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The white object was a sheet of parchment folded in half When I picked it up, a loud pop sounded I straightened Thousands of cracks raced through the glass like lightning Fear sliced through my heart just as fast

"Yelena!" Valek yelled from the doorway, too far away

I yankedlass roared

5

VALEK

The glass walls and ceiling of the house shattered with an eruption of sound Unable to reach Yelena in tied chunks crashed down onto her huddled for in all directions He stu his face with his hands Pinpricks of pain pierced his legs, arms and torso

"Holy snow cats!" Janco yelled next to him

When the noise died, Valek yanked his hands down He raced along the side of the house, searching for Yelena in the heaping piles of broken glass The gray fabric of her cloak poked through a mound An ice-cold dread filled his heart when he spotted the blood Without hesitation, he waded into the ruins The glass crunched, popped and cracked under his boots

"Careful," Janco said as he followed

They reached Yelena’s side She was buried They re slabs and brushed off as much as possible She tried to move, but her cloak was still pinned

"Easy, love," he said, relieved she was conscious "Let us free you first"

Yelena stilled Blood soaked her back frole-shaped piece that jutted from her left side, just below her ribs Janco pointed to it anderous one after they assessed where it had hit her

Working together, Valek and Janco cleared the rest of the glass and freed her By the time they finished, blood dripped frootten

"Can you stand?" he asked her