyn. “Emersyn . . . we have to get them home⁠—”

“Emersyn? What happened to Em—” Tenn’s eyes widened. He actually flinched when he saw her face. He licked his lips. “What⁠—”

“Can you fly me onto Tyce’s back?” Bentley nodded his head in the charcoal-colored dragon’s direction. “I need to fly alone with her. I’ll explain later.”