Page 284 of Blood and Ruin: The Complete Series

We join him, checking out the extent of the damage. The road and sidewalk are no longer distinguishable, blending together to make a mass wreckage of debris. The buildings are lost among the rubble, no distinctive signs left of what they used to be. Fires are still alight, scattered all over the place, and vehicles are broken and overturned, most burned out or still in flames.

“This is going to take more than a clean-up crew.” Jax frowns, surveying the destruction.

“I added to it when I sent out that blast. I—”

“No. You saved us. If it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t be together right now,” Kai’s says, leaving no room for question.

An icy shiver runs down my back at the tone in his voice, making me wonder how close it was for all of them too.

Jax clears his throat. “I give I.O.U’s in the form of sexual favors.” He gives me an innocent look, his eyes wide. “Just so you know.”

Laughter bubbles up inside me, chasing away some of the guilt and tension around us.

Luka shakes his head at us, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and pulling me into his side.

“We’ll section off this side of the city until we can get it re-built,” Kai says, turning to us.

“We should do a search for any supes lost or still trapped.” Rion sighs, a frown on his face as he glances around.

“Kiarra might be able to help us with that,” Luka says, looking down at me, a smile on his face.

The guys glance back and forth between us wearing puzzled expressions.

“My abilities, they’ve… grown. I can sense people around me and see them like a light in my mind.” The guys’ expressions turn stunned.

“So what you’re saying is, never try to play hide-and-seek with you?” Jax nods his head. “Got it.” He winks at me.

I shove him playfully, thanking him for breaking the awkward moment.

“If you’re not too tired to try, that is,” Luka says.

“I’m fine.” I didn’t feel an ounce of exhaustion. Whatever power I awakened inside me still feels endless. With just a thought, anyone in the surrounding area lights up inside my mind.

I hear a sharp intake of breath from one of the guys beside me, but I stay focused, searching around me for anyone who might need help. I move from person to person, casting my search farther out, but no other lights are found in our area.

Meaning only one thing… those that were still here, are gone.

Swallowing hard against the lump in my throat, I think about how many lights have faded from this world and into the next tonight. How many families have lost a sister, brother, friend, or partner?

I keep looking for a moment longer before pulling back. Blinking back the burn in my eyes that threatens to spill, I glance up at the guys. They’re all staring at me with awed expressions, making me frown.

Kai steps closer, reaching a hand out to my face. “Your eyes, they’re not just black anymore. It’s like a constellation of stars. They’re beautiful.”

Clearing my throat, I reel back the energy inside me. Opening my mouth, I try to come up with a change of subject, but nothing comes to mind.

Kai gives me a knowing look. “What did you find?”

“Most are making their way in the opposite direction. If there are any supes that were lost or trapped. They didn’t make it.”

“Damn.” Jax exhales.

We stay silent for a minute, the air around us becoming sorrowful with thoughts of those who were lost in the fight.

Our silent moment is broken when we hear movement from behind us. Whipping around to it, we find a portal opening not twenty feet away from us.

The guys are in near shift, still trying to push me behind them when Jazmyn stumbles through.

“Jazmyn?”

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