Everest threw his other hand out and flexed his fingers. Thick, dark smoke billowed from the ground until it made a large circle as tall as him. That girl with the side braid stepped out and stretched her arms. The faded gray Roman numeral XV on her arm told me who she was, even though I’d heard her name whispered from Tennessee’s mouth. This was Libby Tarbell, the former Devil Card before Deacon. Everest arched one eyebrow.

Libby’s silver eyes flashed as she nodded. “It’s done.”

There was a gasp from behind Malik, then Braison sped around him, his red and green eyes wide and his face pale. “Libby. It is you. God, I was afraid to believe my own eyes or Tenn.”

Libby glanced over, then did a double take. Her face fell. “BRAISON.”

She squealed and raced for him. He met her halfway, stumbling toward her. They tackled each other in a violent hug. Braison let out a little strangled cry that was muffled by his face buried in her shoulder. His hands gripped her body tightly as they rocked back and forth.

Braison pulled back, his hands on her shoulders, his eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I can’t believe you’re alive. We . . . losing you was . . . really hard. God, Tenn was a mess after.”

“Yeah, I know. I didn’t know that was how I was coming back. Probably not the smoothest re-entry for my family, eh? Prince of Darkness?” Libby glanced over her shoulder with a twinkle in her silver eyes. She winked, then turned back to Braison and shoved his upper lip up. “Look at those fangs, B.”

Braison blushed.

Libby nodded. “Vampire is a good look for you. Hella hot, my friend.”

"How are you alive, Libby?” He looked to Everest. “How?”

Everest cleared his throat. “For your safety, it’s best you not know the how for now.”

“For now we need to focus on getting the hell out of here.” Libby turned to face us, pushing her side braid over her shoulder. “I want to see my family and find out everything I’ve missed.”

Saber let out a haggard sigh and sat on the edge of Everest’s bed. But she didn’t speak.

Malik couldn’t stand still. He kept rubbing his hands together and shifting his weight around. “I don’t know how much more of this I can take,” he said softly.

“That’s enough.” Everest tapped my shoulder, forcing me to lift my mouth off his wrist so he could seal the wound shut. “You okay now?”

My cheeks lit on fire, so I had to be blushing. I licked my lips and wiped at my mouth with the back of my hand. “Yes, sorry, I got caught up in watching them.”