Heat punches into me, my face stinging despite the autumn chill. Ash starts drifting down like black snowflakes all the way to the ground.
A helpless sob tears through my throat because, goddammit, I can’t call the fire department. My phone is in the kitchen.
I don’t want to leave them here alone either and run to get help.
Coming back to charred corpses while I was out there, looking for a phone…
“Herbert!” I try again, coughing as I near the back door of the house, where the flames aren’t as strong. I slow to a stop, shouting, “Mary!”
Neither of them answers, but Varn…he’s growling. Low and menacing.
I’ve never heard him like that. He’s such a sweet boy, not a mean bone in his body.
But here he is, pushing himself to my side, as if forming a wall between me and the world. Is he mad at the flames? Impossible. Especially since they’re in front of me.
I look down, reaching for that spot he loves behind his ear. I stop when I see his teeth bared and his gaze off to the side, not at our home.
The hair on his fur stands on end.
“Hi, Sis.”
Barclay.
That’s why Varn is losing it.
I cut my gaze up and find my brother standing there, on my grounds. My sanctuary.
First thing I notice is he’s not doing great. His long black coat barely conceals how much he’s struggling. He flinches as he edges toward me, probably because he skipped his pain meds so he could stay fully aware when he launched the attack on Duncan’s and my home.
Where are his nurses? Why didn’t they alert Duncan that Barclay is up to something? Or maybe he just told them he’s going out with his friends?
Speaking of his friends.
The MacQuoid cousins are here, both in black coats like my brother’s. Jayden, the one who ratted us out, has a blond messy, hair, his green eyes apologetic. Victor is to his left, a thinner, taller version of him.
In a few long steps, they catch up with Barclay, moving past him and head straight to me.
Fear nearly eats me alive, but I fight it.
This is our home.
Barclay, goddamn him, has no right to burn it down. He has no right to be here at all.
“Barclay, what the hell are you doing?” I shout over the crackling flames.
As they close the distance between them and me, Varn’s menacing growls echo louder.
Then Jayden’s hand is there, grazing my arm. At the last minute, my legs finally move, and I stumble back. Varn’s right beside me.
“Came to take what’s mine,” my brother huffs, wincing at the pain that slices through him.
“I’m not yours. Never was. Never will be.” My hands itch to shield my two loves, Varn and my could-be baby. I don’t reach for either of them, knowing Barclay would kill them just to ruin me. “I’m done with you. Leave, now.”
Varn’s growls turn into angry barks. He starts rounding me, snarling at Jayden and Victor. Both men are now flanking me from either side.
“You? Done with me?” Barclay cackles, the sound corrosive. “You’re not done with anything. Not untilIsay so. Knock her out, Victor.”
“You sure?” Jayden asks. I don’t see him. Where’d he go?
