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“Loren!” floated a musical female voice.

Gentle hands spun her around.

She came face to face with Ivy, who grinned, tears sparkling in her eyes.

“You’re all right!” Ivy gasped. She pulled her into a hug, handling her more carefully than Travis had.

But Loren was tired of being careful. She threw her arms around Ivy’s neck, not giving a crap about the pain or the snacks she was crushing in her grip as she held Ivy tight, sobbing into her hair. “I’m okay.You’reokay. You’re alive! I’m so happy to see you!”

“Me too, girl,” Ivy said, her voice thick with tears. “Me too.”

More voices called Loren’s name. She opened her damp eyes to see Dallas sprinting over, Lace and Aspen walking behind her.

Loren let go of Ivy—just in time to intercept Dallas, the witch’s body slamming into her own with such enthusiasm, they both nearly fell down.

“Gods, my own family’s going to kill me!” Loren joked as her sister squeezed the life out of her, rocking her from side to side.

“Thank gods I’m not an only child!” Dallas said, her grip crushing. “I’ve been looking for you for hours! I knew you didn’t leave—I justknewit.” She pulled back and settled her hands on Loren’s shoulders. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Dal.”

Dallas’s copper brows flicked up. “You’re fine?” she echoed, the silver rings around her pupils glinting like mirrors. “You’refine?You look like you got steamrolled!”

“Me? What aboutyou?Your wings are all ruined!”

“Calla?” called a deep, male voice. It was Max—Max was here now, too.

“Max—hi!” She scanned their group, naming everyone in her head.

Travis, Malakai, Max, Dallas, Ivy, Lace, Aspen . . .

“Where’s Darien?” Loren squeezed out, breathless. No Roman, no Tanner, no Jack…and no Darien.

No one said anything. A few shared heavy glances, but not one person spoke up.

Loren’s expression—the brief joy she had felt upon reuniting with them all—sank. “Darien…?” She could scarcely speak, that’s how little breath was in her lungs. “Where is he? Is he…is he okay?” Her voice cracked. “Tell me he’s okay. Someone please tell me he’s okay?—”

Max cleared his throat. “We haven’t heard from him—yet.But Jack showed up—he’s okay, but he has a concussion.” He pointed somewhere, still talking, but Loren couldn’t focus on anything apart from her thoughts of Darien, her chest physically hurting as if someone had punched her in the breastbone.

Gods. Ohgods,she was going to be sick?—

She blinked the blur out of her vision. “Can we call him?” she asked, interrupting Max. She didn’t have her phone, but maybe?—

“Phones aren’t working,” Lace said, her perfect lips twisting into a frown. She indicated to the cell in her hand. “I’ve been trying all day.”

“Day?” Loren echoed. “What time is it?”

“Almost one,” Lace said.

A hand came down on Loren’s shoulder, and she turned to see Shadowmaster Kylar Lavin joining the group. There was a small smile on his face, but Loren could tell that it wasn’t sincere. A lot was bothering him, and she was afraid to know exactly what.

“Hey,” Kylar said, nodding at her in greeting. “Glad to see you’re okay.”

“You, too,” Loren choked out, blood rushing in her ears.

“Group’s almost complete,” Kylar observed, scanning everyone’s faces the way Loren had, his eyes tightening slightly upon—Loren assumed—not finding Roman here.

“Wait,” Ivy said, frantically glancing around. “Kylar, where’s my husband?” Her eyes narrowed. “You were supposed to be watching him!”