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Cherry complied without hesitation, her eyes never leaving her daughter's face. "Take as much as she needs," she said. "Every drop."

Tears watered Cherry's eyes, and River gave her a weak smile.

"Hey, Mom."

"I swear if you ever disappear like that again, I'm going to kick your ass."

River snorted. "I'll make sure my next would-be kidnapper knows."

Dr. Keller inserted the needle into Cherry's arm, and the door opened again. Zeke walked inside with Strider. Zeke's usually stoic expression softening at the sight of River.

"Luna," he said, giving her a gentle smile. "It's good to see you."

"Zeke." Good to see you too."

"Hey, kiddo," said Strider. "I'm glad you're back with us."

River's heart squeezed. "Me too, Dad."

Tears welled in Strider's eyes. It was the first time River had ever called him that.

He shifted slightly and then coughed. "Bianca's been driving everyone crazy with worry. She says she loves you and wants to video chat as soon as you're able."

River nodded. "Tell her I'd like that."

Zeke nodded, then turned to Ares. "Highness, I hate to interrupt, but one of the Alphas is on the phone. Says it's urgent."

Ares growled, his hand tightening around River's. "They can wait."

Dr. Keller looked up from where she connected the transfusion line between Cherry and River. "One of you needs to move anyway. I need access to hook up this transfusion properly, and unless someone is volunteering to have me shove the line straight through their torso, you need to go."

Ares hesitated, torn between his duty and his desperate need to stay with River.

"Go," River told him softly. "I'll be here."

With visible reluctance, Ares rose to his feet, leaning down to press his lips to River's forehead. As he turned to leave, River's wolf whined, the sound escaping her before she could stop it.

"Stay where I can see you," River said, her fingers reaching for him. "Please."

Ares hesitated like he might refuse to move after all, but she gave him a reassuring smile that she didn't feel, and he walked to the corner of the room where Zeke handed over his phone.

"This better be important," Ares growled.

River's gut twisted tight as she watched Ares' reactions to the conversation. Had the Alphas found Titan's estate? Had they gotten in? Was Titan even there, or was he out looking for her? Questions swirled in River's mind, and she had to bite her tongue to keep from screaming.

Apollo shifted nearer to River and stroked her hair as Dr. Keller finished connecting the transfusion line. He bent over her and kissed her softly.

"It's going to be all right," Apollo said.

River tipped her head back and brushed his lips with hers. The feel of him on her lips, the taste and smell of him, all had her wanting to jump into his arms and wrap herself around him.

"There," the doctor said with satisfaction. "Cherry's blood will help stabilize you while your body works to replace what you've lost."

Cherry's blood flowed through the clear tube toward her arm. It seemed fitting somehow, Cherry giving life to her once again.

"Thank you," she whispered, meeting her mother's eyes.

Cherry's tough exterior cracked as she gave River a watery smile. "I didn't get you this far in life to let you and my grandbabies die now."

River chuckled. "We all thank you, Granny Cherry."

Cherry's eyes flashed. "Then again, all I have to do is pull out this little tube…"

River laughed. Apollo kissed her knuckles, and she looked up at him, seeing him clearly for the first time. He hadn't shaved in days, and his eyes were sunken in.

"When was the last time you slept?" she asked.

"For more than a couple of hours at a time? The last night we spent together. In the last forty-eight hours? None."

River's mouth fell open. "Apollo. You need to rest. Especially with all the injuries you sustained."

"I'll rest when Titan is dead."

River hated how much Apollo and Ares had suffered at her absence. But she, too, had suffered. It had taken a whole week before she'd been able to confirm they were both even still alive. It had been agonizing. But they'd known nothing. They had no idea where she was or what was happening to her.

"I was so worried about you. I was so afraid I'd lost you," she said.

Apollo pressed his lips to hers. "And I, you."

They stayed that way for several seconds, and then Apollo pulled his lips from hers.

"Don't go away again," Apollo murmured.

"Don't try to die without me again."

He chuffed, and when he straightened, his eyes swam with tears. River's chest squeezed so tight she thought her heart might stop.

"Okay," said Ares. "We've found the house."

"Really?" asked River.

Ares nodded. "It's identical to our estate on the outside."

"On the inside, too," River said.

Ares shook his head. "He's such a freak. Anyway, we currently have about forty Betas and Alphas surrounding the place and making sure no one leaves or gets in."

"Call everyone," said Apollo. "Everyone answers the call. No exceptions. Every Alpha. Every Beta. Even the Council. They all go and surround that place. No one makes a move until we're there."

Ares nodded and turned to Zeke.

"We'll get on it." Zeke took his phone from Ares and started dialing as he left the room.

Regan peeked his head in.

"Every Alpha. Every Beta. They all come or they'll deal with me," said Apollo.

"With both of us," Ares corrected.

"No," said River. "They'll deal with all of us."

All eyes moved to her. With everything she'd learned from Titan and the rogues, she didn't want a massacre, but she was not about to let what had happened go unpunished either.