Page 61 of Throne of Air and Darkness

I dove for the children.

The rest of the humans could rot in the rubble.

I knew the others would protect Maisri, protect themselves. But who would protect the human children? Not the feeble, angry crowd. They were screaming, thrashing, trying to get themselves out.

Their soft, tiny bodies pressed to the ground beneath me, their tears wetting my skin. But I didn’t move. I waited for it to be over. An explosion—that’s what it had been. Several of them, all in rapid succession.

Chunks of roof fell all at once, hitting my back. I waited for the tangy scent of my own blood, but it didn’t come. Bruises, then. The leather armor I’d had fashioned after Arran’s was doing its job.

But I couldn’t stay here forever. The children beneath me we quivering. I could smell urine—one of them had wet themselves.

And that roof was coming down.

One glance up—it was half gone already. Huge chunks of stone from the arches, wood as well. I could see the sunlight and flashes of blue sky. Ancestors—this wasn’t a mistake. Someone had done this. Waited until the guild hall was full and then…

I couldn’t think about it.

I gathered my strength, bracing my legs beneath me and scooping up the children, one in each arm. My muscles screamed as I pushed up to stand, bruised and battered from the falling rubble.

“Veyka!”

Arran.

I expected to see the beast—but my mate stood in his fae form instead. He and Osheen both, tall and straight.

Another glance and I realized why the roof was still standing—at least in part.

Massive branches snaked in from the rear of the building, where it abutted the line of trees. They formed a wide net, holding the remnants of the roof in place. People were rising, realizing that they were still alive. For now.

One look at the two fae males, the massive stone structure they held in place—this wouldn’t last. Couldn’t. They were powerful, especially Arran. But the damage from those explosions…the roof was coming down.

“Get out!” I screamed.

I didn’t wait to see who heeded my order. Human bodies moved in my periphery. Some didn’t—the dead who could not escape. I focused on the twin weights in my arms.

There was no doorway. What had been was blocked.

I turned quickly, assessing.

A half-crumbled wall. I didn’t think about the consequences—the weight that Arran and Osheen would have to bear. I had to get the children out. I kicked the bricks with all my strength, the half-destroyed wall giving way to create an opening. Just as the ceiling above it yawned. A flash of wood. Another branch.

Out. I pushed my way out. Past the stream of bloody humans, into the street.

“Veyka,” Lyrena exclaimed, already taking the weight of one child, then the other. I turned back to the guild hall.

My heart stopped, the bond in my chest screamed. The building was crumbling.

I surged forward, only to be yanked back. I recognized the snapping golden braid as arms closed around me.

“Let me go—”

The building exploded again.

Outward this time.

Arran’s beast burst from the rubble, Osheen running in his wake. They flew over the debris of stone and wood and bodies as if they had wings.

The wolf hit me hard, knocking me to the ground.

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