Page 333

“Alive,” Aspen confirmed.

“Same,” Jewels panted, Dallas’s voice melding with hers.

Boots scraped as the others pushed to their feet.

Travis said, “I got a claw in the gut, but I think I’ll live.”

“Reacher?” Malakai inquired.

“Fine,” Max bit out.

Malakai flicked the button on his headset and said, “Guess what, asshole? You’re not the only one who can take down those sons of bitches.”

A chair creaked, and then Darien said hoarsely, “Everyone alive?”

Malakai spat out a mouthful of blood. “For now. Get us out of here.”

“All right, I’m trackingyounow,” Darien said. He sounded spaced out. Everyone felt for each other’s hands as Darien added, “Be fast.”

113

South Coastal District

YVESWICH, STATE OF KER

The portal was spreading.The ground was shaking so violently, Travis had already fallen on his ass several times as he ran. The others kept pace beside him. Pushing themselves faster than they had ever moved before.

With Darien’s help, they’d made it out of Lucent Enterprises, across the canal that was now frozen solid, and into the South Coastal District. It was light enough over here that they were able to see on their own, giving Darien a break from tracking until after they got the tower down.

On the other line, Darien was quiet.Tooquiet. Occasionally, Travis’s sharp hearing picked up on a ragged inhale or a softly uttered swear word, but other than that, Darien stayed silent.

Nobody dared ask him what’d happened. Where he was. Why he was breathing so heavily.

Why he sounded like he was in excruciating pain.

On, they sprinted beneath a charcoal sky, through the wreckage of the South Coastal District. That’s what all of Yveswich was now: wreckage. Every time the portal spread, resulting in more earthquakes, more darkness, and more monsters, what remained of Yveswich fell to the might of the Void.

They were almost there. Travis could see the apartment building where the others were waiting for them.

A burst of static spat through the speakers of his headset. “We can see you,” Dominic said.

Hope kindled in Travis’s heart. “Get ready,” he panted.

“Whatever you do, Feathers,” Malakai added, “try not to miss.”

They made it to the fire escape and started climbing.

Roman was driving so fast,Dean could barely keep up. For the past hour, his boot had been glued to the accelerator as he flew through red lights and stop signs, engine whirring as he pushed it to its limit.

They were almost there. He could see Yveswich from here. The crimson half-sphere of runes shining above the ruins of his old home.

Movement from above drew Roman’s attention to the dark sky.

Combat planes.

Shit.

The planes were early, and the tower still wasn’t down.