Page 281 of Immune

Then Fletcher, hard and sharp.

Kaito, lower and deadly.

Xeon, quiet enough to make even the air afraid.

Maine.

Maine sounds like he’s breaking.

I look down.

My hands are red.

My shirt is red.

Blood drips from my fingers and onto the floor in soft little taps.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Four minutes, maybe.

Less.

More.

Time is weird.

Ewan is still near the first body, one hand pressed to his side and face pale with pain. His eyes are locked on me. Through the bond, I feel him there, bright and terrified and aching to reach me.

Not away.

Never away.

Kaito reaches him first, one hand on his shoulder to keep him from trying to get up too fast.

“Don’t,” Kaito says, voice tight. “You’re hurt.”

Ewan ignores him, eyes planted directly on me. “Kota.”

I look over at him.

There he is.

My big, stupid lamp.

Smoke and clove.

Alive.

I step toward him and the guard standing with Valeria tenses. I don’t even know when they arrived, but I know the Alphas don’t tense with them.

Kaito’s head snaps toward the guards so fast the nearest one takes half a step back. Then he says, “Lower your weapons.”

No one moves.