Both Serena and Gav screamed.
Her fabricated sword clattered to the stone floor. Gav hurled the fire poker on pure instinct, arm cocking and releasing before his brain caught up.
Dex sidestepped at Alpha speed and the poker sailed past his head, embedding itself in a wooden bookshelf with a thunk that would have been funny under any other circumstances.
He blinked, staring at the poker quivering in the shelf.
"That was meant for an invisible guy," Gav said.
Dex pulled the poker from the shelf. "Tell me that wasn't your best shot."
Then his gaze swept to Serena's tear-streaked cheeks and trembling hands. He closed the distance and pulled her into his arms.
"It's okay, baby. I'm here." His voice was low and fierce and shaking at the edges, and his arms locked around her like he could hold the world back if he just held her tight enough.
Serena wanted to melt into him. Every part of her wanted to collapse against his chest and let him carry this.
