“Kellan, the gun.”

Matt was forgotten. Kellan looked back and watched as Dylan rose from the floor, the gun in his hand. He pointed it at him with a steady hand and hatred in his eyes. “You made him kill her. He never would’ve done that if you hadn’t seduced her with your sick lies.”

“I did care for her.”

Even as I heard the growl in Kellan’s voice, I studied him and saw he was back in control. The momentary lapse was forgotten, and now he stood there, content to watch what Dylan would do.

Why? I thought to myself, but stopped my thoughts when Kellan threw me an irritated look.

Vespar growled, “Rip out his throat, Kellan. What are you waiting for?”

But he didn’t. He stood, staring down the muzzle of the gun, with a calm that emanated from him. It was like he wanted the gun to go off, but… I was left with the same question I’d asked myself. Why? It hadn’t taken him long to take the gun from Matt and Dylan was closer, but something held him back, something that hadn’t happened yet.

Without thinking, my hand let go of the stair rail, and I stumbled to the floor. As I righted myself, everyone watched me, distracted for that moment. It was a surreal feeling in the basement at that moment, like the calm before a storm and then, like an echo in the distance, Dylan pulled his finger on the trigger. A bullet shot out, straight toward Kellan’s face, but it bounced off him. The air around Kellan rippled from the force of the bullet, protecting him.

I felt weak in the knees. My relief was so strong. I’d forgotten about the protective armor he could put around himself.

Effing hell! This guy doesn’t die. Even as he swore in his mind, Dylan turned in a smooth motion and thumbed out another bullet. This one hit Vespar in the chest and sent him backward against the wall. Dylan shot him again, and his body slumped to the floor, unconscious. Blood spilled out at a fast pace, but I didn’t wait to see it start to pool around him.

I whirled back and saw a satisfied look come over Kellan before he shot his arm out and snapped Dylan’s neck. The gun slid into his hand as Dylan’s body dropped to the floor, limp.

“What just happened?”

“Shay,” Kellan clipped out, unloading the gun in a motion that looked like he’d done it thousands of times. “Heal Vespar.”

“What? I can’t—you told me I couldn’t. I don’t…” I swallowed, feeling a lump in my throat. “I don’t know how.”

“Oh my God,” Matt whimpered from his sitting position against the wall.

“Ignore him. Heal Vespar.”

“You told me I couldn’t.”

“I lied!” Kellan roared at me. “Do it now or he’s going to die. Now!”

My feet were frozen in place as I watched Vespar’s body turn different shades of colors. It went from pale to golden tan to a purple shade. As the skin started crawling over him, it turned to blue and then white again. When he started trembling and rattling the floor, I choked out, shaking my head, “I can’t. I…I don’t know…”

And then the house started to shake again, but it wasn’t Kellan. As he closed his eyes, I turned toward the door and something in me wasn’t surprised when Damien glided downstairs. He wasn’t there in his human form, but as his messenger. His eyes were black orbs, and his entire body had grown white. Bursts of cold air rolled down the stairs before him and swirled around the room. It was a dramatic event, one of too many that night, but then as Damien paused before me, his eyes met and held mine. I felt his request for permission, though I didn’t know what it was for, and I nodded, succumbing. He was there to heal Vespar. I couldn’t do it…

When he didn’t move past me, I followed his gaze and saw he was locked in a heated look with Kellan. They were talking through their thoughts, but I wasn’t privy. Neither wanted me involved, and then Kellan jerked away. His shoulders dropped slightly, and I knew he’d given his permission, but I didn’t know why. And then before I could think about it, Vespar’s body was jerked in the air. It floated toward us and Damien touched it. A bright light burst from him, blinding Kellan and Matt. I was immune, as was Damien and we both watched as the poison from the bullet retracted itself and then poured from the wound. The skin healed itself, and then Vespar’s body was laid back on the floor.

It was done as quickly as it started.

We put Vespar beside Gus in the backseat and Matt in the trunk. Kellan refused to leave him behind. He’d seen too much, but I wouldn’t let him kill Matt. Too much death had already occurred. Then Damien and I climbed into the front with Kellan behind the steering wheel. As we drove off, everyone was quiet. Gus and Vespar were unconscious. Aumae remained quiet beside them and I felt the tension between Kellan and Damien. It was thick, so thick I wondered what would spark it. It was going to happen. I just didn’t know when.

“Shay’s father is tracking us. I can feel him,” Damien murmured.

Kellan kept driving. “I know.”

“He waited for us to deal with the humans. He can’t interact with them. It’s not why he’s here.”

“I know that, too.”

“Do you have a plan?” Damien whipped his head around and glared.

I closed my eyes, just waiting.

“My plan? My plan was to get Vespar and Gus. We’ll need their help dealing with Shazaam.”

Damien bit out, “That’s not his name.”