Page 130 of After the Burn

Max’s attention turned from Harper to the door, and he gave a low growl.

Another impact.

Then another.

Wren looked at the door as Colson pulled her and Rory closer. “That’s not good.”

A board splintered inward, and gray fingers pushed through the gap. The damn rotters had followed the noise Harper was making, and the barn wasn’t going to hold.

“Move!” Adrian shouted.

Colson grabbed Rory and lifted her as if she weighed nothing. Wren snatched Mojo from the ground and ran with them.

Finley moved toward Harper. “I’m not leaving her.”

“You can’t stay.” Adrian snapped. “She’s gone.”

Beck still had Harper restrained, but she thrashed hard enough to throw him sideways.

A section of the roof groaned overhead. I looked up, but it was too late.

Lightning flashed, and wood cracked.

“Taryn!”

The beam fell between us, and I struck her with enough force to push us both into the side wall. Dust and hay flew everywhere as the barn filled with rain.

Rotters poured through the front, and everyone was shouting as Max barked ferociously.

“Taryn!” Beck roared over the rain and thunder.

I saw Colson as he tightened his grip on Rory and shoved Wren toward the side opening with the other. “Go.”

Wren didn’t argue, even though I could see her turning her head, desperately searching for Taryn.

Beck had pinned Harper again near the stalls, trying to keep her snapping teeth away from everyone, while Finley stood beside him, looking as if his entire world had just cracked open.

“She’s gone!” Adrian looked frantically at Finley.

Finley flinched. “No.”

“Finley—”

“She recognized Rory. I know I can fix this!”

Another impact shook the barn, knocking a board loose overhead and sending it crashing into the hay. Rain poured through the opening.

Lightning flashed.

For half a second, everything turned white, illuminating Harper as she snarled and twisted hard enough to nearly break Beck’s hold.

“Get Rory out!” Beck roared.

Colson disappeared through the opening with her, Wren, and Max close behind.

Adrian grabbed Finley by the back of his shirt and dragged him toward the opposite side. “We have to leave her.”

Finley fought him. “No!”