And a gunshot split the air.
Rory hit the ground like a reflex, his tornado zipping straight up to the sky and disappearing into the clouds. Shingles and broken branches fell to the ground around them as he curled into himself, his arms automatically covering his head. He took a terrified breath and forced his eyes open.
In the midst of the destroyed grounds, Becker was crumpled across from him, unmoving.
The gun in Arthur’s hand was still smoking.
Arthur glanced over his shoulder at Rory, shoulders heaving. “Thank you, love,” he whispered, his voice breaking.
And then he was sprinting toward the driveway’s edge, where Ellis’s still-prone body lay.
Rory let out a breath, using the car to pull himself to his feet. The fighting was quieting. All of the guards seemed to either be unconscious or wearing their own cuffs. Several guns were floating in the air again, and Rory heard two of them cock.
“Next guard to twitch finds out how good my telekinetic aim is,” Jade said, her expression daring anyone to come closer.
Rory crossed the drive to where Gwen had gone to Ellis’s side. Arthur was there too, his face ghost-white as he watched Gwen help Ellis sit up with heartbreakingly gentle touches. She carefully wiped blood off Ellis’s face, and he turned and kissed her hand.
“Where are Zeppler and the Puppeteer?” he asked.
“Becker’s dead.” Arthur didn’t even sound like himself. “After what he made me do to Rory, I—” He swallowed hard. “His life was forfeit.”
Rory balled the fist with the Tempest Ring on it.
“Zeppler is at the foot of the stairs,” said Zhang. “Still paralyzed.”
“I want to see him,” Ellis said tightly.
Gwen helped him to his feet. Ellis leaned on her as the two of them led the way over to Zeppler, Arthur and Jade at their heels, and Rory and Zhang behind them.
Their group encircled Zeppler, who still lay on the ground in the exact same position they’d left him, his eyes fixed on the sky. Ellis’s wedding ring still glinted on his finger.
Gwen stared dispassionately down at Zeppler. “He wanted to unlock the Venom Dagger’s magic. He used us to try, put Ellis though the pain of choosing between Philippe’s life and mine.”
“Gwen saw only magic for two years because of him.” Ellis entwined his fingers with hers. “And we’re not the only ones he’s hurt.” His eyes strayed to Jade and Arthur.
Gwen cocked her head. “I have so many thoughts about what we should do with you,” she said, almost sweetly. “I hope you can hear them all.”
“I hope you hear my thoughts too,” Ellis said, with deep loathing. “And I hope you’re afraid.”
Zeppler stared straight at the night sky, not blinking, not moving.
“Ellis, love,” Gwen said, her eyes never leaving Zeppler, “can you reach the siphon?”
Jade folded her arms but didn’t speak. The other firestarter, Philippe, had been her friend too, Rory remembered. And Arthur’s.
Arthur was standing just behind Jade, tense and drawn, his skin far too pale. He glanced up, in Rory’s direction.
Rory opened his mouth.
Then Arthur quickly averted his eyes, looking down at the ground, his shoulders hunching.
Rory swallowed and wrapped his arms around himself.
Zhang was the one who picked up the siphon clock from the steps. He handed it over to Ellis without a word. Ellis crouched on the other side of Zeppler and set the siphon against his hand. He wiped some of his own blood off his face and added it to the final clock hand as Gwen reached for her own left hand and pulled the wedding band off her finger.
“We’re making a new relic tonight,” she said to Zeppler. “So that you can’t hurt anyone ever again.”
Rory sucked in a breath as Arthur and Jade exchanged a look, silent agreement and support.
