Alexis replies first—Safe. Where are you?—
—Under the dessert table with Max—Willow? You OK?—Donovan?—
My heart calms a little, especially when Willow joins the telepathic group call.
—Me and Naomi are in the ladies’ room. Maybe a dozen others, too. A security guard is at the door—
That leaves…
—DONOVAN HART—YOU ANSWER ME RIGHT NOW—
Nothing. Fuck.
—DONOVAN!—
—I see him—Cosmo! Good.
—What’s going on? Is he OK?—
—He’s with his parents. I can see a head injury, but he’s awake and talking. Protestors have come through the staff entrances. It’s chaotic, but I don’t see many injured. Lots of smoke grenades. Fuck—Can anyone see my sister?—
Max ducks back down. “I can see Aurora. She’s on her own, curled up in a ball by the stage. We need to grab her, then get out of here.”
“Then let’s do that!” I quickly send Cosmo and Alexis a mental message, letting them know our plan.
—No, stay safe until I can come to you—Alexis’s tone is fierce.
Max cups my face in his hand. “Sparkles, you wait here. I have to get Aurora.”
“I’d rather go with you than be left alone. Come on, we’ll be fast.”
More shattering happens, and high-pitched screams fill the air.
“Fuck, alright then.” Maximus grabs my hand.
“Now, Sparkles. Now!”
37
This fancy-pants dance has gone to shit.
I would say it had gone to the dogs, but I’ve recently purged that particular saying from my vocab.
I wrap my fingers through Theo’s, anchoring her to my side, as some part of my brain starts screaming at me.
I think it’s the hound.
“Guard her,”the gravelly voice snarls in my mind.
Will do, inner-beast, will do. An involuntary howl leaves my mouth. “Ow whooo.”
My hellhound is extremely close to the surface. In fact, I think if I asked nicely, he’d even come out to play. I channel him as I look out over the ballroom floor. The fighting and screaming, thrown bricks and flaming projectiles slow to almost stopping mid-air as my senses sharpen.
I can see so much, hear everything.
And don’t get me started on the smells.
Immediately, I see the best way to avoid trouble while getting to Cosmo’s little sister. It only takes a few seconds, and one karate chop to the throat of a passing knob-head, and we reach the little Cosmo-ette.
