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Fuck, why the hell are there so many?

We’re a well-oiled machine at this point. Nobody is willing to risk another situation like last time. But even with how ready we are to face them, it’s unnecessary when Serena throws a hand in the air and her shadows descend on them, wiping them out with a simple flick of her wrist.

Damn, that shouldn’t be so attractive, but fuck me if it’s not one of the sexiest things I’ve ever seen before.

They drop, hitting the ground with a thump before turning to dust, and Serena hasn’t so much as paused in her pursuit of Lyle.

“Serena!” Blair’s voice bounces off the houses, loud and clear, making her pause before turning back to glare at him. Blair doesn’t crumble under the weight of it, though, instead looking almost completely unfazed, typical.

Whatever he’d been about to say is cut off by yet another boom that sounds a lot like a bomb going off. The ground shakes, and screams fill the air, some from those in the forest who are probably only frightened, some from deeper in the village.

The conversation is forgotten as we race through the village to get to whoever needs us. Smoke fills the air, mixing with the unmistakable scents of blood and death.

Memories ofthatday fill my head as we run toward the smoke and scent of blood. I know what the chimeras are capable of; I know how scary they are, but right now I don’t have the luxury of being afraid.

These people need us.

Ryker and Lyle need us, even if they won’t fucking admit it.

I turn the corner, and the scene before me is enough to stop me in my tracks.

Everything is on fire.

People run in every direction while others scream from inside burning houses or lie dead in the street. Men, women, children, elderly, all walks of people—all heartbreaking.

Some have shifted and attempted to help, others try to use their magic, but the fire refuses to go out.

“Chimera magic is different. It’s rooted in darkness, which is the strongest of the elements. Normal elemental magic can’t affect it.” Ryker’s right next to me. I can feel him, but I can’t make myself look away from the carnage in front of me.

“We have to help them.”

“I’ll do what I can.” It’s more than I should ask for, selfish really. I’m putting him in danger. What happens if Draven shows up and sees he’s helping us? The thought makes my skin crawl, and it’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him to leave, to go back to the cabin. But even after only knowing him for a short time, I know that will never happen.

Ryker won’t leave me here.

“Which one of them has the strongest control of water?” Ryker asks me, and this time I manage to look away as he moves behind me toward the guys, only to pause, waiting for my answer.

“The twins,” I say without hesitation. Back in the other realm, that had been their only element. “Why?”

Ryker doesn’t answer, instead grabbing my wrist and pulling me toward Storm.

I’m more than a little confused, but I decide to trust him. The same can’t be said for Storm, who is currently glaring at the place where Ryker’s fingers wrap around my wrist. A growl vibrating from him in warning.

Ryker ignores him as he walks up beside Storm, dropping my hand to his head and placing his on top of it.

“Tell your cat to make it rain,” he says in a rush as he looks back at the still-burning village, and it’s impossible to miss the way his eyes shine with concern for these people.

Ryker cares; I can see it. Hell, I’ve been on the receiving end of it a few times now. He’s a good person, or he would be if he got a choice in who he was.

The first drop of water falls from the sky and lands on my cheek, rolling down my face a lot like a tear would. I didn’t even have to tell Storm, which is a good thing because my mind is currently going about a million miles an hour, but nothing is happening.

Everything is overwhelming, and I feel like I’m not enough.

These people need more, need better than me.

Thunder rumbles in the sky, and purple lightning lights up the sky as the rain begins to fall harder and faster, soaking into my clothes and, more importantly, beginning to put out the fire.

My eyes go wide as I watch. At this rate, it will still take a little while, but it’s doing more than anyone else could do.