Chapter 26 #2
Em spins toward me, her expression going slack as she takes a real look at me. I try to wipe all of my obsessive adoration of Alanna off my face and replace it with something neutral. Apparently, I’m unsuccessful, evidenced by the wide-eyed curiosity overtaking her features.
“Who is this?”
“Dad, Em—this is Kade. He’s . . . um, well—” She peeks back at me, and I don’t bother to wipe my feelings off my face this time. I love you. I love you. I love you. Her cheeks flush. “We’re figuring it out.”
I can’t keep the slow grin from spreading over my face at her words. She hasn’t totally written me—us—off. I can work with that.
Before her father can respond to her vague explanation, the two paramedics arrive, their expressions all business. They take one look at the four of us and immediately zero in on Alanna’s father.
“Sir, we need to get you on a gurney. Can you tell me your name?”
Just as the second paramedic positions the gurney, a firefighter sprints over. “We’ve got a critical head injury over by the stage. Need a hand, now!”
Without a word, the second paramedic grabs her kit and runs. The remaining medic looks from the patient to the gurney, jaw tight. He can’t risk moving an injured man of that size alone.
“I can help,” I say, stepping forward.
The paramedic gives me a quick, appraising look, taking in my size. “Okay. Good. I need you to support his back and legs. I’ll take his head and neck. On my count.”
Once Alanna’s father is safely on the gurney, he gives me a nod of thanks. A quiet satisfaction settles in my chest.
“We’re taking him to St. Joseph’s,” he says as he starts pushing the gurney.
Alanna moves to follow. “I’m coming with you.”
The paramedic holds up a hand. “Sorry, ma’am. Patients only right now. You’ll have to meet us there.” He glances at Em, a pale and shaking teenager, and his expression softens. “Is this your dad?”
Em nods, looking like she’s about to burst into tears again.
The paramedic waves over a nearby police officer. “Can you give this young lady a ride? She needs to meet her father’s ambulance.”
The officer nods. “I can take you both. Come on.”
Alanna steps forward, but as the paramedic begins to wheel the gurney away, her father reaches out with his good hand. “Alanna. Promise me—” He pauses, visibly steeling himself for rejection. “Promise you won’t run off again? I’ll see you at the hospital, right?”
Alanna tenses, her scent spiking with wariness. But the tentative hopefulness of the question seems to dissolve a piece of her resentment. She replies in a voice thick with emotion, “Yeah. Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll come.”
Satisfied, he lets his hand fall, and the paramedic takes him away. The police officer gently guides a still-stunned Em toward her cruiser, Alanna following.
“Alanna, wait.” Seb emerges from a knot of stone-faced Wardens, blocking her path. Two of the less injured Wardens trail him, their hands hovering near their weapons—not aggressive, exactly, but vigilant.
Alanna moves to step around him. “I have to—”
“You can’t.” His voice is unusually sharp. “Look at yourself.”
“Get out of her way, Seb,” I snarl. “Her father is injured.”
Seb snaps, “I know. But look at her, Kade. She’s overcharged with magic from that anomaly. I’m surprised you haven’t noticed. If she goes to the hospital, there’s a good chance she’ll mess with all the medical equipment. The life-saving medical equipment? Maybe even fry it.”
I freeze, glancing down at Alanna. He’s right. Sparks of raw energy arc off her skin, and when I pay attention, I realize the pressure of her aura is heavy in the air. Whatever happened, she’s nearly bursting with power right now.
“Shit,” I say.
A small gasp escapes her, and she raises her marked arm. Shifting rainbows of light zip into the air from her skin, popping like static. The cruiser’s radio lets out an ear-piercing whine, and the dashboard lights flicker wildly—in time with her heartbeat.
The officer winces, clapping a hand over her shoulder mic. “What the hell?” She smacks the device. “Great. Just what I need.” She looks back at Alanna, impatient now. “Are you coming?”
Alanna recoils, staring at the haywire electronics. I see the exact moment the heartbreak hits her, the promise she just made dying on her lips.
“I . . .” Her voice breaks. She squeezes her eyes shut, then opens them, her face locking in with a determined set to her jaw. “No. Just go.” Then she catches Em’s eye through the window. “Go. Be with Dad. I’ll . . . come as soon as I can. I promise. Tell him I’ll come.” She swallows.
Em gives a jerky nod, her eyes still wide with a million unspoken questions. The officer closes the door, and the car pulls away, its lights joining the chaotic dance of the emergency vehicles. We watch until it disappears around a corner, leaving us standing in the wreckage-strewn plaza.
“All right, let’s get going,” Seb says, signaling the other Wardens. “Back to the mansion for a full debriefing. We need to make a report.”
At his words, the last of Alanna’s strength finally gives out. The adrenaline that held her together is gone, and the full weight of the last hour—the fear, the fight, her father’s injury—settles on her. Her shoulders slump, her face goes white, and she sways on her feet.
I’m beside her in an instant, my hand finding her waist to steady her.
“The mansion is too far,” I say, my tone making it clear that this is non-negotiable.
“She’s barely standing. I’m the lead Warden on this assignment.
I’ll take her statement myself and file the damn report.
She needs a closer location to recover. Mine. ”
Seb hesitates, his Warden’s duty warring with the obvious truth. He looks from my obstinate expression to Alanna, who is now leaning heavily against me, and lets out an agitated sigh, raking a hand through his hair like he does when he’s stressed.
“Why is it that I keep letting you bend the rules?”
“Must be my charm,” I say, deadpan.
He cracks a smile. “God help us all. Just make sure you get that statement. It’s important. She was the only one who saw what happened. I know you two have other considerations, but we need all the details while it’s fresh. Do it according to protocol or I’m the one who’ll be in deep shit, yeah?”
“Yeah.”
That’s all he needs, knowing I’ll keep my word. Seb claps me on the shoulder briefly, then walks back to wrangle the other Wardens and manage the cleanup, leaving us to ourselves. The sounds of the plaza, the sirens and shouts, seem to recede into the background, a world away.
I turn, my hands gentle on Alanna’s arms. “Come on,” I murmur, my voice softer than I’ve used in a century. “Let’s go home.”
She shudders under my hands with a quiet, exhausted sound. She’s done so much—saved everyone here, saved the city, saved my life more than once. But even so, she’s still a civilian who’s not trained for combat. Shock is setting in, complete with tremors that threaten to pull her under.
She needs to stay grounded.
And I know just how to do it.
“Librarian,” I rumble, moving my hands up her arms to hold her shoulders firmly.
Now that she’s here, leaning into me, giving me a chance, I can’t seem to stop touching her, can’t help myself.
I steer her toward one of the Warden vehicles—I’m sure Seb would be nothing but overjoyed to lend it to us.
“You just outsmarted a monster made of shadows that Warden tactics couldn’t touch.
But last I heard, we were stumped. Did you find new research sources? ”
Her eyes immediately light up, chasing away some of the dazed quality, and I know she’s going to be just fine.