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I barely heard her. The roaring in my ears drowned out everything but my rising panic. I wasn’t stupid—I knew what dragons were capable of. I’d seen and felt it firsthand. But that didn’t change anything. I’d rather die trying than sit here waiting for the news that Dominic was already gone.

"Where, Frankie?" My words came out hoarse, dangerously close to pleading.

She sighed and rubbed at a smudge on the table, avoiding my eyes. She was stalling. "I’ll tell you on one condition."

I clenched my fists, barely suppressing the urge to grab her by the shoulders and shake the answer out of her. "Fine. What?"

"I’m goin’ with you." She raised her hand to stop me as I tried to argue. "That’s the only way I’m tellin’ you."

"Me too." Steel edged Marissa’s voice, her arms crossed like she was daring me to fight her on it.

No. No, no, no.

There was no way I could let them come. Not if this was as dangerous as Frankie had just said. It was one thing tothrow myself headfirst into danger, but dragging them with me? Letting more people I loved bleed for my mistakes?

But I didn’t know where to find Dominic. I was wasting time, and time was the one thing I didn’t have right now.

I was sure most of the Gifted community was still caught up in the bomb chaos, which meant finding someone else who could tell me where he was would take too long. This infuriating woman was my only shot at getting there before it was too late.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Fine. Deal."

Frankie studied me for a second, her sharp gaze slicing through me as though she could see right into the gears turning in my head. Good thing she couldn’t. She nodded. "They’ll be at the Sato estate downtown, the one near?—"

I didn’t bother to listen to the rest. A map of D.C. flashed in my mind, pinpointing the location instantly. Ten minutes if I ran. Less if I pushed myself.

"Thanks, Frankie."

"Don’t thank me yet, kiddo," she said as she moved to stand. "It’ll take?—"

"Sleep."

Magic surged from me like a crashing wave, weighty and absolute.

Frankie’s eyes fluttered once before her body slumped forward onto the table. Marissa went just as fast, her arms slack, her breath deepening. A moment later, Vincent, Saul, and the other patron followed suit.

The silence that followed felt wrong. Heavy and suffocating.

I hated this.

Using my magic against people I loved felt worse than swallowing glass. Like ripping another piece of myself apart. I knew I was doing exactly what I’d just promised I wouldn’t do—pushing them away and running.

But I had no choice. I was already drowning in guilt; I didn’t need to add their blood to the weight of it. I couldn’t let them risk themselves this way.

My stomach twisted, and I clenched my jaw. There was no time. I had to move.

"I’m so sorry," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. "Really, I am."

I grimaced, turned, and ran.

I was down the stairs and out the door before my brain had fully caught up with my body. The sunlight hit me like a slap, but I didn’t let it slow me down. I sprinted onto the street, my heart hammering in my chest.

Minutes. That was all I had before they woke up and were hot on my heels. And if I didn’t make those minutes count, I could lose more than just time…

I could lose them, too.

CHAPTER 29

Dominic