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“Been better, but we’re alive.” He flattened his hand against the small of Loren’s back, urging her into a quicker walk. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

They picked up speed, officers and other staff stepping out of the way as they passed.

Logan and Sabrine were waiting for them by the front desk. Ivy and Lace were here as well, sitting in a couple of chairs by the windows. When they saw them coming, they got to their feet, their surprised murmurs drawing the attention of staff and guests.

The whole building went quiet, unanswered phones droning with incoming calls, as people stared at the two Devils and the lone human with police escorts, the one Devil still touching his hand to the human’s lower back.

Sabrine broke the stillness and came forward. “You guys okay?” She handed Darien his jacket, and he put it on.

When he didn’t respond, his blood still hot and roaring in his ears, Loren answered her instead. “Yeah,” she said, glancing up at Darien. Ocean blue eyes—brimming with concern—scanned his face. “Yeah, I think we’re okay.”

Darien tried to slow his breathing, but the edges of his vision were fogging with black. Now that the brimstone cuffs were off, he felt like he was going to snap. He was a lit fuse, his skull pounding with a wicked headache.

He needed to hit something. Needed to get in a ring and rip some piece-of-shit lowlife into bloody scraps.

Finn gave them back the rest of their things—phones and the weapons the officers had confiscated at the rec center. When they were ready, he escorted them out.

As they walked through the holding center, Loren slightly ahead of Darien, he collected himself just enough to speak.

“What was that all about?” His question was for Solace, who walked at his side, keys jingling.

“Just trying to do the right thing.”

“Right, because that worked so well for you in Yveswich.”

Finn bristled. “Look, I know you and I haven’t always got along?—”

Darien snort-laughed.

“But I’m trying to make things right here. All that shit that’s going on in Yveswich…” He shook his head, his chest deflating with a tired sigh. “Let’s just say I don’t agree with it.”

“Who put that asshole in charge?” Darien demanded, gesturing behind him.

“He’s a transfer,” Finn responded in a hushed tone as they squeezed past two officers in the hallway. “His background’s been kept on the down-low, but rumors say he was designated by Lucent.”

Darien’s head whipped his way. “The imperator?” Why did that not surprise him?

Finn stared straight ahead with a poker face. “You didn’t hear it from me.”

Darien squeezed his left hand into a fist, more sweat prickling across his back. It wasn’t until he pushed his hair out of his face that he realized his hands were still trembling.

Powerless. That was how he’d felt in that room, when he’d watched Loren walk through the door, surrounded by armed men. There had been many times—too many—these past six months where he feared he might lose her, but he’d always felt at leastsomewhatin control of the situation.

But with those brynstan cuffs leashing his magic like that… If Glen had pulled that trigger…

There was nothing he could have done to save her. Not even hellseher speed would have allowed him to get her out of the path of the bullet.

As they walked, he stared at the back of her head, trying to convince himself that she was alive. Safe.

She must have sensed that his attention was on her, because she slowed, peering over her shoulder at him with those gorgeous blue eyes.

Then she reached behind her. It took him longer than it should have to realize that she was reaching forhim.

He clasped her hand, the feel of her soft skin grounding him.

And for the first time since they were arrested, he managed to draw a full breath. Slowly, he exhaled, the tension melting out of his muscles.

She was alive.