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The blonde girl was still with Brynn. Archer had his arm wrapped around his sister as she knelt by Cal’s side. Tessa sat next to Jeff.
“Jeff needs blood.” My hands rubbed over my face. It had been a long night. I’d had longer, but not by much with the stress of finding Brynn and now leading my family and others.
You went up against him. I told you not to.Aunt Mercy, Lady Life, did not sound pleased.
Drew didn’t react. Life had sent the message to me alone.Not intentionally. We just refused to join him, and he got angry.
Get back here now. Hurry.
I sighed. Drew looked at me. “Life isn’t pleased. We need to go.”
“We’ll keep it the same. I’ll take Jeff again. You take Dalt, and Chris can take Cal. Chris will drive the SUV home since Dalt’s down. Sophie will ride with him to heal Dalton on the road.” Drew looked over at me. “Sorry, this is your job.” He smirked.
“You know how much I hate leading.” I’d hand the reins to Drew in a second. A year ago, I wouldn’t have dreamed of that, but he’d matured and leveled out after his bonding and babies.
Drew stepped forward but turned back to me. “Doesn’t matter if you like it or not. Cal doesn’t always care to lead, but it’s the slot given to him in life. We’ve got your back just like we’ve had his.”
My brother was right, but it didn’t make me happy all the same.
With a sigh, I followed him to the group again. “Okay, everyone, listen up. Follow Drew. No talking. Hold hands if you need to so you’re not separated from the group since the sun isn’t up yet.” Brynn stood to the side with her friend, and I looked at her as I approached Dalt. “Stay by me.”
She nodded. “I will.”
“When we get to the car, you can introduce me to your friend.” I gave the other girl a smile, one she returned with hesitance.
“Okay.” Brynn wrung her hands together, and I stood there like an idiot. We were married, and for some reason, we stood there like two teenagers with a crush who didn’t know what to say to their first love.
“I’ve missed you.” I should’ve been setting a good example by picking up Dalt, but I needed to clear the air between Brynn and I. “There’s a lot to tell you. Let’s get to the car, and I’ll start filling you in.”
“Okay.” She smiled at me but didn’t offer anything else. When we became awkward, I bent down and picked up my brother, holding him like a baby. If he were out like Jeff and Cal, I’d have carried him over my shoulder, but his injuries wouldn’t appreciate the position.
“Adam?” I looked up at her as I prepared to lift Dalt. Brynn’s eyes welled with tears. “I’ve missed you too.”
I picked my brother up and looked at the women surrounding me. “Okay, Brynn, hold my shirt on the left and your friend will hold your hand. Sophie, can you keep healing Dalt and walk?”
“I don’t really want to risk it. He’s doing much better. I’m almost done. He can survive the walk without a healer.” Sophie’s news was good to hear.
“Okay, then hold onto my shirt on the right in case Dalton needs you after all. Grace, hold Sophie’s hand.” The girls did what I told them before Chris ushered more of the group over to us.
The walk back to the car was brighter from the rising sun but smelled smokier. The faces of those who hadn’t yet seen the damage until we’d popped out of the city had been drawn as they observed the destruction. They were a lucky bunch.
“How can we leave when so many people are going to die?” Brynn’s friend was the first to speak on our walk. I didn’t have the heart to reprimand her for speaking when everyone else had the same question.
“If we stay, we’ll die as well. We’re lucky we’re not dead now. I can’t explain more now, but we’re lucky to have all of you. We’re creating a combined army to go against him and his followers. The more people we have, the better.”
The rest of the walk remained quiet. Brynn’s hold on me never wavered. She held tight, and I couldn’t wait until the time I could hold her to me. Memories of nights with Brynn flooded my mind, and it took effort to sweep them away. For now. Later on, we’d recreate some memories, but for now, I needed my head in the game. And I needed to do some explaining first.
We reached the vehicles, and Grace lit the lantern while Drew took Jeff and Archer out into the woods away from the light. Archer had agreed to give the Healing and Love Elemental some blood to boost his energy.
“Brynn, you and your friend will ride with me as well as anyone else who can fit in the car.” Sylee, Carmon, Archer, and other cadets and Neutrals took the remaining seats in the car. It was squished, but no one complained.
No one spoke on the way back, and I kept my eyes peeled for danger. I’d have loved to hold Brynn’s hand, but her presence in the seat beside me was distraction enough.
“What happened to the road?” Archer leaned forward to view Marcus’ damage better when we neared the Compound.
“An irritated Earth Elemental threw a fit,” I grumbled.
Someone in the back snorted. “Ha ha. What really happened?”
