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“She doesn’t disappear like this.”

Alaric’s jaw tightened. “No.”

I stared at him. Something savage moved behind his eyes. Then his gaze shifted, not away, but through me like he was fighting himself. His hand flexed once at his side. “You’re not going alone.”

I blinked. “What?”

“If you’re going, I’m taking you.”

The anger inside me stuttered.

Alaric turned before I could answer. “Rafe.” He didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t need to. “We’re leaving.”

Rafe’s gaze flicked to me. One look. That was all it took. “How many?”

“Ghost. Brick.”

“Falcon?”

“Stays.”

Rafe nodded. He as already moving. “Vehicles in five.”

“Three.”

A faint smile touched Rafe’s mouth. “Of course.”

Then he was gone.

I stared at Alaric. “You’re taking me?”

His eyes came back to mine. “I said I would.”

“No. You said I wasn’t going.”

“I was wrong.”

The words hit harder than they should’ve. Alaric didn’t apologize easily. Maybe he didn’t apologize at all. But there it was. Not an apology, something better. A correction. His gaze moved over me. Shirt. Bare feet. Half-fastened buttons.

“Shoes.”

I almost snapped at him. Almost. Then I realized I was standing in the hallway barefoot.

“Right.” I turned.

“Nyssa.”

I stopped.

“If anything happens…”

I looked over my shoulder. He didn’t finish. He didn’t need to. The fear in his face as aid enough.

“I stay with you.”

Something eased in his expression. Barely.

“Thank you.”