Karl is the one to find us.
A helicopter sets down on the ruined lawn minutes after Cicely’s miracle occurs, like in one of those movies or books where everything happens at just the right time, exactly when it needs to. Only ... the right time never really happened for any of us. Not for all the people, Magicals and Métis, over the years who were brutally murdered and drained dry by the Elders. Not for any of the people kidnapped and murdered by them, so their bodies could serve as rotting puppets to monsters. Not for any of the people who were injured or perished in Karnach, from faceless strangers to brave Ling to Mac and Kofi. Not for my beautiful husband, whose death will forever cut me to the core with every breath I take. Not for the people who lived in this house, not for Cicely, stolen from her parents, not for Vance.
And now all the Elders are gone, but it doesn’t feel like a victory. I’ve made sure nobody else dies at the hands of these monsters, but it’s little consolation to those who paid steep prices to get to this point.
Karl has brought a team with him, including familiar faces such as Giuliana, Iolani, and Kopano. They find me on what is the new roof of the house, clutching a breathing Kellan in one hand and a scared little girl in the other. They find Vance’s body, Lola’s, too—both dead as thanks for their bravery. Lola bled out, they say, and if I could, I would destroy those Elders all over again just to pay them back. Raul is hurt, but thank the gods, his heart is still beating, even if just barely. Cicely checks on him for me, says he’s asleep, like Kellan—and I can’t tell if that means he’s in a coma or just sleeping.
The team finds the neurosurgeon in a pantry off the kitchen; he’s been dead for at least twenty-four hours, as he’s no longer stiff. I think about his kindness toward me, his fear, and wish so much he and the woman in the closet could have had so many more years to enjoy their house out in the woods. Enlilkian took that from them, though.
He took too much.
I’m glad I took everything from him in return.
I refuse to let go of Kellan, even when Karl carries his body downstairs. Cicely keeps saying it’s okay, he’s just really tired right now, but I’m worried. He’s breathing, yes, his heart is strong—but his eyes haven’t opened once.
It takes too long for us to reach Annar. Cicely comes with; her parents will be contacted when we reach the hospital. She needs to be checked out, anyway. I’m worried about her. She’s gone through so much for somebody so little.
Life isn’t fair far too often.
Kate Blackthorn meets us the moment we get to the hospital; Astrid is with her. Did Karl call her in the helicopter? The journey back to Annar is a blur. The only thing that mattered was Kellan’s heart beating, his lungs moving up and down. I finally let go of him when Kellan’s mother begs me to let the Shamans help him, and then I let her hold me tight as he’s hurried off to a room. Because of me, her sons have gone through, risked too much; both paid the ultimate price for their loyalty and feelings toward me.
At least Kellan’s heart is beating. I don’t have to tell Astrid that both of her sons are gone because of me.
Karl squeezes my shoulder; I have yet to thank him. But before I can, he presses a quick kiss against my head and tells me he needs to go and make sure Raul is okay.
“Oh, sweetling,” Astrid says to me, “I am so, so glad you are okay. We have all been greatly worried for your safety.”
Her kindness is painful, like razor slices against skin that refuses to heal. I swallow hard, but the ever-present lump in my throat goes nowhere. “Kellan—”
“Shh, darling.” Her hand rubs my back. “He will be fine. Kate has him. But we need to get you checked out, too. I know that you probably want to go right to Jonah’s room, but you’ll be no good to anyone if you are in pain.”
Wait. Wait.
She’s nudging me forward, toward the Shaman waiting a few feet away, but I dig my heels in, skidding silently to a halt.
Her slim fingers curve around my arm in gentle reminder of foot in front of foot. “Cameron and the kids are with him right now. We’ll go see all of them when you’re done.”
Him.
Astrid is still talking, still pulling me toward the Shaman, and I’m pretty sure I’m dreaming because how could she be saying such things? My chest hurts. His pain is now mine.
The Shaman sticks out a hand, introducing herself. I leave it hanging and turn instead to my mother-in-law. Shaky hands wrap around her arms to steady myself. “Wh-what did you say?”
Confusion reflects in her purple eyes. “Cameron is upstairs alongside William and Callie in Jonah’s room.”
My heart leaps to my throat. Kellan wasn’t lying to me? “What room?”
She smiles gently. “Darling, let’s get you check out first. None of them would forgive me if we didn’t—”