Lilith’s body had been covered with a tarp found among the rubble. Not out of respect, but necessity.
The silence that followed wasn’t awkward. It was heavy. Solid. Almost as dense as the concrete echoing under our footsteps as we made our slow way back to the warehouse.
Kael had his arm around me, holding me close to his side. He said nothing, but his warmth was an anchor. Lean walked a little ahead, his jaw clenched, his dark eyes fixed on nothing in particular.
Zack and Sage arrived soon after, followed by Tony. They all turned toward us with a mix of expectation and concern.
I didn’t wait for them to ask.
I stepped out of Kael’s embrace, walked to the center of the room, and looked at each of them. One by one.
“She’s dead.”
There were no murmurs of surprise.
Only gazes hardenin
