He couldn’t—
A body slammed into his, sending him staggering backward. His arms came up instinctively, his chest seizing as they wrapped around the circle of a waist he would know anywhere.
“Aya,” he gasped.
A broken sob wrenched from her as she squeezed himtighter, her arms thrown around his neck.
“Aya.”
Her name tumbled from his lips again and again as he hugged her to him fiercely, one arm around her waist, the other on the back of her head. Dust continued to rain down on them; dust, and debris, and gods knew what else, and Will could do nothing but hold her tightly and shield her head andwait.
For once, it wasn’t an agony.
She was here. She was here, in his arms, and if the world didn’t feel like it was ending around them, he might just think it was a dream.
“I’ve got you,” he breathed against her ear, holding her as tightly as he could. “I promise, I’ve got you.”
It felt like an eternity before the roaring finally ceased, dust floating in the air as an unnatural stillness descended on Sitya. Will cupped Aya’s cheek, forcing her back so he could see her face, so he could prove to himself that this was real.
Thatshewas real.
She was covered in soot, from her brown hair to her lashes to the wretched navy uniform she wore, but it was her blue eyes staring back at him, light like the ice patches on the creeks of the Malas, and it was her skin beneath the dirt and grime. He could feel the warmth of it as he ran his thumb across her cheek, his forehead pressing against hers as he tried to breathe.
“I—” she tried, but words seemed to fail her as tears spilled over her cheeks.
He didn’t need them, anyway.
Will pressed his lips to hers in answer, uncaring about the dirt covering them both, and he poured every ounce of the words he couldn’t find either into his kiss, his voice rendered entirely useless by her presence.
I love you. I love you. I love you.
A low growl sounded from beside them. Will reluctantlypulled away to see Tyr in guarding position, his ears flattened as he looked toward the docks.
Another broken sound wrenched from Aya, her hand reaching for her bonded. She fell to her knees, and Will went with her, his arm still locked around her waist as she placed a trembling hand on Tyr’s shoulder.
“He’s…”
“Alive,” Will filled in when her voice broke. He could feel tremors racking through her, and he wasn’t sure if they were emotion or a consequence of the power she had just wielded. Either way…
“I promise to explain everything,” Will said, his grip tightening on her waist. “But we need to go.”
The citadel had bought them maybe a few minutes of distraction. He was not fool enough to believe the fighting had ceased. Already, he could hear shouts coming from the docks.
He swallowed roughly, his mouth going dry as he thought of their friends.
Gods, he hoped they’d gotten clear of the destruction.
He looked back to Aya, but she was staring past him, her lips parted in disbelief.
Will turned to see two wolves walking through the haze of debris. Behind them, soot-covered but very much alive, were Aidon and Liam.
Aidon broke into a run as soon as he saw them. Will helped Aya to her feet, his arm remaining protectively around her as she swayed.
Gods. She’d…she’d destroyed the citadel. The realization hadn’t quite dawned on him until now, now that he had her in his arms and could see the toll such a feat of power had taken on her.
Aidon skidded to a halt just before them, eyes wide as he took them both in. He reached for Aya, his fingers nudging her chin as he gave her a watery smile. “Fucking hells,” heswore wetly. “You just had to tear down a building, didn’t you?”
Will waited for Aya’s response, but it didn’t come. He glanced down to find her blinking at Aidon, her gaze hazy.
