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And then?—

He gasped and stumbled forward, the action causing Roman’s hands to slip off his shoulders.

Roman followed Paxton’s line of sight.

His breath caught as he saw him. Saw Travis—limping up the hill that sloped down to the rugged coastline, his hand clasping Jewels Delaney’s.

‘Oh, thank gods,’Sayagul breathed, the dragon’s words weak with relief.

As weak as Roman’s knees that were threatening to buckle.

Following closely behind Travis and Jewels was Maximus Reacher, his arm looped through Dallas Bright’s.

And there were Malakai Delaney and Aspen Van Halen.

Dominic Valencia and Blue.

That wasn’t all—no. Five other people were with them—three with wings of white feathers. Raina and Silas Cruso and Charlotte Demeure. The two that didn’t have wings were young, both female, one with hair a startling shade of pink, the other reddish brown. Several were limping, Travis included, others supporting each other with arms slung around shoulders.

Roman lurched forward. “Travis?” he croaked. The wind howled, snatching his voice.

Travis slid his gaze their way, searching. As soon as he saw them—saw his brothers—he froze.

“Travis!” Paxton called. “Look, Roman—it’s Travis!” He pointed.

Silent in shock, Travis stumbled forward—one step. Two. His hand slipped out of Jewels’s grasp.

Paxton was smiling. “Travis!” He waved one arm above his head, then added the other and started hopping in place. “Travis, over here!”

Travis paused again. Blinked several times, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He glanced over his shoulder at Jewels, as if to ask her,Are you seeing this, too?

The female Reaper smiled, tears sparkling in her eyes. “Go,” she told him.

And just like that, Travis was running.

Roman broke into a sprint of his own, his mind blank with shock and relief, both so intense they were almost debilitating. Paxton kept pace beside him, the kid smiling big as he called Travis’s name—Travis! Travis! Travis!

They ran. Past ambulances and fire trucks. Paramedics and Fleet soldiers.

Roman collided with Travis hard enough to bruise, Pax latching onto them, too. Their arms were around each other, andTravis was speed-talking, but Roman didn’t hear any words. All he cared about was that his brother was alive, and he was.

Travis wasalive.

“I’m sorry,” Travis was saying. Roman could smell the salt of the tears coursing down his cheeks. “I’m so sorry, Rome! I’m a fuckingidiot?—”

“Travis—,” Roman tried.

But Travis just kept apologizing—for staying behind, for not being quick enough to evacuate, for getting himself stuck, for being an idiot.

Roman grabbed Travis by the shoulders and pulled back—out of his grip that was firm enough to bruise. “Trav?—”

“I’m never coming back to Yveswich! Fuck this place, it can rot in hell?—”

“Travis,”Roman repeated.

Travis blinked, as if finally realizing where he was and who he was with.

‘He’s in shock,’Sayagul said.‘You’re in shock, my dear Travis.’