Mr. Johnson and Bryn joined them a few minutes later. Together they took out anti-warden people trying to break into the courtroom and freed the people inside. Then Bryn cleared a path through the flames, and they carried the injured outside.
Mr. Johnson used the radio to get ambulances, and several people took the less severely injured in cars.
Aiden desperately wanted to go home, but he stayed and helped where he could. Dylan stayed too, helping to put out the fires.
Principal Nejem took over the injured, stabilizing them with magic if she could, prioritizing the worst and getting them into the ambulances as they kept coming and going.
Her group had found a few police officers in the station and fought off the attackers who had them pinned down.
As Aiden ran around helping, he caught bits of conversation as Mr. Johnson checked on the rest of the town. It didn’t sound good.
Dread grew inside Aiden as he realized how terrible the attack had been. The fighting seemed to be over, but oh God, so many people were dead. With the last few people waiting to be taken to the hospital, Aiden sat heavily on the curb across from the charred wreck of city hall.
And just stared at it.
* * *
Dylan looked up at the stars. The town had gotten together and rebuilt the barrier. It wasn’t nearly as good as the old one, but it would keep Shadow Valley hidden for a few days while they worked on making a permanent one.
A few of the anti-treaty people they’d caught had talked, and the weird lights had been them trying to take the barrier down. The first two tries, they hadn’t had enough magic and needed to recruit more people to help. Dalton’s parents had used the death of Enrico Abelli to stir things up, and the reaction of the wardens and cops had played right into their plans. They’d used Dylan too.
He wasn’t sure if he was angrier at them or himself.
Dylan glanced over at Aiden, who was also staring up at the sky.
“You okay?” Dylan asked. They were in the gravel pit, sitting on the large rocks they used as seats.
Aiden gave a weak laugh. “Not really.” He sighed, looking a little more together. “But I’m doing the best I can.”
“You did really good in there.” Dylan patted his back.
Aiden had told him he freaked out during the attack at the gym, but he’d been awesome at the station.
“So did you.” The corner of Aiden’s mouth turned up. “Saving your mortal enemy?”
Dylan shook his head. “I almost didn’t.”
“But you did.”
“I could’ve been one of them, so easily.” Guilt ate at him. He couldn’t explain to anyone else how close to the line he’d felt, but he needed to confess to Aiden. “You know how much I wanted the wardens dead.”
Aiden wrapped an arm around his shoulders. After a slight hesitation, Dylan leaned into the touch. “You’re not the same person you were two years ago, and even then you weren’t a bad person.”
“Sometimes I even believe that.” Dylan stared at the fire. A small one, for him. Just a little campfire to comfort Dylan and not make Aiden too nervous.
Aiden squeezed him. “You’re making progress!”
Just hearing the lightness in Aiden’s tone cheered him up. The night after the attack had been so awful. School had been canceled, and Aiden hadn’t done much besides cuddle with Tiago while Dylan sat awkwardly in the desk chair in Aiden’s room.
“Yeah, I’m even letting you hug me.” He poked Aiden in the ribs.
Aiden leaned back a bit. “You know, it means a lot to me that you didn’t get weird when you found out I was bi.”
Dylan shrugged. “All that matters to me is Tiago makes you happy. You make each other happy.”
Aiden hugged him again, harder this time. “Thanks.” Then he asked, “So what about you and Sakura?”
A little flutter went through his stomach. “I think I might ask her out. Hopefully no one attacks in the middle of our date next time.”
“Yeah.” Aiden stared at the fire, face troubled. “Mr. Johnson called in all the wardens on assignment. There’s less than half of them left. And the police…” He shook his head.
“You know you don’t have to worry. You’re strong enough to protect yourself from just about anything. Plus I’ll look out for you, and Tiago. We’ll look out for each other, just like we did at the station.” Cat Boy wasn’t as powerful, but he’d proved he was a top-level badass.
A brief smile touched Aiden’s lips, then dropped away. “Do you think things will ever be the same? Will the wardens… get tougher on everyone? Will the attackers try again?”
That worried Dylan as well. Would the wardens try to root out anti-warden sentiment? Would they still treat Dylan like a criminal even after he’d risked his ass for them? Or would they be too busy trying to put things back together?
“All I know is they better let me graduate next year,” Dylan said. “Then we can get the hell out of this town.”
“It’s weird,” Aiden said quietly. “This place scares the crap out of me sometimes, but… I think I’m going to miss it.”
Dylan punched his arm. “You are weird.”
Aiden rubbed at the spot. “Well, I met a lot of friends here. And Tiago. And you. It’s… got a lot of good memories. It’s even worth the bad stuff.”
“Ugh.” Dylan stuck out his tongue, although Aiden’s words warmed his heart. “I can feel my teeth rotting from all the sweetness. Stop.”
Aiden laughed and gave him another hug, and Dylan hugged him back. Just a little.
* * * * * *
Want to find out what happens next? Get book 5 now!
Dragonkin Are from Mars, Changelings Are from Venus (Shadow Valley #5)