SINCLAIRI ran through the smoke, every sense on high alert. The crack of gunfire, the shouts, the screams, they all blended together into a chaotic rhythm that made my head spin but through it all, my eyes were locked on Lyra. She had survived the first wave, and that was all that mattered.“Lyra!” I called again, my voice hoarse from shouting over the noise. She turned toward me, her eyes wide, chest heaving. She was trembling, but she was alive. Alive. That’s all that counts.I skidded to a stop in front of her, grabbing her shoulders to keep her from falling back into the chaos.“Are you hurt?” I asked, my voice low, urgent.“I… I’m fine,” she said, though her hands shook and dirt streaked her face. “Thanks… I guess.”I scanned her quickly. Scrapes, dust, soot but no major wounds. Relief hit me hard, but it mixed with anger at myself. I should have been here sooner, I should have protected her.“Don’t move,” I ordered, crouching next to her. “Stay down until I clear a path.”She n
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