Page 78 of How to Rescue Your Surprise Baby

“We have time tosave your fucking life,” Telos hissed. He almost panicked, riffling through all the spells in the pouch, but remembered at the last moment where the healing spells were. Just that healing took time; Uriel had said these spells couldn’t work miracles. He yanked two out and slapped them on either side of Mav’s arm. “I swear to the gods, if you let yourself bleed out—”

“I won’t, okay?”

Telos pulled out a strip of fabric, tying the spells to Mav’s wound with shaking hands. There was no time. He didn’t know what kind of fire had been lit, or how fast it was spreading through the building. There were so many lives at stake.

He pressed his hands to either side of Mav’s arm, letting Mav’s blood soak into the paper. Mav pressed his hand over Telos’, and their eyes met.

Telos repeated the incantation that Uriel had taught him, and prayed like he’d never prayed before.

Mav hissed. “Think it worked.”

“You better fucking tell me if it didn’t,” Telos snarled. Then he grabbed Mav’s unhurt hand and yanked him out of there, kicking down all the doors with heartbeats behind them.

Omegas whimpered; babies wailed. “C’mon, everyone! Let’s get you out of here,” Telos yelled, gesturing for them to stand. “Those of you who can walk, grab some babies. This place is on fire.”

“Like that won’t send everyone into a panic,” Mav said dryly.

Telos scowled and charged into the nearest cell, shoving babies at the adults who had an arm to spare. He hauled two wobbly omegas over his shoulders—both with two babies in their arms—and ran out of the building, kicking down the emergency door.

Outside, smoke billowed. A car alarm blared into the night, and bodies were strewn about.

“What’s the status?” Mav asked on the comms.

“We’ve taken down all the targets,” Duke replied. “Focus on evacuation.”

The next several minutes were filled with bundling babies into empty arms, sometimes giving an omega three babies to hold. Those who were steady on their feet got hurried down the hallways, and the team carried out omegas who couldn’t walk.

The smoke grew thicker in the hallways, though. Telos was quickly discovering the disadvantage of being tall—he had to crouch extra low so he wasn’t breathing the smoke near the ceiling.

Between the six of them, they got out every last baby and omega, watching from a safe distance as the building began to collapse.

“Fuck,” Telos breathed, leaning into Mav’s side. His throat and lungs were burning from all that smoke.

“It’s not over yet,” Mav muttered. “We still have to deal with the police, the EMTs,andfinding a place for everyone for the night.”

The list alone exhausted Telos. “Butlers,” he muttered. “That’s what butlers are for.”

But some of the victims probably needed the hospital, and they probably needed it right now.

With a groan, Telos stepped forward, only to have Duke clap loudly to catch everyone’s attention. “Show of hands: Who has difficulty breathing? Who needs medical attention right now?”

A few hands came up. Telos thought he saw a couple of Pinks’ friends in that number.

“I’ll fly them to the nearest hospital,” Ace said.

“Same here,” Raptor said.

Both of them looked incredibly hopeful when omegas began climbing to their feet.

One of Pinks’ friends stood and promptly stumbled, falling into Raptor’s arms. It was Walren, with his uneven legs.

“Sorry,” Walren squeaked, ducking his head. “I can’t walk straight most days.”

Raptor looked as though Walren had hung the moon. “I’ll fly you to safety right now. You can count on me.”

Ace shifted into a large sapphire dragon. “Who’s hurt? Don’t worry about walking; I’ll come over to you.”

Ivo limped up to him, baby in his arms. “I need help.”

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