My attention turned back to my mate, and I held my breath as he and the giant grappled, neither able to gain the advantage.
“They’re fighting for me and Alanna. I should be out there.”
“If you want, I can protect Alanna for you so you can go help them.”
Hesitating, I bit my lip, then shook my head. “They’re doing all of this to keep us safe. I’d be playing into Barrett’s hands by going out there, and I’d be spitting on everyone else’s sacrifice. Thank you, though, Matteo.”
I still felt horrible. People were getting hurt. Some might not make it out of this fight alive. If we hadn’t come here to Moonhaven, to the Bear Clan, none of this would be happening.
But if we hadn’t come, Alanna and I would still be running… or worse.
And then Riggs went down.
My hand found Matteo’s arm, and I gripped it tightly, my eyes locked on my mate and the giant who was seconds away from killing him.
It felt like the whole world went silent.
Then sound came rushing back as I screamed his name and the giant’s hand came down like a club, aiming for my mate’s head.
Alanna cried out too. Magic exploded brightly across her right hand, and lightning bolt after lightning bolt tore from the clear blue sky, striking the giant, Barrett, and the rest of his soldiers. They seized, then dropped to the ground.
One of the enforcers checked on Barrett. I could hear him say he was still alive, just unconscious, through the open door.
“Did she just?—”
“I… think so,” I said softly. “Her hand lit up. Did you see that?”
He nodded, eyes wide. “I thought she didn’t have magic.”
“It’s nearly impossible to detect elemental magic in babies. Elementals don’t usually come into their power until their teens. Until then, they can appear completely normal. Certain paranormals can tell, but there’s a safeguard in their DNA that keeps them hidden.”
We watched as Finn, Roarke, the two elves, Dice, and others rounded up Barrett and his soldiers, snapping power-canceling cuffs onto them. Within minutes, cop cars came screaming onto the lawn, and the mercenaries were loaded into the backs of the vehicles.
Riggs had shifted back and pulled on a pair of sweats. The moment he spotted me and Alanna, he ran to us and swept us into a tight hug.
“I was so worried. I hadn’t seen you. Matteo let me know you were okay, that he was with you, but I was still worried one of them had come around the back, or found another way in and attacked you and Alanna.”
Alanna babbled happily now, while I clutched my mate just as tightly as he held me.
“Don’t worry about me over here,” Matteo snarked. “I might need a hug too. Did anyone think of that?”
Riggs laughed and pulled him into our hug.
We were safe.
We were all safe.
Well… I hoped everyone was safe.
“Have you gotten a report through the Clan link yet? Is everyone okay?”
Riggs nodded, pulling back slightly, though he didn’t let go. I didn’t think either of us would for a while.
“Yeah. There were some injuries, but thankfully no fatalities.”
I sighed in relief, but my mate’s expression shifted.
“Where did those lightning strikes come from? That was strange, even for Moonhaven. I didn’t think we had any storm elementals helping us.”
