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with disbelief. Horror, even. “Is he…”

Carter’s face was sober, as grim as I’d ever seen. “He’s gone.”

It felt like the bottom had dropped out of the world.

Chapter Nineteen

“Gone? What do you mean, gone? You mean he’s dead?”

Either Ellie was hard of hearing, or stunned, or in shock. She was having a hard time comprehending the message.

“He’s dead, Ellie,” Carter repeated. “When the phoenix ignited, James was too close. The blast, the explosion, the fire…he was enveloped, Ellie. No way he could’ve survived. He’s gone.”

“The phoenix?” She looked confused. Switching topics, she gestured toward the body Javier had hauled out in the nick of time. “Who is that, if it isn’t James?”

“Sean,” Carter answered, grim. “He’ll make it. I think. I had just enough time to get in front of him. Shield him.”

She studied him, anxious. “You shielded him? With yourself? Honey, are you sure you’re okay?”

Her questing hands fluttered over his face, his neck, his shoulders like she was checking for injuries. Carter caught one hand. Bringing it to his mouth, he pressed a kiss to her palm. “I’ll be fine. I need to check on Sean.”

He let her go, making his way through the rubble to where Javier had placed their employer in a safe spot. Ellie followed, kneeling next to him. Carter didn’t have to ask or suggest that she check him. She already was. Her fingertips felt for a pulse, then gently probed the large lump on the side of his face next to his left eyebrow. She laid a hand on his chest, then an ear. She unbuttoned his shirt to examine the cut where blood was seeping out, staining the fabric.

Carter and Javier waited while she finished up by running her hands over his arms and legs, checking for broken bones. Finally she sat back, pushing her glasses further up the bridge of her nose.

“I can’t say for certain about a head injury without a CT scan, of course,” she said, “but I don’t see anything potentially life threatening right now. He could have a concussion, of course, but it looks like you did your job.” She nodded at Carter. “Hopefully, he’ll be fine. I heard sirens a minute ago. EMTs should be here soon. We’ll get him in the ambulance and get him to the hospital for further tests.”

“No.”

The word was so garbled that Carter didn’t even realize at first that Sean had spoken.

“Mr. Costas?” Ellie leaned over him. “Mr. Costas, can you hear me? How are you feeling?”

“Uh…like I was hit. Hit by a truck.”

His voice was breathy, laced with pain. He hadn’t opened his eyes, but he was coherent, answering questions. That was a good sign, right?

“Not a truck, but a piece of wall or ceiling, I think,” Ellie half-chuckled. “Carter took the brunt of it for you.”

“Carter?”

At this, Sean’s eyes opened to slits, rolled around, seeking him.

“I’m here.”

Carter knelt next to his wife on one knee, hovering over his boss.

“Get—get me out of here,” Sean said quietly, but his voice had firmed considerably.

Ellie shot Carter a look, shaking her head. “He needs to go to the hospital,” she mouthed.

Sean must’ve heard or discerned what Ellie was insisting on. “No hospitals,” he said. “No tests. No time for that. Need to get to Ciara. Need to stop her and Nosiz—Nosizwe before...”

“Mr. Costas.” Ellie broke in, her tone brooking no arguments. “That is not a good idea. You’ve been hit in the head. You need to make sure you don’t have a concussion or something more serious. A few tests won’t take that long. With your connections, I’m sure they can fast track you at the hospital.”

She said it drily. Carter knew Ellie’s personal opinion of Sean with his less-than-savory business enterprises and contacts wasn’t high, and that wasn’t even counting every questionable thing he’d done in his pursuit of protecting his shifter family.

“No time.” Sean tried to shake his head, but even that slight motion made him stop, groan.

“There is time,” Ellie insisted. “I’m sure the EMTs will agree. They’ll be here any second.”

As if she’d drawn them by her prediction, Carter heard a familiar female voice calling, “Ellie? Ellie, where are you? Are you okay?”

“Detective Ewing!” Ellie stood up, waving an arm. Flashlight beams caught the motion. Dark figures headed their way.

“We have help,” the detective shouted. “Are you hurt?”

“I’m not, but we do need some help over here.”

Carter edged aside as the two police detectives he’d left Ellie with this morning approached through the curtain of dust and smoke that was finally beginning to clear. With them were an older man and a younger woman in uniforms, both carrying medical equipment. Behind them trailed a line of emergency personnel: firefighters, police, the sheriff’s office, and more paramedics and EMTs. They dispersed, spreading over the scene, working to regain control of the situation. It crossed Carter’s mind that he’d eventually have to give an account of what had occurred. Trying to explain about shapeshifters and a phoenix being responsible for this mess wouldn’t go over well. Shoot. He’d think of something. In the end, they’d never be able to prove him wrong anyway, and no crime had been committed by anyone that was still here. Ciara and Darla were both long gone.

His focus shifted to the present as medical personnel approached, kneeling next to Sean. “This is the home owner, Sean Costas,” Ellie explained, kneeling beside them. Briefly, she explained that she was a nursing student and told them what she’d gleaned in her cursory examination. They took it into account, nodding, asking a few questions as they checked vitals.

Carter wasn’t surprised when they tried to insist Sean needed to visit the hospital and have tests run to ensure there were no hidden injuries, just like Ellie had wanted. Neither was he surprised when Sean refused. By this point, his employer was coming to, speaking clearly and coherently, able to answer questions and put his foot down on a hospital visit. With the assistance of the male police detective, he

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