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The collapse was closing in. Even though I didn’t waste time looking over my shoulder, I could feel the cloud of dust grazing my back, like the wind of death itself.

A sudden loud scream curled through the air at the same time Grayson and Jon shouted bitch. And before I could even comprehend what was happening, someone shoved Bella so hard that she lost her footing before they pushed past me and ran out of the building.

Only through the corner of my eye, I could tell it was that bitch Alanna.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

My feet halted as I turned back to help her. At that moment, I didn’t even care about my brothers or me. I just wanted to get Bella the fuck out of there.

“Go, Arkane,” Bella shouted, pushing me as she tried to get back on her feet, only for the rubble to catch her feet once again.

Like hell, I was leaving her here. Either we both make it out alive, or we both die. My eyes met hers just for a fraction of a second, and it conveyed a thousand feelings that I didn’t know how to name, but it hurt something deep in my heart. A place I didn’t even know existed.

My arms closed around her waist, and I lifted her to her feet in one quick move.

As soon as we were back on our feet, we were running once again. The collapse was too close to us. Another fall and we would be dead. Just as we were about to make it out, the roof almost kissed Bella’s back, but I tugged her arm hard, and we both crashed outside, her soft weight falling over me in a huff. Only a second later, and it would’ve just been her arm to make it out.

A thunderous bang boomed before the hiss of the aftermath slithered through the air. The roof had caved in on each floor, demolishing the building flat to the ground. Now, it was only a heap of rubble and mess. Like a war had just torn through the place.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I could hear Mikhail talking to me, but there was only one thing I cared about right now. I didn’t know what that said about me.

“Bella,” I heaved, my hands tightening around her.

My rough hands cupped her cheeks and lifted her face to mine. “Bella, are you okay?” I asked, my eyes scanning every inch of her face.

“Yes.” I heard her whisper through the ringing in my ears.

She was breathing so hard that she didn’t even try to lift her head from my chest. And I didn’t fucking bother moving. It felt like I was breathing fire into my lungs, my bones weak, as a heavy buzz blocked my fucking ears.

Mikhail’s worried face leaned over me. “Arkane, are you okay?” he asked. It sounded so muffled that I hardly caught it, but I nodded.

Through the corner of my eye, I saw my brothers on the ground to my right. They both met my gaze and gestured that they were okay. Jon was already rising to his feet, with a cold, monstrous look in his eyes. Someone was going to die tonight—that much was certain.

Killian was face-first on the ground, coughing and cursing as he tried to catch his breath.

I didn’t know how long we stayed like that, but soon, my breathing slowed, and the cold air cooled my skin. I finally felt half myself again, but the calm did nothing to the rage burning in my blood. I didn’t care what corner of the earth Timothy Walters could run to hide. I would find him and rip his head off.

Only when a slight shiver passed through Bella did I slowly lift us to a seat. Noticing her hands were ice cold, I nodded to Mikhail, who produced a blanket for her. She whispered her thanks and huddled close. Her eyes finally found mine, her long lashes framing those pearly browns which gleamed under the moonlight. Even riddled with dirt, she was so fucking beautiful.

My thumb ran across her soft cheek, which was flushed pink. “You okay?” I asked once again, my tone softer this time.

“Yes,” she whispered, pointing a finger at her foot.

Frowning, my gaze shifted, and my eyes widened as I took in the small, thin steel bar poking out of her foot near her little toe.

Fuck. How the hell did she run with that?

“Does it not hurt?” I asked, already waving to Mikhail to get someone here. Although her face showed she was in terrible pain, her eyes weren’t even glazed with tears.

“Yes,” she whispered, and took in slow, deep breaths. Fuck, she must be hurting a lot.

“You’ll be okay,” I said, and carefully lifted her into my arms.

She gave me a small, jittery smile as her hands curled around my neck and her head fell to my chest.

“Arkane.” Killian walked over to me, anger blazing in his eyes, as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Whoever finds Timothy Walters first gets the kill,” he announced coldly before spinning back and striding away. Two big black trucks just sped by at that moment, and he got in, not before throwing a hard look my way. He then slammed the door, and the car took off.

For the first time, our enemy was the same.