Fire erupted from beneath Wolfen's feet.
He wasn't going to let her get away. Not now. Not after everything. The flames launched him forward, a missile of rage and determination aimed at the shrinking figure on the horizon—
Sentinel's tail caught him mid-flight.
The impact was catastrophic. Ribs shattered—not cracked, not fractured, but shattered—the force sending him flying in the opposite direction, further from Lily than he'd ever been. He tumbled through the air, a broken doll, before finally crashing into the sand hundreds of yards away.
Zoey watched him fly.
She watched Sentinel turn and disappear into the black liquid that had consumed the other monsters. She watched Lily's silhouette fade into the distance, carried by creatures she couldn't hope to catch.
Then she ran to Wolfen.
He was down. Healing, but down. His ribs were already knitting, the familiar process of regeneration working its slow magic, but for now he just lay there, staring at the sky.
"Ouch," he said as she approached.
Zoey stopped beside him, looking down at his prone form. "Well. That's one word to describe your pain."
Wolfen didn't move. Didn't try to get up. Just kept staring at the clouds.
Zoey stood over him, arms crossed. "Need help?"
She was teasing. Obviously teasing. The corner of her mouth twitched.
"No. I'm perfectly fine." Wolfen's voice was strained, but the sarcasm was intact. "Just give me a minute. Take."
Zoey's smile widened. "Take your time, Wolfie."
Wolfen's eyes narrowed. It took a full minute for the nickname to register—a minute of him lying there, staring at the sky, trying to figure out why that word felt wrong.
Then it hit him.
He sat up so fast his newly healed ribs protested. "How dare you call me that, sugar cubes!"
Zoey's laugh was bright, unexpected, cutting through the tension of the failed chase. "Stop whining and get up. Lily's gone."
Wolfen climbed to his feet, brushing sand from his clothes. His ribs still ached, but they'd hold.
"Wolfie," Zoey said again, drawing out the syllables.
Wolfen's eye twitched. "Stop calling me that."
"Whatever you say, Wolfie."
"That's it. I'm leaving you here."
"You can't. I'm the only one who knows where the rendezvous point is."
Wolfen stared at her. Zoey stared back, utterly unrepentant.
"You're evil," he said finally.
"I learned from the best." She turned and started walking down the beach. "Come on, Wolfie. We've got a long way to go."
Wolfen followed, muttering under his breath about ungrateful former Architects and terrible nicknames.
Behind them, the beach was empty. The blood of Bulls soaked into the sand. The ocean lapped at the shore, indifferent to the chaos that had occurred.
Lily was gone.
But she'd left them something—a message, a warning, a promise.
The hunt wasn't over. It was just beginning.
"Update," she said casually. "We found Lily."
A short pause.
Then she continued.
"She got away."
Another pause.
Zoey glanced sideways at Wolfen, who immediately narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
"And now," she added sweetly, "Wolfie's whining like a little baby."
Wolfen froze.
"Don't you dare—"
Four seconds of silence passed over the radio.
Then—
Laughter exploded through the speaker.
Maya's loud, uncontrollable laugh.
Derek trying and failing to hold it in.
Leo wheezing like he couldn't breathe.
Lena laughing quietly but clearly.
Jordan absolutely losing it.
The radios were all connected.
They had heard everything.
Wolfen slowly turned his head toward Zoey.
She was already walking ahead, shoulders shaking with laughter.