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Another crackle. Loren strained to hear him. “Loren’s with you?”

Darien’s eyes—blue again—roved over her rain-speckled face. “She hasn’t left my side.” It was such a simple statement—pure fact—but it warmed her chill body by several degrees.

“Give me five,” Roark said. “I’ll call you back.” He ended the call.

Three minutes ticked by before a commotion rippled among the authorities. Arguments ensued. Officers looked their way, Glen included.

Loren crossed her fingers.

She trusted that this would work. Trusted that Roark, out of anyone, could accomplish the impossible. He wasn’t a good father, not by any means, but there was one thing he was very good at, and that was his job. Nothing about earning his title had been easy, and with the kind of authority he now had…

At the five minute mark, the forcefield came down with a tangible shift in energy. Even as a mortal, Loren could easily feel it while standing this close. It blew the loose strands of her damp hair back and sent a curl of nausea through her gut. She swayed, as if she were standing in a boat on a choppy sea. Darien’s hold on her waist kept her steady. Her anchor in this endless storm.

“Let’s go,” he said softly. He turned, shooting one last glare over his shoulder at that hateful detective. “Looks like it’s down,” he called.

Glen did not reply.

They walked together down the highway, through crowds of people who were also heading back to their vehicles. With Darien shielding her, his heavily muscled body every bit a weapon as his guns and blades, she was not jostled by a single person. Not even once.

A little over five minutes later, Darien’s phone started buzzing. He took it out, not missing a step, his free arm still wrapped protectively around her. Loren strained to hear both ends of the conversation as he answered.

“Cassel.”

“I can buy you three hours,” Roark said.

This time, Dariendidmiss a step. “Three hours?” he echoed. Loren had wondered if she’d heard Roark correctly, but Darien’s spoken confirmation had her stomach exiting her body. Darien’s arm tightened around her, as if he sensed her distress and was shielding her from the bad news. “What happened to noon tomorrow?”

“I’m not the only one calling the shots. Three is the best I can do, and I’ve already been told that I’m pushing it. Get Loren out, and wherever the others are, you need to tell them to get out, too.”

Three hours.Gods.

But—

“We’ve ran into a few…complications that have led to a shift in orders,” Roark went on. The rain picked up again, making it hard to hear, see. Loren squinted, her eyelashes soaked. “I can’t speak of them over the phone, but you need to get everyone you care about out. Starting with Loren.” This was the most he’d said her name in…gods,years.“Can you do that?”

They were almost at the car. Traffic was beginning to move, the first of the vehicles making it through the forcefield that was passable again as cops, fire fighters, and military personnel rushed to dismantle the barricades. When Loren saw the forcefield’s greenish tint shimmering in the corner of her eye, she vowed never to take that shade for granted again.

“Where are you getting your orders?” Darien demanded.

A pause. And then Roark said, “The imperator.”

37

Intensive Care Unit

YVESWICH, STATE OF KER

Jewels was asleep.

Apart from her rhythmic breathing and the ticking of a clock in the hallway, the room was quiet. Peaceful.

At least it would’ve been—quiet and peaceful—were it not for the putrid stain that was Malakai. The idiot was glaring Travis down as if he’d punted Creature across the room like a Flightball. Every breath he drew was so heavy it was practically a snort. A bull preparing to charge.

Travis’s gloved hands curled into fists. “Are you ever going to stop with your crazy possessivebullshitattitude?”he snapped, failing to keep his voice down. Aspen was asleep, too. She was curled up in her seat like a cat, cheek resting in the crook of the elbow she’d folded on the arm of her chair. She looked really uncomfortable, but that chair was the only choice she had, unless she’d rather lie on the gross floor.

Malakai hadn’t blinked in so long, his eyes were veiny. “You first.”

“I’m not possessive!” Travis hissed.