Page 116 of The World Undone

“Max.”

I resisted the temptation and fell back on my ass, my lungs pumping overtime as I caught my breath.

Ro’s face was in front of me, his eyes searching, concerned.

I cleared my throat, blinking as my focus recalibrated to the scene surrounding us. “I’m okay.”

Healing was a difficult art, and the element of my power I still struggled with most. It was so easy—going over the edge, giving too much.

He studied me for a moment longer, like he wasn’t fully convinced, but then he nodded and sat back down. “You need to work on holding back a little.”

“I’ll add it to my list of things to get to eventually.” I took a deep breath. “Is Charlie?—”

“Right as rain.” She came into view as Ro shifted out of the way, her smile wide as she ran a hand over neck. There was still a mark, but it was small and looked months healed. And not at all like a supernatural wound should. “Doesn’t even hurt anymore.” She pressed a hand over her belly as her eyes found mine. “Thank you. Truly. I owe you.”

“We’re family,” I smiled, “but if either of us owes the other anything, it’s me.”

Charlie had given me so much—a home, comfort, community. And, though I knew it would take time to foster the bond between us, she was the only link to my family that I had left. Not counting Ro, of course.

Mer was there now, and she crouched down to help Charlie up. When she was satisfied that her friend was indeed okay, she scanned the rest of us. “Well, glad to see you guys made it back safely, but it seems you’ve multiplied your numbers. I don’t remember that being an option in any of the possible outcomes Bishop had planned for.”

I jumped, reminded suddenly that Claude and Nash were here.

“We didn’t bring them,” I said, noticing a few more familiar faces scattered nearby, eyeing the newcomers warily. “They just—oof” The words were swallowed as Izzy dove into me, crushing me in a hug violent enough that it would have left bruises on a human.

“You’re okay.” She pulled back, grinning in acknowledgment to Ro, who was also suddenly swept up in a much more tender welcome back with Arnell.

She did a double take, her focus darting between Darius at my feet and his angrier-looking brother.

“Max, not to alarm you or anything,” she took a step closer to Claude, studying him, “but did you know that there’s currently two of your vampire?”

Claude eyed her with vacant amusement, which was a considerably kinder expression than he reserved for most interactions.

“This is Darius’s twin,” I said, the resemblance between them obvious, even though their personalities and the way they carried themselves shaded in some differences. “And their friend, Nash.”

“Friend is not a word I would use,” Nash said, still cradling the girl in his arms while his eyes scanned everyone, like he was waiting for someone to attack.

“And who’s she?” Izzy asked, either unaware of Nash’s general tension, or unconcerned by it.

For a moment, I didn’t think he’d answer.

In fact, I was beginning to wonder if he might attack.

Clearly Claude thought so too, because he shifted his weight slightly, putting himself between Nash and the rest of us.

“My sister,” he said, “Nika.”

Nika.

The name sparked recognition in my chest. “Darius’s friend? I thought she was dead?”

Nash arched a brow. “Darius has an odd definition of friendship, considering he ruined her life.”

“The girl has a point,” Claude studied the pair of them, “I was under the impression that Nika had died as well.”

“Your brother drew his own conclusions,” Nash clutched her closer to his chest, as if he was afraid Claude might try ripping her from him, “I simply let him.”

“How are the three of you here?” I asked, sensing that things between the two vampires were veering towards issues and technicalities I had no interest in entertaining. They had shit to work through, but now wasn’t the time. I turned to Mer. “And have any of the others arrived?”

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