The crowd outside the burning school were still gathered, increasing by the minute. More sirens, smoke, and panic evolved together. But all Ravyn could see was Sebastian. His skin was streaked with soot and dust, his shirt torn, and blood smeared along his legs and arms where falling debris must’ve caught him.
She dropped beside him the second she sighted him, pulling him into an embrace. “Sebastian! Sebby, are you okay? Talk to me.”
He coughed, his heaving chest against hers gave her hope, a half smile cracked through the grime. “I’m fine, doll. Just a scratch.”
Ravyn felt a lump in her throat. “You call this a scratch? You could’ve—” She broke off, unable to finish. Her hands trembled as she ran them down his face, checking for wounds.
“I’m fine,” he said again, in a softer voice thi
