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“We haven’t had a chance to thank Alex yet, and she’s the one who took most of the risks,” Pipsqueak pointed out.

Alex groaned at Pip’s words, knowing Skyla wouldn’t be impressed.

She was right.

“What’sthatsupposed to mean, Philippa?” Skyla demanded.

“Nothing, Skyla,” Alex jumped in. “Pip didn’t mean anything. She knows how amazing you were tonight. We couldn’t have made it out of there without you. But we’re all tired, so maybe instead of talking, we should search for our next set of instructions?”

“Fine,” Skyla relented. “Whatever.”

Everyone else looked at Alex with gratitude, but she was too drained to so much as offer a smile in return.

“Let’s see what we can find,” Jordan said. “Alex, stay there and point the light for us, will you?”

“Subtle, Jordan,” she said with a snort. But she didn’t argue, since she was too relieved he’d given her an excuse not to move. She gratefully slumped down onto a fallen tree and pointed the light around as directed.

“Over here!” Declan called.

They all hustled over to where he stood beside another arrow.

“What is it?” Tom asked.

“It’s another map, I think,” Declan said. “Alex, turn the light a little.”

She did as he asked and Declan held the paper up so they could all see it.

They stared at the map for a few moments before Alex whispered, “Please tell me that means what I think it means?”

“I think it means exactly what you think it means,” Jordan said with a grin. “I think we’re finished!”

“There’s only one way to find out,” Tom said with renewed excitement. He pointed at the arrow. “Who wants to try first?”

“Me! Pick me!” Skyla squealed.

No one argued, and she reached out for the arrow, disappearing in a swirl of colour.

“High maintenance, that one,” Blink muttered, looking at the place where Skyla had just been standing. “Off the charts.”

Again, no one argued, and one by one, the rest of the group travelled through the Bubbledoor until only Declan and Alex remained.

“After you,” she offered. “Then I’ll come through with the light.”

“No way,” he said, and he gently took the vial from her hands. “You first.”

Alex didn’t see the point in arguing, so she stepped up to the arrow. Before she could touch it, Declan called out to her.

“I’m not sure what happened earlier tonight,” he told her seriously, “but Kaiden’s my best mate, and you saved his life. You saved us all, in fact. I gave him my word that I’d keep my mouth shut about everything that happened, and now I’m giving it to you, too. Your secrets, whatever they are, they’re safe with me.”

Alex was so tired that she couldn’t suppress her overwhelming gratitude, so she reached out and wrapped her arms around Declan’s firm torso, grateful to have a friend like him on her side.

“Thanks for coming back for Jordan and me,” she said into his chest.

He gave her an affectionate squeeze and replied, “You know me—I love a good fight.”

She let him go and smiled up at him, knowing the absolute truth of his words.

“Maybe next time your feet won’t be stuck to the ground and you’ll be able to jump in and lend a hand,” she said light-heartedly. “What’s the point in having all those muscles if you can’t use them?”