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That’s the spirit!Pike shouts. I hear his excitement even through the bond as we break through the trees and into a village that’s fallen into chaos.

There are so many chimeras this time.

Easily double, if not triple, what there was the last time we faced them, yet somehow this time they aren’t as difficult to handle. I’d like to say it’s because we know what to expect and how to handle them, but that’s a lie.

It’s Serena.

Her shadows are not only super effective against the chimeras, but the way she supercharges our asses, it’s crazy. Her shadows flow from her like tentacles, making easy work of ripping them apart while also saving civilians.

I’m in awe of her; we all are.

It only gets crazier when she supercharged Blair, and instead of the fire we all expect, he shoots lightning at a chimera, blowing it to bits that fall from the sky in a grotesque rain of flesh and blood. It’s the thing of nightmares and leaves the air tasting like burning flesh.

What the fuck was that?Blair asks through the bond, and I’m not sure I’ve ever heard so much emotion in his voice, though you could never tell by his face.

I have no idea.Serena looks around at the rest of us as if hoping one of us has an answer. We don’t.

The only one who might know is Theo, but now that I think about it, I haven’t seen her since we left Ryker’s house.

Serena slides down Blair’s back, and Storm is there, ready to catch her. This fight has been like a big game of hot potato, and Serena’s the potato.

I watch their back as Storm takes Serena deeper into the village looking for villagers; her number one concern is getting everyone out safely.

We stick close, working through the village as a unit, a well-oiled machine.

It won’t last. I know it, and they know it too.

Lyle is out there somewhere, and so is—

Ryker.

I feel the pain in my chest as if it’s my own when Serena finally lays eyes on him. We all knew he would be here. Draven called him, and then the village was attacked. I don’t believe in coincidences.

It’s impossible to miss him, standing on the far side of the village on the tallest building, his purple, electric-looking shadows moving around him like those cool electric static balls we used to play with as kids. His eyes are still white, and whilehis face is blank, I can see the way his eyes rake over Serena, looking for anything, even a hair, out of place.

She looks fucking fantastic, considering we’ve been fighting monsters for at least the last hour. Hell, I’d go as far as to say she looks even better than she did before. The confidence she has right now as she whoops ass and takes names changes her whole demeanor.

I’d follow this woman to the ends of the Earth already, but right now, I think she could convince the rest of the kingdom to as well.

She looks every bit the part of the queen she will someday be.

Ryker stands as still as a statue while he looks her over, finally breathing a sigh of relief once he’s sure she’s still in one piece.

The moment of peace doesn’t last long before his brows pinch and he looks off toward the west.

It feels like a warning. Serena follows his gaze, and I do the same a moment before a roar that’s both familiar and foreign shatters the air, making all of us freeze.

Screams fill the air, and while I’m not in control, I can still feel the warmth of the liquid that seeps between my claws.

I know what that is, but I don’t let myself think about it, about the monster I am right now, that I might be stuck as forever.

Thoughts of Serena fill my mind. I could be okay here if I had to be, knowing she’s safely away from me. She has the others…who already let her slip through their fingers once. Seeing Serena in the woods that night only made this worse. The urge to go back to the way things were, to watch after her myself.

Fuck!

The infinite darkness of my mind is lonely. There’s no other way around it. But right now, I’m not even sure I want to be in the driver's seat. Not with the scent of blood strong enough that I can smell it deep in the recess of my mind.

Blood and smoke and…